Future Car Releases

2009 Aston Martin Rapide Aston Martin is toying with the idea of building a four-door coupe-style sedan, as seems to be the rage among all the premium European brands. Aston has gone as far as displaying a prototype, featuring looks very much like the two-door DB9. Expect a future four-door to be powered by the same 450 hp 6.0-litre V12 as the DB9.

2008 Audi A5 Stories about a coupe version of the A4 kept coming and going. This time round, the coupe is a reality. coming here a few months into 2008. Taking styling cues from various concepts, the coupe shares engines with the A4, including a V6 and a V8, but the S5 version will not come here. The A5 platform is expected to spawn more variants, including a convertible and a four-door "coupe" eventually.

2008 BMW M3 Sedan The new M3 is of course based on the new-for-2006 3-Series. The engine this time around is a V8, in order to directly compete with Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Power is respectable at 420 hp, and the gearbox options include a standard manual. The iDrive system may also be offered. Numerous other body styles will debut, including a four-door version as well as a hard-top convertible.

2010 BMW X1 BMW is supposedly working on an even smaller soft-roading 4WD than the current X3. Probably sharing a platform with the 1-Series sub-compact models, the new tall wagon will probably be powered by everything from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder to a 3.0-litre inline-six, as seen in the 1-Series hatchbacks. It should boast better ground clearance than a car, with a more versatile interior.

2009 BMW X6 The new X5 is here already, but BMW is intent on diluting the product line with this confused crossover. Expected to be billed as a crossover coupe, the new X6 should have the 3.0-litre inline-6 from the 3-Series as well as the 4.8-litre V8 engine from the X5. The new model is will only seat four. The advanced xDrive four-wheel-drive system will be tuned for on-road performance.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro The Camaro is making a comeback on a new Sigma-based platform to be shared with the new-generation Lumina SS. Engines may include a base V6, a 6.0-litre V8 and a 7.0-litre V8. Styling is leaning towards retro, but should be largely similar to the concept you see here. The new Camaro will be available in coupe and convertible form. Production is slated to start in early 2009, so the GCC launch may be delayed to 2010.

2010 Dodge Challenger Any future Challenger will ride on a shortened version of the rear-wheel-drive Charger platform. Dodge has shown a concept packing the 6.1-litre V8 pumping out 425 hp and 569 Nm, enough to power the concept from 0-to-100 kph in less than 5 seconds. Heritage features include a classic two-door shape and a manual pistol-grip shifter. Chrysler's new owners suggest the car might not be sold outside USA, but there is always hope.

2009 Ford Flex Ford's American division will peddle its take on the minivan in the GCC too. The Flex tries to make the family van concept a bit "cooler," although we are not sure if it is an cooler than any other van. The two-box design is interesting, aping a 4WD but not having the required ground clearance. This full-sizer is powered by a 260 hp 3.5-litre V6, with options such as all-wheel-drive and panoramic roof. Expect it to come here in the first half of 2008.

2009 Hummer H3 SUT The five door version is already out, but the smallest Hummer yet will also be available in a variety of body styles, including possible three or five door pickup truck versions. A pickup version with an extended bed has already been caught testing under heavy camouflage. Engines will include the 3.7-litre Vortec inline-5, and a 5.3-litre V8 for Alpha performance models.

2009 Hyundai Genesis Hyundai announced “Genesis” as the official name of its luxury sports sedan, and launched the car in Korea. The rear-wheel-drive Hyundai Genesis comes with a range of engines, including the all-new 375 hp 4.6-litre “Tau” V8 engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai’s existing 3.3-litre and 3.8-litre V6 engines from the Azera will also be offered. It should come to the GCC by the summer of 2008.

2010 Lexus HP-X This concept hints at both, the future design direction of Lexus and its oh-so-obvious car-based crossover. Almost a certainty, it doesn't however make sense introducing a quasi-SUV while the RX 330 is doing its rounds. Based on the GS platform, it is powered by the corporate 4.3-litre V8, while a 3.5-litre V6 will certainly join the range on release.

2009 Lexus LF Shown as a concept some time ago, Lexus is busy testing a very expensive new supercar on race tracks. It is believed to be powered by a massive V8, it is possible that a V10 resides under the hood. The car won't see showroom floors for a long time though. The rear-wheel-drive platform might be modified to support a convertible hard top.

2009 Mazda 6 The next-generation Mazda 6 is out in Europe, and it looks like the new model will be just as groundbreaking as the current one. The rakish new shape is evident, and the platform is probably be stretched to increase interior space. Engines should include the usual four and six cylinder units, most likely carryover, although we in the Middle East might get the most useless models yet again.

2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Speculation is rife on how the next version of the bread-and-butter E-Class will look. It is expected that the car will not get any radical styling cues anytime in the near future, in a bid to keep its traditional customers. Judging by the new S-Class and C-Class, the new E-Class will probably sport a rather boring shape, leaving the excitement to the CLS-Class.

2009 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class The Mercedes-Benz product line is just too large for its own good. It is about to get even larger, with the addition of a new compact soft-roader called the GLK-Class, to do battle with the BMW X3 and the Land Rover LR2. It is as of yet unknown what sort of engines this thing will have, but it can be guessed that it will be capable on-road and pathetic off-road.

2008 Mitsubishi Evo X The legendary Lancer Evolution will get an all-new chassis featuring all-wheel-drive, updated styling and revised engines. The standard features remain familiar, including the 5-speed manual, the 295 hp turbocharged-four and the electronic active center differential. Other features include an optional 6-speed clutchless manual, upgraded wheels and shocks. It should be here by late 2008.

2009 Nissan GT-R The Nissan "Skyline" GT-R has finally been unveiled. The new model will not carry the Skyline badge however, wearing only the GT-R badge. The new motor is a 480 hp twin-turbo version of the VQ-Series V6 from the 350Z. Features include a seriously advanced all-wheel-drive system and a clutchless manual gearbox. It will be here by the summer of 2009.

2009 Porsche Panamera With the popularity of the Maserati Quattroporte and the Mercedes-Benz CLS, along with the downward spiral in worldwide Cayenne 4WD sales, Porsche is branching out into the four-door supersedan field. Expected to be named the Panamera, the car will be front-engined, and possibly powered by a V8. It should be a rear-wheel-drive sedan, with the typical Porsche face and a 911-style sloping rear end with a retractable rear spoiler.

2010 Toyota Supra These photos were Japanese interpretations of the next-gen Supra. Toyota is currently testing a supercar in the US$100,000 range, and they have said that they will not offer a new Supra any time soon. Technology from this car may pass down to a future Supra, which may receive anything from a boosted V6 to a V8, or even a hybrid in its top form. Toyota has no comment, but the Supra nameplate will definitely be back some day.

2010 Volkswagen Scirocco A new VW hatchback-coupe will join the VW lineup soon. With styling based on the IROC concept shown here, the Scirocco name might be resurrected for the new range, which will be front-wheel-drive and share Golf engines. Expect engine choices to include the 2.0-litre turbo and the 1.4-litre twincharger four-cylinder engines, as well as the 3.2 V6 engine.

2009 Volvo C50 Volvo is busy preparing the a new addition to their smallest car range. The new C30 three-door hatchback with the unusual profile and sporting pretensions will get a sister model with five doors. Remaining front-wheel-drive, with all-wheel-drive options in other markets, engines should include the current inline-4 and inline-5 motors, including the 220 hp 2.5-litre turbo T5. The name is unconfirmed however.

2010 Volvo XC60 This new compact-to-midsize 4WD from Volvo will slot in under the XC90. It possibly shares its underpinnings with the Land Rover LR2, and will probably be powered by the new 235 hp 3.2-litre V6 that is going into numerous larger Volvo products. Shown is the concept version that Volvo is using to gauge consumer reaction to their new design direction.