What's Next in 2024: 20 Most Exciting New Cars, Trucks, and SUVs You Can Look Forward To

2024 will further mark 100 years since famous actor Marlon Brando was born. Other celebs and politicians born in 1924 include Benny Hill, Dinah Washington, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush. When it comes to automotive personalities, Carlo Chiti and Lee Iacocca come to mind. As for the four-wheeled contraptions they so much loved, can you believe that more than half of all passenger vehicles sold worldwide by 1924 were Ford Model Ts?

Fast forward a century since the Greeks abolished the monarchy in favor of a republic, and the automotive industry couldn't be more different from the days of the Tin Lizzie. The year 2024 will be full of exciting newcomers, vehicles that push the technological envelope, and those trading internal combustion for zero-emission powertrains. I'm as big of a Hellcat guy as anyone else here, but one cannot ignore the sheer brutality of a Plaid at the strip.

Speaking of Tesla's quarter-mile land missile, the following list includes quite a few electric vehicles. 9 out of 20, that is, which goes to show how electric vehicles are in this day and age compared to the fossil-fuel old guard. Not even the old guard is what it used to be, though, for certain internal combustion vehicles now come with a degree of hybrid assistance. That being said, these are the 20 most exciting new cars, trucks, and SUVs us folks at autoevolution are looking forward to in 2024:

BMW M4 CS

We'll be kicking this off with a straight-six future classic in the form of the M4 CS, which is – in essence – an M3 CS with two fewer doors. You can also think of it as the M4 CSL with M xDrive rather than rear-wheel drive, a setup that should make the Competition Sport more usable as a daily driver.

The CS line follows the same ethos and values as the Evolution line of the E30 M3. The main differences over the Competition are optimized aerodynamics, better suspension, less weight, and more power from that fabulous twin-turbo sixer that BMW dubs S58.

An automatic-only affair, the M4 CS should weigh 30-odd kilograms (make that 66 pounds) less than the M4 Competition with M xDrive. Production is expected to kick off in July 2024, and similar to the more practical M3 CS, there is no production cap to speak of. On the other hand, it's likely that around 2,000 examples will be assembled by June 2025.

BMW M5

One rung above the M3, yet based on the CLuster ARchitecture introduced by the G11/G12 generation of the 7 Series, the M5 is due a tremendous makeover in 2024. Not only will it go plug-in hybrid, but the G90 will also be the heaviest M5 of all time at over two metric tons. It will get heavier still, though, because BMW is bringing back the M5 Touring.

Previously offered with a naturally aspirated inline-six in the E34 and a high-revving V10 in the E61, the M5 will be elevated to more than 600 horsepower to the tune of a twin-turbocharged V8. It's not clear if BMW will unleash the G90 and G99 with the XM Label's 738 horsepower and 738 pound-feet (1,000 Nm), but nevertheless, more than 700 ponies are indeed possible due to the plug-in hybrid system.

Recently spied testing in California of all places, the 2025 BMW M5 Touring should be available in the United States. Being tested in North America, the M5 Touring could be joined in this part of the world by the all-electric i5 Touring. For the time being, the punchiest i5 of the lot is the dual-motor M60 at 593 horses and 605 pound-feet (820 Nm) of twist.

BMW Z4 M40i Manual

Most people in the market for the G29 have lost hope for a manual transmission in the six-cylinder M40i. Be that as it may, BMW is following in the footsteps of Toyota with a ZF-supplied stick shift. It's not a carryover, but the S6-53 we all know and love with M40i-specific linkages and a shorter gear lever.

The ZF S6-53 is also available in the M2 Coupe, M3, and M4. Once available in all-wheel-drive Bimmers such as the E46 330xd and E90 335xi, the S6-53 is – rather disappointingly – restricted to the least powerful versions of the M3 and M4. Even though it's not the best-feeling manual out there due to long throws, the shift action being rubbery and notchy, and the clutch being on the springy side of clutches, this box will make the Z4 M40i that more engaging than the good ol' 8HP torque-converter automatic.

There is, however, an elephant in the room that needs to be called out. Car and Driver estimates a base price in the $70,000s, which is way too expensive for comfort. After all, you could otherwise get a new M4 for $78,100 in coupe flavor. The M4 Convertible is exclusively auto in the United States market.

Cadillac Celestiq

Until the early 1970s, the Cadillac brand was a force to be reckoned with in the luxury segment. GM's crown jewel became a shadow of its former self once the Malaise Era got rolling, and Caddy has yet to regain its former prestige in these past five decades or so. That may change in 2024 with the Celestiq, an ultra-luxury liftback that oozes refined opulence.

Not only is it a low-volume land yacht, but this fellow boasts an extreme level of customization that harks back to pre-Malaise Era models. Although it's far off the gracefulness of the first De Villes, you have to admit that Cadillac's new flagship is a statement on wheels unlike anything else on the road today. Not even the yet-unreleased Maybach EQS comes close, although the Rolls-Royce Spectre has the upper hand. Who could say no to the Spirit of Ecstasy, right?

GM projects a yearly output of approximately 500 units, which may be a little optimistic due to the Celestiq's eye-watering retail price. $340,000 is how much the base specification will set you back, whereas the one-of-one build from the 2023 Neiman Marcus Christmas Book is considerably more than a suburban house. More specifically, the Celestiq Carmen is *checks notes* a preposterous $975,000. Better said, the Celestiq Carmen was $975,000 because it found an owner on October 25, 2023.

Cadillac Escalade IQ

Clearly not the automotive equivalent to Wu-Tang's 36 Chambers, the original Escalade made Cadillac cool with a ton of prospective customers. The recipe for the Escalade was – and still is – pretty straightforward: full-size truck platform, V8 muscle, and an automatic. The more critical among us would further add that General Motors copied Ford's original Navigator. After all, the Navigator was first. That statement, however, isn't 100 percent correct because the Jeep Super Wagoneer and Range Rover are considered the very first luxury-oriented SUVs.

Come 2024, the Escalade will one-up its archrival with an electric version that's based on the BT1 platform of the GMC Hummer EV SUV rather than the T1 of the combustion-engined Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Revealed with much pomp in May 2023 as a 2025 model, the Escalade IQ will arrive at dealers with dual permanent magnet electric motors. The standard driving mode is limited to 680 horsepower, two horses off the Escalade-V.

Velocity Max is Cadillac vernacular for more power, namely 750 horsepower and 785 pound-feet (1,064 Nm) of torque. All-wheel steering, Hummer EV-like diagonal driving capability, Adaptive Air Ride Suspension, 800-volt DC fast charging for up to 100 miles of range in 10 minutes, and a towing capacity of 8,000 pounds are other highlights worthy of your attention. MSRP? That'd be $130,000, thank you!

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

It's hard to believe that it took more than 60 years for the Corvette's engine to be moved behind the driver, therefore fulfilling Zora Arkus-Duntov's lifelong wish of a mid-engine Corvette. It's also hard to believe that Callaway offered turbocharged upgrades for the C4 back in the 1980s. GM experimented with force-fed powerplants for the Corvette as well, but as opposed to the likes of the C7-gen ZR1, the supercharger will be ditched for a pair of turbos.

The C8-gen ZR1 further upgrades from a small block to a flat-plane crankshaft V8. More or less a Z06 on steroids, the all-new ZR1 is rumored to have more than 800 horsepower. Spied with a high-downforce aero package that would make the C7 ZR1 ZTK blush in awe, the C8 ZR1 ZTK could be crowned the fastest Corvette at the Nurburgring.

Its title won't last forever because General Motors will send off the eighth-gen Corvette with an electrified take on the ZR1. Supposedly christened Zora after the gentlemen who convinced GM to shoehorn a small block in the C1's engine bay, the C8 Zora promises 1,000 horsepower or thereabouts. For reference, the Bugatti Veyron entered series production in 2005 with 987 horsepower on tap.

Ford Mustang GTD

A technological tour de force, the limited-run GTD is one wild horse unlike any other Mustang before it. Benchmarked against the six-pot Porsche 911 GT2 RS and eight-cylinder Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, the Mustang GTD isn't even made by Ford.

Starting life as a body-in-white coupe at the Flat Rock plant in Michigan, the GTD becomes a track monster in Canada at Multimatic's facility in Markham, Ontario. Assembled by the same guys and gals who used to put together the V6-powered GT supercar, the Mustang GTD stands out with more than 800 horsepower from a supercharged V8, variable traction control, and no trunk space at all due to its trick rear suspension and dual-clutch transaxle.

Similarly impressive, the 325-millimeter-wide front tires are wider than the 315-mm rears of the Dark Horse. By the way, the rear tires of the GTD measure 345 millimeters, 10 more than the Lamborghini Diablo. The most un-Mustang trait of the GTD is the $300,000 sticker price. By comparison, the 991.2 GT2 RS was $293,200 back in 2017 for MY18.

Dodge Charger

The L platform dates back to the DaimlerChrysler era, a platform that gave us the Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger. Said platform ended production earlier in December 2023, the final L-platform car being a Challenger Demon 170. Although we still don't know anything concrete about the Challenger's future, we do know that the Charger and 300 will be back on the STLA Large platform.

STLA is short for Stellantis, the automotive behemoth formed by Fiat Chrysler and France's Groupe PSA. Between the all-new 300 and Charger, the latter is more compelling due to its three-door liftback form factor. More compelling still, leaked photos reveal an engine bay that would fit the Hurricane twin-turbo I6 of the 2025 Ram 1500.

The combustion-engined Charger will be joined by a number of electric options, beginning with 455 horsepower for the 400-volt Charger 340 and no fewer than 590 horsepower for the Charger 440. At the other end of the spectrum, the Charger will offer 800 volts and 800-plus ponies. Too bad it won't offer the aural pleasure of the HEMI-engined Charger…

Ferrari F250

This one is certain to split opinion, yet the Prancing Horse isn't worried about the critics. Despite being a twin-turbo V6 instead of a free-breathing V12, the F250 will make the LaFerrari seem pedestrian. Even the SF90 XX doesn't hold a candle to Ferrari's upcoming hypercar, the most focused street-legal hypercar from the best name in the super sport biz.

Codenamed F250, the LaFerrari-replacing downforce monster has been spied on numerous occasions with a 296-like central exhaust outlet and high-voltage stickers on the camouflage wrap. Word on the street is 1,000-plus cavalli vapore, albeit we aren't sure what kind of hybrid assistance is hiding under the skin. The most obvious layout would be two electric motors for the front axle and one located between the dual-clutch tranny and 296-sourced V6 engine.

With the 296 rated at 819 horsepower, Ferrari could adapt hybrid technologies from its Formula 1 and Le Mans Hypercar programs to make the halo model as powerful as technically possible. The F250 is also reputed to be a light car, which it needs to in order to excel in the twisties and under braking. Estimated time of arrival? Sometime during autumn 2024.

Ferrari F167

The company founded in 1939 by Enzo Ferrari wouldn't have taken off without Il Commendatore being forced by his racing addiction to sell road cars. From the late 1940s onward, Ferrari's trademark engine design was the naturally aspirated V12. The automaker's current-gen V12 was introduced by the Enzo in 2002, an engine that grew to a displacement of 6.5 liters in 2017 with the 812's introduction.

The latest recipient of the 6.5er is the Purosangue, meaning that the 812-replacing F167 will boast 6.5 liters at the very least. There's much debate whether the naturally aspirated V12 will receive hybrid support or not. Rumors from Maranello suggest no hybrid nonsense at all, a higher redline, and up to 870 metric horsepower (858 mechanical horsepower).

Spied on many occasions with Roma-esque proportions, the F167 will be revealed in the first half of 2024. As per Ferrari expert Marcel Massini, the veil will come off on May 2, prior to the Miami GP weekend. The reveal will be for registered participants of the Ferrari Factory Cavalcade International USA. Massini reports that attendance to the front-engined gran turismo's world premiere is included in the participation fee of $58,000.

Jeep Recon

Scheduled to start production somewhere in North America sometime in 2024, the Recon is Jeep's first electric vehicle. A rugged 4x4 with trail-rated capability that would make the Wrangler Rubicon proud, the Recon will be sold in the European Union and other major car markets around the world.

Just like the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300, the Jeep Recon is also underpinned by the STLA Large vehicle architecture. The only North American plant confirmed by Stellantis to support STLA Large vehicle production is Windsor, the Canadian plant where FCA Canada currently makes minivans.

Roughly the size of the four-door Wrangler Unlimited and two-row Grand Cherokee, the mid-size 4x4 could follow the Wrangler's trim level structure. Details on battery size, driving range, power output, and price have yet to be revealed.

Lamborghini LB63x

Yet another exotic whose name hasn't been made public, the LB63x has big shoes to fill. Due in late 2024 on a modified version of the Revuelto's carbon-fiber monocoque, the Huracan-replacing model is also going to alienate a certain type of car enthusiast because of its twin-turbo V8. Truth be told, every single one of us will miss the odd-firing V10.

Just like its V12-powered brother, the LB63x is rocking a plug-in system for extra oomph, better gas mileage, and lower emissions. The big question is, how many electric motors will it have? Three seems overkill, but there's a case to be made for single- and dual-motor options. The single-motor LB63x would integrate an electric drive unit on the transmission, and the dual-motor version would sport another high-output electric drive unit for the front axle.

The dual-motor option would give the LB63x a huge advantage over the Ferrari 296 and McLaren Artura, which also play second fiddle to the next-generation Baby Lambo due to their V6 powerplants. As far as the sales potential of a supercar is concerned, two extra cylinders make a world of difference.

Lucid Gravity

Lucid may be bleeding money at the moment of reporting, but its fortunes could turn for the better once the automaker's first sport utility vehicle hits the assembly line. Twinned with the sedan-bodied Air, the Gravity challenges the likes of the Tesla Model X, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, and even the Cadillac Escalade IQ. While others make do with 800-volt electrical architectures, the Gravity operates at 900 volts and features bi-directional charging.

Both two- and three-row seating configurations are in the offing, with Lucid confirming five-, six-, and seven-seat options. The second- and third-row seats fold completely flat, resulting in more than 112 cubic feet (3,171 liters) of usable cargo space. The front trunk is huge in its own right. As demonstrated by chief executive officer Peter Rawlinson and chief designer Derek Jenkins at the Gravity's launch event, the frunk doubles as a two-person sitting area.

One can only imagine Gravity owners driving their significant others to Costco to enjoy a $1.50 hot dog and 20-ounce drink while seated in the front trunk of their $80,000-plus electric sport utility vehicles. What? Why are you laughing? Eating hot dogs in this fashion is true love. Or am I in the minority here?

Mercedes-Benz EQG

The M176 twin-turbo V8 of the G 550 and M177 of the G 63 are perfectly suited for a body-on-frame SUV with a luxurious interior, but next year, Mercedes will reinvent its off-road icon with four electric motors. How did Mercedes-Benz combine the rear motors with a non-independent axle? The answer may surprise you: with a de Dion tube.

Named after French automotive pioneer Jules-Albert de Dion, it was Charles Trépardoux who designed this suspension technology. In a similar fashion to solid axles, the de Dion tube connects the wheel hubs via a rigid tube. However, drive is channeled to each wheel via separate half-shafts with U-joints on either end. The rear motors are secured to the chassis, yet the de Dion tube provides the articulation you would expect from a no-nonsense overlanding vehicle.

Based on a strengthened and waterproofed version of the steel ladder-frame chassis of the W463, the zero-emission model will be produced in Graz, Austria by contract manufacturer Magna Steyr. According to multiple reports, Mercedes might drop the EQ branding from its electrified vehicles in the nearest of futures. As a result, the EQG might be advertised under a different moniker. 2024 will also see the combustion-engined G receive a mid-cycle refresh.

Porsche 911 Hybrid

Back in 2009, the carparazzi spied a 997 prototype with a high-voltage sticker affixed to an oddly shaped bulge on the front hood. Chief executive officer Oliver Blume confirmed that Porsche is working on a hybrid-assisted Neunelfer in 2017, with said version to be introduced in 2024. But alas, not much else is known about the much-anticipated hybrid 911.

The yet-to-be-detailed powertrain is allegedly referred to as T-HEV, with said powertrain combining an integrated starter generator and an electric drive unit. Driving the front wheels, the electric motor is reportedly located under the fuel tank. Car and Driver says that the T-HEV is exclusive to the 3.0-liter twin-turbo boxer rather than the 3.7-liter of the Turbo or the 4.0 of the GT3 series.

But wait, there's more! The cited publication further understands that a 48V mild-hybrid setup will be added to the lineup, along with a completely new 3.6 in both free-breathing and twin-turbo forms. Given time, the 3.6 is said to replace the 3.0, 3.7, and 4.0. Whatever the future holds for the 911, hybrid assistance is a given due to emission and fuel economy regulations in the EU and the US of A.

Porsche Macan EV

To be revealed in the latter part of 2024 as a 2025 model, the 718-replacing line of electric sports cars will be predated by the German automaker's first electric vehicle. Based on the Premium Platform Electric of the Audi Q6 e-tron, the Macan EV will enter series production in 2024 with 600-odd horsepower from a pair of electric drive units.

Similar to the Taycan sedan and shooting brake, the crossover's range-topping version will be marketed as the Turbo. The lesser S and Macan are believed to belt out 500 and 430 horsepower, respectively. Porsche claims the Macan EV has a front-to-rear weight balance of 48 and 52 percent. In combination with the Porsche Active Ride suspension technology that made its debut on the third-generation Panamera, the Macan EV will eat corners for breakfast.

Porsche also made it clear that the battery pack uses nickel manganese cobalt cells. The gross capacity is estimated at 100 kWh, and in the WLTP, the Macan EV offers more than 500 kilometers of range. Converting to miles wouldn't make sense because the EPA tests electric vehicles differently from the Europeans. In the US, the Macan EV is likely to be rated at less than 300 miles (483 kilometers).

Ram 1500 REV

The Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Tesla Cybertruck will have to prove themselves against the Ram 1500 REV in 2024, a full-electric pickup with a targeted range of 500 miles (805 kilometers). This estimate is for the optional battery, which sports 229 kWh. The standard pack targets no more than 350 miles (563 kilometers) from 168 kilowatt hours.

The STLA Frame-based truck doesn't disappoint in terms of capability either, with Ram claiming up to 14,000 pounds (6,350 kilograms) for towing and up to 2,700 pounds (1,225 kilograms) for payload. Totaling a staggering $18.9 billion, the UAW-Stellantis agreement singles out the Sterling Heights production plant as the REV's stomping ground.

Impressive though it may be, the REV will be joined by a combustion-engined alternative. Due in 2025 rather than 2024, the Ram 1500 Ramcharger is an electric truck with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 acting as a generator. With a full charge of the battery and a full tank of dinosaur juice, it targets 690 miles (1,110 kilometers) of driving range. Depending on how much it will cost, the Ramcharger could prove a much bigger commercial success than the REV because pumping gas is more convenient than charging.

Tesla Model Y Juniper

Project Highland is the codename used by Tesla for the revamped Model 3, which has yet to start production in the United States. Not long now, the Model Y will follow suit with Project Juniper.

Set to become the best-selling passenger vehicle in the Old Continent in 2023, the Model Y is well ahead of the competition in many respects. In a similar fashion to Project Highland, the revamped Model Y won't be a ground-breaking makeover. The naysayers will criticize Tesla for dropping the stalks for turn signal buttons on the left spoke of the steering wheel, but the naysayers forget one thing. More specifically, where were these naysayers when Ferrari and Lamborghini ditched the stalks for buttons?

Tesla haters won't like the drive mode selector either. What if the touchscreen cracks in the area of the drive mode strip? In this event, the auxiliary drive mode selector in the overhead console will save the day. Other highlights to look forward to include acoustic glass on all windows, more range, small changes to the suspension and rear subframe mount, new wheel designs, and redesigned fascias for good measure.

Toyota 4Runner

Care to guess which is the oldest Toyota in the US lineup as of December 2023? That would be the immensely popular 4Runner, which sold 86,594 units in the first three quarters of the year. In production since 2009 for the 2010 model year, the fifth-gen 4Runner will be replaced by a more practical, more powerful, and more expensive 4Runner in 2024.

A credible insider reports Tacoma-like styling for the front end of the body-on-frame SUV, more upright C pillars for easier access to the third-row seats, and a four-cylinder turbo paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Also twinned with the Land Cruiser 250 and 250-series Lexus GX luxury SUV, the all-new 4Runner might also come as a hybrid. Because the Tacoma TRD Pro and Tacoma Trailhunter are 2.4-liter turbo hybrids by default, the same should apply to the 4Runner TRD Pro.

Rear-drive versions will get an automatic limited-slip differential, whereas most four-wheel-drive versions will be offered with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case. The Limited, on the other hand, will get full-time 4WD. Off-road trims such as the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro should level up to an electronic locking rear diff, because why not?

Toyota GRMN Supra

Collaborations come in many shapes and forms. Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams, and Nile Rodgers make an odd mix. But then again, Get Lucky went eight times platinum in the United States alone. Toyota and BMW are a weird pairing as well, but not as odd as M and GR joining forces for the GRMN Supra.

The GRMN Supra uses the S58 twin-turbo sixer of the M2, M3, and M4, yet power estimates vary wildly. Some speculate that it's the 460-ps tune of the M2. Others are convinced that it's the 550-ps tune of the M3 CS and M4 CSL. Regardless of which version of the S58 is used, the GRMN Supra will reward the driver who pushes it, and then some.

Based on spy videos of thinly camouflaged prototypes, the GRMN Supra packs a stick shift instead of shift paddles. What more could you want from a sports car in 2024? If you ask me, I would prefer a dipstick over an oil level sensor.