Words: Nathan Chadwick | Photography: Manufacturers
New cars 2026 – if you’re a cynic, you might sigh. However, as we move into the New Year, the headwinds facing the automotive industry appear to have dropped, but only a little – the EU’s curtailment of the 2035 combustion-engine ban has, at least in theory, given manufacturers some space. However, with so much investment in EV technology simply having to be written off due to a lack of customer demand, it’s still a difficult world out there. Previous EV-only futures are being rolled back, most notably at Alpine and Alfa Romeo, and ICE development continues. But what of the new cars due for launch or reveal this year?
It’s a time of transition and adaptation. Model lines that were due to disappear are now being given new life – the EV Porsche 718 replacement has been put on hold, and while the standard outgoing models have been culled, the GT4 and GT4 RS will continue to be built to order.
Similarly, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, which paused production in early 2025, is now being built again. That hasn’t stopped concerns about the future of some Stellantis plants, with new cars a fair way away; after all, only a few years ago the famed Italian brand was definitely going full EV-only from 2027. That’s certainly not the case now, and Alfa is definitely not the only company with a future planning headache.
However, despite the ICE reprieve, the biggest story of the year when it comes to new cars will undoubtedly be Ferrari’s first EV. If any brand can make a sporty performance EV work, it would be Ferrari – well, you’d think so. Stock market reaction to the announcement of the Prancing Horse’s inaugural all-electric model was particularly dismal, however. There are greater issues affecting Ferrari, too – we’re hearing of volumes being reduced by as much as 40 percent for the current model range, for which electrification hasn’t proved to be popular. A simple look at the UK market alone reveals a glut of SF90s (41 spread between the standard variants), plus four SF90 XX Stradales (pictured above).
The situation isn’t much better with the more mainstream 296 – there are currently 99 of those for sale in the UK alone. The lack of hunger for electrified supercars or hypercars isn’t limited to Ferrari; McLaren Arturas are hardly flying out of the showrooms, either. However, the prevailing mood around EV performance cars will be a concern for Maranello, especially as customer sentiment regarding having to ‘subscribe’ to new model releases to get access to the limited-run cars is starting to turn.
Perhaps also worryingly, the second-hand market is full of £300,000-plus Purosangues – 48 in the UK at the time of writing – begging the question is there really enough demand for an EV SUV, even one from Ferrari? Maranello has historically been the master of supply and demand, with its financial results being the envy of the industry – this may well be the marque’s sternest test yet.
Of course, there are plenty more new cars bubbling away under the surface, with special models on the way from the likes of Bertone, and no doubt Tuthill, Singer, Gordon Murray Automotive (pictured above), Touring Superleggera and many others will have something special up their sleeves for Monterey Car Week. However, here are a few cars that may or may not become reality this year…
Originally planned to go EV-only from 2027, the sharp retreat from that strategy has left Alfa Romeo’s production schedule looking somewhat empty (as mentioned earlier). The Giulia and Stelvio will boldly carry on, with hybrid assistance possibly coming along – but new mainstream model releases seem far away. The mooted large SUV above the Stelvio has now been put on hold – it’s more likely to become a Maserati Levante replacement – and questions remain about just what Alfa Romeo’s role is within the Stellantis empire, with Abarth and Lancia nibbling at the edges of its market position.
However, the BottegaFuoriserie programme, which brought Maserati and Alfa’s special divisions together (read our report here), promises more special models based on the successful 33 Stradale programme (pictured above). A front-engined GT, most likely based on Maserati GranTurismo mechanicals, has been mooted for some time – could this be the year in which we see some solid ideas? The BottegaFuoriserie team also hinted that it was exploring several options with outside design houses; see Zagato further down for further details.
The bad news is that the current A110 is on borrowed time. The good news is that the rollback on Alpine’s EV-only push means hybridisation could indicate a future for an ICE A110, as well as an electric one. How this is integrated into the lightweight, sweet-handling chassis remains to be seen – its popularity in France is in large part due to its light weight, meaning it avoids punitive kilo-based new-purchase taxation on home soil. Introducing a hybrid battery therefore is not just a question of retaining dynamic purity, but also in keeping the car affordable.
The big news for Aston Martin is the long-awaited release of the mid-engined Valhalla. Limited to 999 pieces, it’s the first mainstream mid-engined Aston Martin, with a lot riding on it. However, we should also expect to see an upgraded, even more powerful S version of the critically praised Vanquish announced this year, if we follow the same trajectory as the DB12 and Vantage model lines.
Audi is facing a big year of launches, as its ICE operations continue a lot longer than planned – which will, in turn, affect Bentley and Lamborghini. More on those brands below, but while the bread-and-butter model lines are updated there’s also the chance to say goodbye to the five-cylinder Audi lump, which is celebrating its anniversary year and so will undoubtedly be seen off in style as forthcoming EU emissions regulations force its departure. The forthcoming RS3 ‘GT’ model promises scarcely believable amounts of grunt in a hatchback body (current model pictured above) – expect to see these popping and banging around a city centre near you by the middle of the year. Other RS models due to be revealed in 2026 include an RS5 Avant, plus the RS6 Avant and Saloon, which are all expected to use hybrid propulsion – a first for the RS brand.
However, there’s also likely to be the revitalisation of the Horch brand. August Horch founded Audi, and his name has been used for luxury versions of the A8, albeit in China alone. In 2027 you can expect the name to symbolise the company flagship models, starting with a version of the forthcoming Q9 SUV to counter the Mercedes-Maybach GLS.
Last year’s launch of the EXP15 concept helped to telegraph Crewe’s EV future, which should be revealed this year ahead of a 2027 production roll-out. Perhaps anticipating that sitting at a motorway service station for half an hour awaiting a charge is hardly the Bentley lifestyle, the company is promising an extra 100 miles of range in 6.5 minutes with charging speeds of up to 350kw. Of course, that depends on having a charger infrastructure that can do it. Could this be the new Bentayga? The model has been around for some time, although facelifted. Could we get the first inklings of what it might be, seeing as the Audi Q9 is due this year?
But what of the Bentley Mulliner creations? When Magneto spoke to Bentley a couple of years ago, a number of unconfirmed plans were on the cards. With the Speed Six programme wrapping up, it’ll be fascinating to see what happens next – could Bentley go post-war? Will the Mulliner programme be rolled out for more recent vehicles – it’s something the Mulliner team expressed interest in? Maybe there’s a resto-mod Bentley on the way?
If it’s a big year for Audi then it’s a massive one for Munich. 2026 heralds an entirely new styling epoch, a move away from the hyper-aggressive forms that have prompted massive ire (and, it has to be said, massive sales despite that). The ICE cars will be brought into line with the Neue Klasse electric cars. While the M badge has appeared in some questionable places, it’s still being wheeled out for electric crossovers – but the biggest challenge will be the M3 EV, which has been spotted testing. However, a petrol-hybrid is also planned.
The other car worth keeping an eye out for will be the forthcoming X7, BMW’s new version of its full-size SUV. This isn’t hugely popular in the UK – getting us out of our Range Rovers is a challenge – but it does provide a hint of where the newly wholly owned Alpina brand may go. ‘Old’ Alpina did excellent business in the US with its X7-based model, with sales of around 750 per year – a significant proportion of its then 2000-per-year production allocation. With Audi dusting off the Horch name for an upmarket SUV, as mentioned earlier, could the first Alpina be an X7-based creation to take on Maybach and Bentley?
BMW always brings something special to Villa d’Este, and its recent concepts have become production reality (such as the Speedtop pictured above). With the Alpina brand historically denoting bespoke compared to BMW’s mainstream, could the marque become the bespoke part of BMW and similar limited-run models?
Chevrolet is putting plenty of effort into ever more exciting variants of its legendary Corvette. The entire range of the C8 (pictured above) gets an interior overhaul for 2026, but the big new model is the ZR1X. If the standard ZR1’s 1064bhp wasn’t enough, the ZR1X pairs that twin-turbo V8 with a front-axle located electric motor to deliver 1250bhp. A sub-2.0-second 0-60mph time is mooted.
BYD has recently become the world’s biggest seller of electric vehicles, overtaking Tesla. It’s now launching a premium brand by the name of Denza, with an electric two-door called the Z doing testing laps in Germany. Already revealed in concept form, a more production-realised car will arrive later this year. It’s part of a slew of new models revealed over the past 12 months, with SUVs leading the way.
Magneto was invited to Rétromobile for the physical launch of the all-electric Nº8 flagship last year (pictured above) and we were impressed by the design and materials – it is distinctively French, and all the better for it. Therefore it will be fascinating to see how such design translates to the more prescriptive large SUV form in the shape of the Nº7, with a new platform.
Elsewhere, a modern take on the Citroen DS is likely to appear at some point – it was deemed a priority when we spoke to Thierry Métroz last year. The model was due late last year – maybe it’s one for Rétromobile 2026?
Unfairly regarded as something of an afterthought under previous Stellantis leadership, and forced down a path its fans were – to say the least – unfavourable of, things are somewhat different now for Dodge. With US regulatory change now more open to ICE machines, plus well liked managers back at SRT, things are starting to look up. That begins with the introduction of the 420bhp-550bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged Hurricane inline-six engine alongside the 670bhp electric Charger. It’s certainly powerful enough, but a V8 is what the fans want – we wouldn’t be surprised if it returns in some form. V8s are already replacing the Durango’s V6 models, and on a recent trip to Modena we spotted a Charger parked up in the back of Maserati’s HQ. Hmmm…
As for other new cars, the Challenger nameplate is one of the most evocative in American motoring. Where might a renewed Dodge take it?
The Ferrari EV, the Elettrica, will be the landmark car of the year, whether it succeeds or fails. You can expect a huge wallop of power – 1000bhp is mooted – with a range of 330 miles. It’s likely to be a crossover, but that doesn’t mean the end of the Purosangue (pictured above) – it’s likely to receive the upgraded interior adopted elsewhere in the range. Elsewhere, we’re expecting more limited-run new cars, and the 849 Testarossa will be rolled out. Sadly, it seems the Lewis Hamilton F40/manual-box project appears to have died… although rumours of a manual special edition continue to persist.
Ford recently rowed back on its EV commitments in the US, citing lack of demand. It’s still bringing the Bronco to Europe – well, the name at least, with an EV model sharing the same moniker due to be built in Spain. However, enthusiasts are more likely to be interested in the Mustang Shelby GT500, which is due to be revealed this year. Given that the Dark Horse model is intended to be the track-focused Mustang, and the GTD the ultimate GT3 car for the road (pictured above), it’ll be fascinating to see just where the Blue Oval takes its focus with one of its most beloved brands.
The Jaguar rollercoaster got a lot choppier recently – changes to the design team sharpened the focus around the brand’s big new direction. After all the arguments, the internet criticism and the car’s appropriation by some commentators to use the brand as a tool in a wider culture war (without taking even a second to look at the reality of the situation), 2026 should see the big reveal of Jaguar’s super GT. Journalists have recently been treated to passenger rides, and the management is firmly committed to EV propulsion as other manufacturers scale back. Whatever happens, the social media froth will not go away…
However, over in the Land Rover camp things seem a little more rosier, notwithstanding a crippling cyber attack. With the Defender doing a roaring business around the globe, it’s unsurprising that JLR will expand on this with a smaller ‘Sport’ version with electric propulsion to replace the Discovery Sport. This year also sees the likely launch of the Range Rover EV, which was demonstrated to Magneto last year; a Range Rover Sport version will no doubt follow, as will a Velar.
2025 was a big year for the Raging Bull, if not a wholly successful one. While the Revuelto has been adored, the critical response to the hybridised Temerario hasn’t been quite as effusive, largely on the basis of a lack of aural drama. We’d expect this to be addressed in quick order, in the same manner as Maserati’s revised exhaust system for the GranTurismo. New cars are likely to be open-topped versions of the Temerario and Revuelto – if not in production form, we’d expect to see at least on drop-top break cover this year.
However, 2026 presents two opportunities for the fresh-for-2025 Few Off department, which made its debut with the Fenomeno (pictured above). The LM002 celebrates 40 years, so we wouldn’t bet against a Urus with Huracán Sterrato-style off-road elements. But the big celebration will be 60 years of the Miura – with Lamborghini’s design palette moving away from straight-edges of late (you can read our interview with the chief designer Mitja Borkert here), could we see a limited-run Miura homage? There was a concept car in 2006 based on the Murciélago designed by Walter de Silva, which didn’t make production due to CEO Stephan Winkelmann’s belief that “retro design is not what we are for”. Of course, since then we’ve had the controversial Aventador-based Countach LPI 800-4 of 2021…
Maserati’s refocused GranTurismo production into Modena alongside the MCPura, with just the Alfa Romeo Stelvio-based Grecale built elsewhere. When Magneto went to Modena last year (you can read about that here), discussions turned to future models, with the Quattroporte foremost among journalists’ questions. It’s something those at the top are keen to pursue, and we should get a closer understanding in the first quarter of 2026. There are discussions about a true replacement for the Levante (the Grecale is somewhat smaller) for the US market, too, probably an adoption of the long-mooted Alfa Romeo large SUV plan, but there are also ideas about a smaller Maserati two-door based on a shortened GranTurismo platform.
As we reported here, Alfa Romeo and Maserati’s special operations divisions have been combined. The response to the MCXtrema has been successful, but there is a strong understanding that a bespoke road car in the manner of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale should be a priority. Interestingly, there’s also appetite for embracing resto-mods already in process…
With dramatic changes at the top in 2025, the broadening of McLaren’s production palette should become clearer. The marque has always resisted the concept of an SUV, but the new management structure is understood to favour the idea – and some level of electrification – with a slew of new cars. However, it will be interesting to see just how McLaren’s lightweight ethos can be, and whether the brand has such bandwidth; after all, for every successful Lamborghini Urus there’s a sales disappointment, most obviously the Aston Martin DBX.
What’s probably more likely to stir the loins of the Woking faithful is the mooted replacement for the 765LT, described as the 788HS online. Based on the 750S (pictured above), it’ll be a track-oriented, extreme ‘mainstream’ McLaren that should reset the bar. However, it will be fascinating to see how McLaren can move its oeuvre beyond mid-engined cars – could there be a front-engined GT car, too?
Much as with BMW M, the AMG badge has become a little diluted over the years – you can expect to see the logo on various electrified models, from saloons to SUVs. The GLC SUV, for example, will use three axial-flux motors to provide 900bhp to rival the incoming Porsche Cayenne Turbo’s 980bhp. However, there’s a full-electric GT SUV in the works, AMG’s first electric car developed independently of Mercedes-Benz, which promises 1000bhp. There’s also a coupé-shaped four-door planned, also billed for 1000bhp.
While Porsche grapples with its new post-EV plan reality and its new CEO gets to work sculpting new cars for the short, medium and long term, 2026 should see the reveal of the 992.2 GT2 RS – a car that’s seemingly been in the ether for some time. The concept – a turbo sans all-wheel drive – did actually make production reality with the Sport Classic in 992 form, but that was very much a GT in nature. The GT2 RS is likely to be very different – previous RS models have pushed the ‘race car for the road’ ethos to its very apex, and this one is believed to follow in that lineage – a hybrid 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six with 750bhp-plus. It has big shoes to fill – the last GT2 RS (pictured above) was something of an intimidating beast…
Elsewhere, there’s also talk of a new Speedster, marrying GT3 engines and dynamics with a convertible body – test mules have been spotted, so we can expect this to appear in 2026. There’s talk of a new Turbo variant that sits below the range-topping S model, too.
While concerns about its balance sheet refuse to go away, Rivian is popping up with new products. The R1T electric pick-up trucks have had a warmer reception than Tesla’s, and the R2 SUV, aimed at a lower price point, has been spied testing.
The storm clouds around Volkswagen refuse to go away, but there should be something special to mark the 25th anniversary of the Golf R (pictured above), and the 50th anniversary of the model itself. The R 350 shares the 2.5-litre turbocharged five-pot with the Audi RS3, and is due to go on sale in 2027.
Zagato has been very busy – over the past few years it’s been involved in boutique Alpine projects, Alfa Romeo one-offs and Porsche Continuations, plus the Capricorn project launched late last year (pictured above). Last year brought several new cars – not only the Capricorn, but also the first Bovensiepen car from Alpina; it also debuted a one-off Alfa Romeo 8C creation at Villa d’Este, as tested in the current issue of sister magazine Octane. It is, however, another Alfa Romeo project that will be of most interest among Zagato’s new car collection this year – a German-led project has worked with Alfa and Zagato on what we believe to be a 1920s-era 8C Continuation. We can’t wait to see what Villa d’Este brings…
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