Are high-performance cars in danger? The task will not be easy in justifying its development. Why? I'm referring, of course, to the reduction in average CO2 emissions for 2020/2021 by builders, the failure of which will cost fortunes — no wonder that next year we will see a flood of hybrids and electrics.
It has already been made public that plans have been canceled for the development of sports versions of several models, especially the more accessible ones. However, despite these cases, there seems to be no cause for alarm.
Next year we will see high-performance cars for all tastes — from 100% machines to hydrocarbons, to 100% machines to electrons, passing through the most varied combinations between the two.
Toyota Yaris, the king of… hot hatch?!
It was, perhaps, the best news for petrolheads to end 2019. The new generation of Toyota Yaris — which we already know live — will give rise to a “monster”.
This is what we know about the already announced Toyota GR Yaris . At least 250 hp extracted from a three-cylinder with 1.6 l supercharged, four-wheel drive, manual gearbox… and a three-door bodywork. Who would have thought that the modest Yaris, best known for its economical and modest hybrid version, would be the (spiritual) heir of rally legends like the Delta Integrale, the Escort Cosworth, the Impreza STI or the Evolution? — yes, we are as stunned as you are!
The GR Yaris won't be the only machine “inspired” in the WRC. here comes a Hyundai i20 N (The Korean brand won the WRC Manufacturers' Championship in 2019) which, by all appearances, will not be as extreme as the Japanese compact, with a direct rival to the Ford Fiesta ST. In other words, turbo engine around 200 hp and front wheel drive — after Albert Biermann's excellent work with the i30 N, expectations are also high…
And where is the European response to this Asian “attack”? Well then, we don't have good news. In 2019, we saw three new generations of the “giants” in the segment: Renault Clio, Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa. But their sports versions, respectively, R.S., GTI and OPC (or GSI)? The probabilities of them arising are small, due to the issue of emissions already mentioned.
Rumors persist that these may still emerge later, but as purely electrical hot hachs — in Clio's case, their place could be taken by Zoe. If it happens, it is not expected to be during 2020.
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However, the electrification of the hot hatch will increasingly be the way forward. Already in 2020 we will meet the new CUPRA Leon (and CUPRA Leon ST) which have already been confirmed as plug-in hybrids — and we already know they will have more than the 245 hp of the Formentor plug-in hybrid crossover. Confirmation given to us by CUPRA itself…
Ford Focus RS by X-Tomi Design
A new Ford Focus RS is also expected to arrive in 2020. And according to the latest rumors, it will also give in to electrification, introducing a mild-hybrid 48V system to assist the 2.3 EcoBoost, and an unprecedented electrified rear axle, meaning the two axles don't they will be mechanically joined.
THE Volkswagen Golf is one of the launches of the year, and its sports versions should mark it equally, all of them planned for 2020: the “classic” GTI , the plug-in hybrid GTE and yet the almighty R — we looked at this trio before, and we already know the number of horses for each one of them…
Already unveiled in 2019, the new, powerful (306 hp) and limited (3000 copies) will be starting in March Mini John Cooper Works GP starts your marketing.
Last but not least, the most affordable Suzuki Swift Sport will be the target of an update. It will also receive a mild-hybrid 48V system and an upgraded version of its engine, the K14D. The Japanese brand promises 20% less CO2 emissions, 15% less combined consumption, and more torque at lows. Final specs will be known in March.
Supercars: electrons or hydrocarbons, that's the question
While electrification will take its first steps in the hot hatch in 2020, at the other end of car performance, electrification has already been embraced in its entirety. In 2019, we saw several electric supercars unveiled, with surreal numbers, whose commercialization will start in 2020.
Lotus Evija
THE Lotus Evija promises 2000 hp of power, Pininfarina Baptist and Rimac C_Two (production version arrives in 2020), they surpass 1900 hp (they share the same electric machine), and although we don't know how many horses the future will have Tesla Roadster , Elon Musk has already announced “absurd” numbers for his electric.
Others will mix electrons with hydrocarbons. the already revealed Ferrari SF90 it will be one of them, which, having 1000 hp, becomes the most powerful road Ferrari ever; and archrival Lamborghini has already raised the bar on the Sian , his first electrified V12.
Ferrari SF90 Stradale
The big surprise of 2020 will also come from Italy, courtesy of Maserati. For already identified as MMXX (2020 in Roman numerals), the M240 project is the “resurrect” of Alfa Romeo's hybrid supercar, the 8C — recall what we wrote about the future machine…
Further north, from the UK, we'll see three more partially electrified supercars, the one already revealed Aston Martin Valkyrie (final version will be known in 2020); The McLaren Speedtail — spiritual successor to the McLaren F1, and recently cause for news for having actually managed to reach the 403 km/h announced more than a year ago —; it's the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 (project codename, final name not yet revealed) — this is, for us, the real successor to McLaren F1.
Although partially electrified, both the Valkyrie and the T.50 are “joined” by the ode to combustion that are their atmospheric V12 units — both coming out of the capable hands of Cosworth. They are capable of doing more revs than any other combustion engine so far seen in a car: 11,100 rpm in the case of the Valkyrie, and red line at 12,400 rpm in the case of the T.50 (!).
Aston Martin Valkyrie
Mclaren will also reveal the BC-03 . Only five units planned, inspired by the Vision GT, it is also expected to be partially electrified.
For fans of "pure" combustion, news will also not be lacking. We started with a trio who want to be the fastest cars on the planet. Goal: 482 km/h or 300 mph. they are the Koenigsegg Jesko — to succeed record holder Agera RS —, SSC Tuatara and Hennessey Venom F5 . All of them have already been revealed, but only in 2020 will they have to prove their intentions.
We didn't miss the opportunity to speak with Christian von Koenigsegg about his latest creation, Jesko
There is still room for the radical and limited McLaren Elva , as well as for the Lamborghini Aventador SVR , the ultimate evolution of the bull brand model.
And further down? Sports and GT for all tastes
In this comprehensive class, we see high-performance cars where, above all, the internal combustion engine predominates. Already revealed, the elegant Ferrari Rome will ship in 2020, as will the roadster version of the Aston Martin Vantage . The eternal 911 sees the 992 generation arrive, the 911 Turbo and probably from the 911 GT3.
Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
Still with the engine “behind the back”, we will see the arrival of the Audi R8 RWD (rear wheel drive), the Corvette C8 and the most extreme of the McLaren Sport Series, the 620R . In contrast, we will also meet the most extreme of the Mercedes-AMG GT which, by all appearances, will mean the return of the Black Series denomination.
Going down a little lower in the performance level, the most hardcore BMW M2 CS starts its marketing, as well as the updated Audi RS 5 , and the hybrid Polestar 1 . There is still time for the Bentley Continental GT win a Speed version, and the already revealed Lexus LC Convertible also hits the market.
BMW Concept 4 — This is where the new 4 Series and M4 will be born
Finally, let's meet the successor of the current BMW 4 Series , but there is still no certainty that the M4 will be unveiled in 2020 — the M3 is practically certain that it will… Still in the field of probabilities, there are rumors that the successor to the Nissan 370Z is known, and although expected only for 2021, the successor of Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ may still be shown in 2020.
Performance with… four (or more) ports
There are two major highlights for 2020 in terms of high-performance cars combined with bodywork for more executive or family purposes. we will have a new BMW M3 , the first with four-wheel drive — the purists, however, were not forgotten… —; and also a new generation of always ballistics Audi RS 6 Avant.
Accompanying the RS 6 Avant will be a RS 7 Sportback , The BMW M8 Gran Coupe (4 doors) joins the Coupé and Cabrio, and like the Continental GT, the Bentley Flying Spur wins a Speed version. Not even Peugeot wants to be left out when it comes to high-performance saloons: the 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered it will be the first of a new generation of sports cars by the French brand, marrying hydrocarbons with electrons.
As well as anticipating the sportier version of the 508, the 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered may also have anticipated the disappearance of the GTi acronym.
Finally, we'll meet Audi's “Taycan”, the e-tron GT , who will share the platform and electric machine with his “brother”.
Yes, SUVs could not be missing
Performance and SUV together? More and more, even when we look at them and sometimes they don't seem to make much sense. But by 2020, high-performance cars will also be represented by an increasing number of SUVs.
Mercedes-AMG GLA 35
It is the Germans who will most promote the high-performance SUV: Audi RS Q3, RS Q3 Sportback — equipped with the five cylinders of the RS 3 —, and RS Q8 — currently the fastest SUV in “green hell” —; BMW X5 M and X6 M; Mercedes-AMG GLA 35, GLB 35 and GLA 45 — with the same engine as the A 45 —; and finally, Volkswagen Tiguan R — it's late, it should have come along with the T-Roc R —, and Touareg R — with the large SUV already having been confirmed as a plug-in hybrid.
Leaving Germany, we have the most “modest” Ford Puma ST , which should inherit its driving group from the excellent Fiesta ST; and at the other extreme, the Lamborghini Urus Performante might make an appearance — this one should be inspired by the Urus of competition, the ST-X.
Finally, the rumors of a Hyundai Tucson N , which may appear with the new generation that is also planned for 2020, as well as a Kauai N.
I want to know all the latest automobiles for 2020