With 2016 drawing to a close we look ahead to some of the best cars arriving next year. From the refined, smart BMW X2 to the spicy new Audi R8 Spyder there's plenty to look forward to.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio
The Alfa Romeo revolution continues with the introduction of the Stelvio SUV. It wouldn't be unfair to say that Alfa's range was looking pretty bare six or seven years ago but the brand have enjoyed somewhat of a resugrance spearheaded by the flagship Giulia model which has taken on BMW's M5. The Stelvio was revealed at the LA Auto Show earlier this month and comes with a bunch of impressive features to bring it in line with leading competition such as the Porsche Macan. Where the Stelvio really stands out from the crowd is performance - 0-62mph is doable in just 3.9 seconds thanks to a 2.9-litre V6 offering 503bhp and a top speed of 177mph. An 8.8-inch infotainment screen helps give the interior a classy finish & theres sure to be plenty of high-tech equipment go around as well.
Audi Q2
That BMW X2 mentioned earlier will act as a direct competitior to Audi's Q2 vehicle which only arrived in the latter stages of this year. Will BMW unveil a performance version of their model to counter Audi's? Only time will tell but until then the focus can stay on the SQ2 which is shaping up to be a star turned for next year. No stats confirmed for this one yet but early suggestions are that it will be around the S3 engine mark with no more than 306bhp available.
Citroen Grand Cactus
The C4 Cactus was a success that maybe not everyone would have predicted. A vehicle which was highly practical, wasn't particualrly expensive to run & most of all was unique - the Cactus continues to enjoy significant popularity. Its a working title for Citroen's latest vehicle but it'll be interesting to see how the Grand Cactus shapes up. You won't be surprised to learn that the Grand Cactus will be slightly larger as the name suggests and while firm details are thin on the ground most rumours are confident the vehicle will feature seven seats and potentially a hybrid option.
BMW 5 Series
A big additon to the BMW range - a new 5 Series. The 5 Series has always been a big market player for BMW & thats highly unlikely to change when the seventh edition fo this popular saloon drops next year. Some of these changes include a lighter design and some new engines scuh as a 530e plug-in hybrid. There is likely to be a brief interior shake up as well which could help keep the 5 Series in the lofty perch it currently occupies.
Honda Civic Type R
The Civic Type R's first itteration was a big hit this year so Honda have announced the introduction of a new version. Is it too early to release a sequel? Hold that thought until 2017 but the early shots of the Type R revealed at the presitigious Paris Motor Show were highly enocuraging. We will be keeping a keen ear out for those performance stats which could even top the ferocious figures the current model is offering
BMW X2
The X2 is never likely to sell as many as BMW's higher ranking SUVs but the vehicle is shaping up to really become a key part of their range. The aren't too many images for the X2 currently available but it'll be built on the same platform as the 2 Series Active Tourer & the BMW off shoot the MINI Countryman. BMW's electric/hybrid revolution could include the X2 as well but nothing is confirmed as yet.
Citroen C3 & C3 Aircross
The new C3 will burst onto the scene in 2017 with plenty of interior revamps including a new dashboard layout & a crisp 7" display which will boast all the new features buyers have come to expect. You can read about the C3's offical reveal here. You'll notice the 'Airbump' side panels that featured in the popular C4 Cactus have been carried over to the C3 & they don't look out of place at all. There will be new engines as well & the it'll be interesting to see how the C3 shapes up especially in such a crowded market for quality competition.
Citroen will also be introducing the C3 Aircross into the market which will hope to capitalize on the popularity of crossovers with a brand new model. More on this one in due course it looks like.
Peugeot 5008
The 5008 is another addition to Peugeot's growingly impressive range. The SUV is fully seven seater with a 178bhp engine on offer and new look interior design including a clean looking 8" touchscreen.
Audi Q5
2017 looks to be the year of the SUVs with the Audi Q5 also getting a new version for 2017. The Q5 isn't massively special in this respect with Audi - the german brand are revamping a couple of their models including the A6 Allroad & A8. The Q5 hasn't been given a radical makeover but there are changes worth noting. It sits on a brand new MLB platform from VW and there will be a couple of new engines as well. THis includes a 3.0-litre V6 with 228bhp. There's also a new 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit inside which will give the Q5 a big edge when it takes on market competitors.
Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
Admittedly not something many people will have on the shopping list for next year its always worth including one of the super car stars for the next year. The LaFerrari is so far the pick of the bunch as evidenced by its incredibly quick V12 6.3-litre engine & staggering 950bhp. So good that high profiles such as Gordon Ramsay have it on pre-order. We reckon the power under the Alperta's bonnet may bring out some of the more colourful language Ramsay is known for. Fully convertible and with a sharp exterior design; no pricing has been revealed yet but we can comfortably say its probably out of our price range.
