The Cars We're Most Looking Forward To in 2024

From sports cars to minivans, there's a lot to look forward to over the next 12 months.

It's a whole new year. While last year gave us hundreds of new models to drive, 2024 is shaping up to bring even more change to the automotive landscape. The electrification movement continues, and it will expand into new segments this year—including minivans, which might even make them cool again? I'll let Mike handle that.

Below, in alphabetical order, are the 10 vehicles we're most excited to get behind the wheel of. This is by no means the only 10 we're looking forward to, either. Have your own top picks? Let us know in the comments.

BMW will be kicking off a whole new era this year with the first Neue Klasse product. A collection of new models spanning all sizes and shapes, Neue Klasse will usher in the sixth generation of the German brand's electric powertrains, promising big increases in efficiency, range, and charging times. Big changes are afoot inside too, with a larger focus on voice commands and a full-width head-up display beamed across the bottom of the windshield.

More than all of that though, what has me excited is the new design language. BMW's electric cars are already some of the best in the business—the i4 being AutoGuide's 2023 EV of the Year and a personal favorite—but the looks have been, uh... challenging. S'up, iX and XM. The super-clean surfacing and classic proportions of the Neue Klasse are a breath of fresh air, and after a quick experience in the i Vision Dee a year ago, I can't wait to get behind the wheel of the production model.

Although I can’t wait to drive the upcoming Cadillac Celestiq, it’s more the existence and execution of the vehicle that interests me the most. What we have here is a lofty ambition to say the least. Cadillac is introducing not just the brand’s first all-electric sedan, but one that is fully customizable and expected to cost in the neighbourhood of $300,000.

That’s rarified air featuring heavyweights of the opulence game like Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Will Cadillac be able to compete in this tax bracket? I can’t wait to find out.

It’s no secret I was a huge fan of the outgoing Dodge Challenger and Charger siblings. Again, again, again, again, again, and again, I’ve extolled the virtues of these big V8 monsters. Heck, I even like them in the snow. But all good things come to an end, and 2023 was the final year of production for the pair.

Replacing the Charger is a new all-electric vehicle, first shown as the Charger Daytona SRT concept. Whether it will be called Charger, Daytona, or something else entirely, the new full-size sedan has us intrigued. Although an all-electric version is the halo of the lineup, it’s rumored that a hybrid or even gas version could also join.

It's been over two years now and I still enjoy the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The design is a home run, while the cabin is smart and spacious. The top model is reasonably quick with 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. But what if you want your family quasi-SUV to dust just about everything on the road?

The hotted-up Ioniq 5 N promises just that. New motors result in a staggering 601 horsepower, which bumps up to 641 with N Grin Boost active. Hyundai will offer up plenty of different track-oriented drive modes too, prioritizing either hot laps or longer stints. Oh yeah, and the N has a rear wiper! Truly, the whole package.

We're big fans of Hyundai's gas-powered N cars, so we're very much looking forward to driving the Ioniq 5 N where it belongs: on the track.

Not all the upcoming vehicles on our list are EVs. There’s plenty of good ol’ gas-powered cars we can’t wait to drive as well. Chief among them the Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class Coupe and Convertible.

An in-betweener in terms of size, the intention of the CLE is to blend C-Class sportiness with the space and luxury of the E-Class.

What has me most intrigued is the 3.0-liter turbocharged mild-hybrid engine will be available on both the CLE 450 and CLE 53.

The Land Cruiser returns this year, smaller, simpler, and—perhaps most notably—more affordable than it has been in ages. Now sitting on the TNGA-F platform that underpins the Tundra and Tacoma, the Land Cruiser (known as the Land Cruiser Prado in other markets) now exists as a dedicated two-row SUV, aligning more with the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco in terms of size.

There are big changes behind those retro-tastic headlights too, as the LC goes not just four-cylinder but hybrid-only. The 2.4-liter pairs with an eight-speed automatic and a 1.87-kilowatt-hour nickel metal hydride battery, for a combined system output of 326 hp and a stout 465 lb-ft of torque.

Our big question: will the Land Cruiser differentiate itself enough from not just the hearty (and popular) 4Runner, but the visually similar, also new-for-2024 Lexus GX 550? That luxury sibling has the advantage of a stronger turbo V6 powerplant and a third row of seats.

It's been a few years since Porsche's first EV showed up on the scene. The impressive Taycan will finally get some siblings this year, as we'll see the all-electric replacement for the 718 Boxster and Cayman this year.

Now admittedly, we don't know much about this one yet. We do know the Boxster is coming first, as has been tradition. We expect Porsche to offer both rear- and all-wheel drive versions, the latter a first for the brand's smaller sports car. Styling should pull from the pretty Mission R concept of 2021. Expect an 800-volt architecture with some of the quickest DC fast-charging available too, and if we had to guess, a range somewhere between 200 and 250 miles (322 to 402 km). The big question is just how weighty the new two-seater will be.

This isn't even the only Porsche EV to make our list, either...

While not all manufacturers have entered the world of electric vehicles successfully, Porsche certainly has. The Taycan is an AutoGuide favorite, blending style, luxury, and performance in an all-electric package. Also a favorite at AutoGuide, is the compact Macan SUV.

So, when Porsche announced an all-electric version of the Macan is on the way, the brand got our full attention. Headlining the electrification of the small SUV will be 603 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque. But the Macan EV will be about more than just power. Featuring all the suspension and braking components to back up that blistering acceleration, the SUV is also expected to able to recharge at speeds upwards of 270 kW.

The vehicle I’m looking forward to driving the most is an easy choice. It’s one of the most anticipated vehicles in recent time, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz. By combining minivan practicality, classic Microbus styling, and an all-electric architecture, this could be the ultimate green dad-mobile.

Minivans are the most practical vehicles on the market and making a sliding door, three-row EV just makes perfect sense. Available as rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, the ID.Buzz should pack between 282 and 330 hp. That’ll be plenty enough to get the sizeable EV full of passengers underway. But it’s the styling that really sets this vehicle apart. Inside and out, there isn’t much else like it on the market.

We like affordable cars here at AutoGuide. So the idea that Volvo's new range-anchor will be both its most affordable and all-electric is fascinating. Slightly smaller than the existing XC40—it's right there in the name—the EX30 is nonetheless a spacious and stylish urban runabout. The advantage of being designed from the ground up as an electric car means the second row is pretty okay for adults. The cabin is simple and full of recycled materials.

A 64-kWh battery pack is standard in the EX30, with your choice of single- or dual-motor layouts. The latter takes a slight range hit, but with 422 horsepower it will click off the dash to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.4 seconds—the quickest of any production Volvo. Ever.