Best new cars for 2021 and beyond

The new Aston Martin Vanquish, BMW i4 and Tesla Model Y are just a few of the cars set to arrive in 2021 and beyond…

It’s no surprise to see electric cars dominate the list of the best new cars for 2021 and beyond, but Aston Martin are set to provide something for the enthusiasts in the coming years with the new Vanquish and the 003 hypercar.

The SUV boom will also continue to gather pace with the likes of Alfa Romeo and Skoda both set to launch new 4x4s, while the highly-anticipated Tesla Model Y will also hit showrooms.

• Best new cars for 2020

There’s also set to be no shortage of start-up brands hoping to get in on the electric car act, but Rivian are arguably one of the most exciting to enter the market and it has high hopes of toppling Tesla with its R1S SUV.

It looks like there’s going to be a car for everyone over the coming years, but scroll down below to see which models we think are the ones to look out for. 

Alfa Romeo large SUV

Price: £40,000 (est)
On sale: 2021 

While Alfa Romeo’s Tonale compact SUV is set to arrive next year, those wanting something bigger will have to wait until 2021, when the brand reveals its largest SUV yet. Our exclusive image previews the look of the model, which has been confirmed to Auto Express by chief technical officer Roberto Fedeli.

According to Fedeli, the SUV will sit on the same architecture as the current Stelvio, but will employ a performance-focused mild-hybrid set-up, which could boost power up to 400bhp. Alfa’s SUV blitz forms a part of the company’s internal target of achieving 400,000 annual sales by 2022.

Aston Martin 003

 

Price: From £1million
On sale: 2021

Set to rival the McLaren Senna is the £1million Aston Martin 003. Just 500 examples will be built, and first deliveries will be made in 2021.

The 003, which could be called Valhalla when it arrives, shares a lot of its DNA with Aston’s track-only Valkyrie hypercar, and as with that car, it will be built around a carbon-fibre tub. But all examples of the 003 will be road-legal.

It’s also the first car to feature the brand’s new FlexFoil technology, which alters the shape of the bodywork at speed to help improve downforce and aerodynamics. Under the skin, the 003 will be the first Aston with an all-new twin-turbo V6 petrol engine that works with a KERS energy-recovery system – a result of Aston’s partnership with the Red Bull Racing F1 team.

Aston Martin Vanquish

Price: £250,000 (est)
On sale: 2022

The Vanquish will return as a mid-engined supercar to take on Ferrari and McLaren. Previewed by the Vanquish Vision Concept – which Aston Martin says is 85 per cent representative of the production car – it will arrive by 2022.

The Vanquish will share its all-new twin-turbo V6, developing around 700bhp, with the Project 003 hypercar. However, unlike that model, the Vanquish will be built on a bonded aluminium structure as opposed to a carbon-fibre tub. This will help keep costs down – but we can still expect a price tag of around £250,000. 

BMW i4

Price: From £55,000 (est)
On sale: 2021

Due in 2021, the i4 aims to bridge the gap between BMW’s bespoke, electrified i3 and i8 vehicles and its big sellers, the 3 Series and 5 Series.

It’s built on BMW’s CLAR platform, which is used on everything from the 3 Series up to the 7 Series, and should be seen as a variant of the forthcoming 4 Series Gran Coupe, rather than as a bespoke i-vehicle, BMW bosses say. They also told us the i4 is likely to be sold with a choice of different battery packs.

The entry-level model could have a range of up to 186 miles, while the top-spec version is set to offer as much as 375 miles of pure-electric range. 

Lagonda SUV

Price: £300,000 (est)
On sale: 2021

Lagonda is set to be reborn in 2021 as an all-electric brand. Its first production model will be a high-performance pure-electric SUV based on this All-Terrain Concept, giving Aston Martin’s luxury arm a direct rival to SUVs such as the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

This latest prototype is a natural evolution of the Lagonda Vision Concept that made its debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

The electric SUV is being designed with next-generation solid-state battery technology in mind, which could bring huge improvements in performance and range. However, initially, lithium-ion batteries will be used, giving a range of around 300 miles. 

Rivian R1S

Price: £70,000 (est)
On sale: 2021

New American brand Rivian is surging forward with the launch of its seven-seat SUV, dubbed the R1S. As with the recently announced R1T pick-up, the R1S is all-electric and makes some impressive performance claims.

Despite being as large as the Audi Q7 and Tesla Model X, the R1S claims a 0-60mph sprint time of only 3.0 seconds and a range of 400-mile-plus, thanks to an electric motor at each wheel delivering 754bhp and 1,119Nm of torque. Right-hand-drive models are planned for 2021, and the R1S is available to order now in the US. Production is due to start next year. 

Skoda Vision E

Price: £30,000 (est)
On sale: 2021

Skoda has provided a strong statement about its electric future with the unveiling of the Vision E concept. This crossover previews a Kodiaq-sized production car due in 2021, with a second, more coupe-like electric SUV set to be launched a short while later.

The Vision E is the first Skoda built on the all-electric MEB platform, and has one motor on each axle, giving a total output of 302bhp.

That’s enough to achieve 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, while Skoda says that it is capable of 310 miles on a single charge under WLTP testing. The liquid-cooled 82kWh battery can also be recharged to 80 per cent capacity in 30 minutes via a high-output charger.

Tesla Model Y

Price: £40,000 (est)
On sale: 2021

Tesla has entered the fiercely competitive compact SUV sector, with the announcement of its new Model Y.

It’s set to go into production next year and hit dealers in 2021, and shares much of its hardware with the Model 3 saloon. The line-up kicks off with a rear-driven Standard Range model, which Tesla says has a 120mph top speed, a 0-60mph time of 5.9 seconds and a 230-mile range.

A Long Range variant claims an improved maximum speed of 130mph, a faster sprint time of 5.5 seconds and a range of 300 miles. Meanwhile, the flagship model is the Performance edition, which promises 0-60mph in only 3.5 seconds.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk claims that the Model Y will have the “functionality of an SUV, but the capability of a sports car”.

Volkswagen ID. Crozz

Price: £30,000 (est)
On sale: 2021 

Volkswagen’s ID. range will continue to expand with the ID. Crozz, which was initially presented as a concept ahead of its introduction in 2021. Sharing its MEB platform and electric drivetrain with the ID. hatchback, the ID. Crozz moves the range into SUV territory. Its twin electric motors provide a combined output of 301bhp that is sent to all four wheels as standard.

New multi-link rear suspension and electronic damping give the ID. Crozz some off-road ability, while the installation of the batteries low in the body enables impressive agility on the road, too.

With generous cabin space, the ID. Crozz is claimed to offer a ‘lounge-like’ layout for four, with the prospect of higher-level autonomous driving in the future.

Which car are you most looking forward to seeing on the road? Let us know your thoughts below…

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