Welcome to the future, or as we call it, 2025. It’s time to clear up that hangover, start those New Year’s resolutions and get ready to… work tomorrow, probably. To distract you from that impending doom, let’s talk about the cars that we (as in us at Jalopnik) are most excited for in 2025.
You don’t need me to go on and on about how we’re in a transformative period for the industry because of EVs and Trump and blah blah blah, but obviously there’s all sorts of interesting new cars coming out this year. Whether it’s something that we’re looking forward to being revealed, or an already-revealed car we can’t wait to drive, these are the cars that we’re most excited for in 2025.
Porsche Boxster EV
The reveal I’m most looking forward to in 2025 is easily the electric Porsche 718 Boxster (and its Cayman sibling, which may or may not also debut in 2025). The prospect of an electric sports car is really exciting to me, especially coming from Porsche. I’ve driven the Rimac and Pininfarina electric hypercars, which have mid-engine weight distribution and wild torque-vectoring, and the thought of that setup in a smaller, cheaper package is really enticing. I love where Porsche’s styling has been going too, and the Taycan is probably my favorite Porsche model overall, so I’m confident the brand won’t fuck this one up.
Lamborghini Temerario
As for cars we’ll get to drive in 2025, I can’t wait for the Lamborghini Temerario, the brand’s Huracan replacement. While the discontinuation of its predecessor’s naturally aspirated V10 is sad, sure, I don’t really mind when its replacement is a V8 that revs to 10,000 rpm — and that’s before getting into the fact that it has a plug-in-hybrid system with three electric motors for a total of 907 horsepower. I think it looks spectacular as well, especially in wilder specs.
Cadillac Celestiq
It’s time for Cadillac to return to The Standard of the World, and the Celestiq promises to do just that. Sure, this car isn’t exactly “new,” but do you know anyone who has driven one? I don’t, so it counts. I mean, how could you not be excited for this car? Just look at it. It’s 8,000 inches long, and my only complaint is that it isn’t longer. It’s also going to have over 600 horsepower thanks to two electric motors. I need to drive the Celestiq like I need my next breath.
Alpine A290
There are a lot of exciting cars coming out over the next year, like the Polestar 5 and the much-anticipated all-electric Range Rover. They’ll both be technological marvels when they launch, but will they be much fun to drive? One car that I’m sure will put a smile on my face when it hits the highway in the new year is the Alpine A290.
Coming in early 2025, the A290 is a hotter, hatchier version of the new Renault 5 EV, which already looks awesome. Thankfully, the Alpine looks even better and is promising more in every way. It won’t make it to America, sadly, but I’ll be hoping to get behind the wheel in the new year to try and make my move back to Europe all worthwhile.
BMW Neue Klasse
I am truly excited for the revamp that BMW has on the docket for its lineup. 2023’s Vision Neue Klasse concept is making its way, more or less, to production in the upcoming 3 Series, which will have both gas and EV powertrains. This new design language is a sharp departure from the BMWs of recent years, looking much more svelte and approachable, less aggressive and gape-mouthed. It’s a return to a pre–Chris Bangle BMW design culture, and that bodes well for the future of BMW design. I hope it drives as good as it looks.
Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH
I’m most excited for the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH. Sure, there are new Formula 1 cars every season, but they’re all roughly the same to the untrained eye. It’s a completely different story for prototypes in sports car racing. The Valkyrie, slated to debut in February at the Qatar 1812km, finally realizes the dream of Le Mans’ governing body: The ACO wanted top-class cars in competition with a road-going hypercar counterpart. The Aston Martin looks the part and its naturally aspirated V12 engine definitely sounds the part.
Kia K4 Hatchback
We need more wagons in the U.S., or at least wagon-y hatchbacks, as too many lineups in our market are crossover-heavy. Luckily Kia is doing God’s work and bringing a hatchback version of its K4 sedan to our market sometime next year. Not much is known about it spec-wise, we do know how it’ll look, and it looks good. If Kia gives it the K4 sedan’s 190 horsepower turbocharged engine, it should make for a great looking, peppy and cheap wagon.
-Lawrence Hodge
Honda Prelude
Honda is getting back in the sport coupe business with the Prelude. Previewed by a concept in 2023, Honda recently confirmed that the legendary nameplate will be coming back to the U.S. in 2025. Details are light for now, but we do know that it’ll be a hybrid with a sport-tuned CVT transmission that has simulated shifts. Honda has needed something fun to drive that doesn’t have the Civic name attached to it for a while now, and if it’s priced right, it should make a great competitor for the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ.
Ducati Panigale V4
Okay, so, cards on the table: I don’t actually know that I’ll be riding a Panigale in 2025. I’ve got certain irons in certain fires, but this slide is sort of a manifestation deal. I desperately want to ride a Panigale V4, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make that happen. I am, as the kids say, down horrendous.
Precious few manufacturers still offer V4 engines, but Ducati does. I don’t think I’ll ever get the chance to ride my beloved RC213V, but a genuine V4 sportbike from a manufacturer with Marc Marquez on its MotoGP team may be as close as I’ll get. I’ll take it.
Tesla Roadster
I mean, obviously, the most exciting product that will definitely exist in 2025 is the new Tesla Roadster. Like come on, what could be more exciting than a car we were promised will hit 60 mph in less than a second and reportedly get 620 miles of range. It’ll be absolutely mind-blowing and definitely only cost $200,000. It’ll so totally exist, the Roadster will positively knock your socks off with its actual presence in physical space. Hell, it might fly! It’ll probably definitely self-drive as well, so look out world!
