Mat Watson: these are the cars I’m most excited for before 2030
January 07, 2026 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
There are loads of new and exciting cars coming out before the end of the decade, with everything from tiny electric cars to Japanese V8 supercars. Mat Watson picks the cars he’s most looking forward to.
I drove some properly exciting new cars in 2025 – including sensible hybrid SUVs, small and affordable EVs and utterly bonkers hypercars. It’s hard to see how I can top this in 2026 and beyond, but there are some really cool new models on the horizon before the end of the decade.
The big German brands are going to be busy working on everything from massive, posh off-roaders to entry-level electric cars. In fact, there’s so much to come from Audi, BMW, Porsche, Mercedes and Volkswagen that we have separate pages for those brands which you can check out below.
- Audi models coming soon
- BMW models coming soon
- Mercedes models coming soon
- Porsche models coming soon
- Volkswagen models coming soon
But here are 13 cars which I’m most looking forward to over the next few years.
- Toyota GR GT
- Tesla Roadster
- Jaguar Type 00
- Audi RS5 Avant
- New Porsche Boxster and Cayman
- BMW i3
- Mercedes-AMG XX
- Range Rover Electric
- Peugeot E-208 GTI
- Polestar 5
- Renault Twingo
- Volkswagen ID Polo
- Audi Q9
1. Toyota GR GT
A new V8-powered Toyota supercar wasn’t on my bingo card for 2025, but here it is. This is the Toyota GR GT, and it’s a front-engined, rear-wheel drive two-door coupe which is being built with handling as the main priority.
Having toured the facility where Toyota develops its GR models, I have no doubt that it’ll be sublime to drive. It’s powered by an all-new twin-turbocharged V8 which will have at least 650hp, and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel when it arrives in 2027.
2. Tesla Roadster
The Tesla Roadster is an insane electric supercar which has seemingly been arriving imminently for about 6 years now. I’m still hopeful that it’ll arrive before 2030, but it’s hard to know what to expect of this car.
Elon Musk has promised a sub-1.0 second 0-60mph time, a 250mph top speed and even a rocket launcher pack. No, seriously. That seems unlikely, but then again the Cybertruck seemed too wild to put into production and that made it onto the road.
3. Jaguar Type 00
Few cars have caused quite such a stir as the Jaguar Type 00, and the four-door production version of this car is due to be revealed in 2026. It’ll be a massive, uber luxurious electric car with close to 500 miles of range, and a six-figure price tag is almost certain.
I’m quite sad to see Jaguar move away from shouty, petrol-powered sports cars and saloons, but this new EV still looks like a very interesting proposition. An SUV based on this concept is also in the pipeline.
4. Audi RS5 Avant
The new Audi A5 and S5 were revealed last year as replacements for the A4 and S4, and while a 367hp V6-powered estate is pretty spicy, I’m waiting for the full-fat RS5. We’ve spotted it testing a few times now, and this is what I reckon it’ll look like.
As with the old RS4 Avant, I’m expecting the new RS5 to use a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, but this time with a plug-in hybrid system for added power. Around 600hp could be possible, and you can expect this car to be revealed in full in the first half of 2026.
5. New Porsche Boxster and Cayman
In 2025 the old Porsche 718 Cayman was axed, along with the convertible Boxster, to make way for the next-generation models. These were originally slated to be electric-only, but Porsche recently U-turned on that decision and announced that petrol versions will be available as well.
Technical details are thin on the ground, but the electric versions could have around 430hp going to the rear wheels. It’s also expected to use a centre-mounted battery pack to mimic the weight distribution of a mid-engined car. As for the petrol models, a heavily revised version of the flat-six engine from the old cars is likely.
6. BMW i3
A new BMW 3 Series is always going to be big news, and in 2026 the first electric version of this iconic saloon will make its debut. Petrol versions will also be sold alongside, but a diesel is unlikely.
The electric car will use the same collection of parts as the iX3 SUV, a car which is fantastic to drive. I bet a lower, lighter car based on that chassis will be a blast, and it should also exceed the iX3’s 500 miles of range.
7. Mercedes-AMG XX
The ballistically-fast Mercedes-AMG GT Four-Door was axed in 2025 to make way for an all-electric replacement, and I went to see the concept version of the new car last year. The AMG XX is a sleek-looking four-door coupe with a high-tech interior, and the power figures are insane.
It uses three electric motors producing a combined 1,360hp, and it could be capable of doing 0-60mph in under 2.0 seconds. It can also charge at a whopping 850kW, meaning you can go from 20-80% in just five minutes. That’s as quick as refueling a petrol car.
8. Range Rover Electric
The electric Range Rover has been on the horizon for a while now, but it’ll finally be going on sale in 2026. I sent reviews editor Darren Cassey to drive an early prototype on an off-road course, and he was hugely impressed with its smooth power delivery and unstoppable capability on the rough stuff.
I’ll have to wait until next year to find out what this car is like on the road, but early signs are good. It has 550hp from its dual-motor setup, and with no engine grumbling away under the bonnet it should be whisper quiet as well.
9. Peugeot E-208 GTI
This is the new Peugeot E-208 GTI, the first car to wear that badge since the 308 GTI went off sale a few years back. It’s based on the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce under the skin, meaning it has a clever differential to help it put all 280hp to the road.
I’m intrigued to drive it, because a small electric hot hatch is going to be tricky to get right. The added weight of the batteries could spoil the handling, and I wonder if I’ll miss having a fizzy engine hooked up to a manual gearbox.
10. Polestar 5
Polestar went for quite a few years with just one car on sale – the Polestar 2. Now the lineup is three models strong, and next year it’ll add a fourth in the form of the Polestar 5. It’s a big, low-slung four-door which will take on the Porsche Taycan and the Lotus Emeya, and I’ve had a look around it.
The Polestar 5 is striking to look at, and I love the interior. It feels really premium, and there are clever materials around the place to make it look and feel more special. Prices start at £89,500, and order books will open early next year.
11. Renault Twingo
Renault is on a roll at the moment with its retro reboots. The new 4 and 5 are both fantastic electric cars, and the new Renault Twingo seems like it’ll be just as good. It looks wicked, and news editor Jamie Edkins was impressed with the interior space when he saw the car last year.
You get an 82hp motor driving the front wheels, which is paired to a 28kWh battery delivering up to 163 miles of range. That means it’s not too well-suited to long-distance drives, but that’s not really what it’s for. I can’t wait to drive it.
12. Volkswagen ID Polo
This is the new Volkswagen ID Polo, and there’s one thing about this car which I’m really excited about. After years of VW using fiddly touchscreen controls, this little EV brings back buttons.
Not only does it have proper switches for the climate control and on the steering wheel, Volkswagen also says that interior quality has been stepped up for the ID Polo. I’ll have to put that to the test when I get to review the car.
13. Audi Q9
Finally, Audi is going to launch a rival to the BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS. This is the new Audi Q9, and it’s a massive luxury SUV which I reckon will be powered by a V8 engine. It could use the same eight-cylinder plug-in hybrid system as the Porsche Panamera, meaning more than 680hp is possible.
These camouflaged spy shots are your best look at the design, and you can see the massive Audi grille poking through the wrap. I can also just about make out the split headlight design you get on other models in the range, such as the Q6 e-tron.
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