These 12 cars, trucks are sparking interest
Electrics offer excitement alongside favorite brand names
Next year is shaping up to be electric for the auto industry.
That is, several electric vehicles are among the most anticipated new models of 2020.
General Motors, Ford, Tesla, Porsche and Volkswagen are among the automakers poised to roll out new electric vehicles as competition heats up in a segment that still represents fewer than 1 in 50 new-car sales.
“On paper this could be big,” said Jeremy Acevedo, manager of industry analysis for car-research site Edmunds. “But now the proof’s in the pudding with EVs. We’ve seen a lot come out with lackluster sales.”
To be sure, perhaps the most anticipated vehicle of the year is the furthest thing from electric. Here are some of the most anticipated redesigned and new models set to arrive in 2020:
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
For the eighth generation of the Corvette, General Motors made a big change. The automaker’s engineers moved the Vette’s engine from the front of the vehicle to the midsection.
That change was aimed at placing the vehicle in the pantheon of high-performance exotic European sports cars that zip around corners and accelerate like rockets.
While some Corvette purists might grumble about it, most critics and fans seem to be pumped up. The mid-engine Vette isn’t even out yet, and it already was named MotorTrend Car of the Year.
“It’s America’s sports car,” said Karl Brauer, executive publisher of Cox Automotive, whose brands include Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader. “It’s really setting a new bar in terms of price and performance.”
Rivian R1T
Haven’t heard of Rivian yet? You probably will soon.
The Michigan-based electric vehicle start-up has attracted investments from Amazon and Ford after developing an impressive electric vehicle architecture that can reused for different models.
The R1T is expected to be the first major electric pickup sold in the U.S. when it begins production in late 2020. If it’s on time, Rivian will have at least a year head start on Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s
Cybertruck.
“They probably will hit this deadline, and we probably will see a Rivian truck this year,” Acevedo said.
Tesla Model Y
Rivian might beat Tesla to the market for an electric pickup, but SUVs remain the best-selling segment in America. And the Model Y is Tesla’s first SUV aimed at a mass market.
While the Model X has been out for a few years, it’s an ultra-luxury vehicle that can top $100,000. The Model Y starts at $48,000 for a version that will go 300 miles on a single charge.
Musk has predicted the Model Y will be Tesla’s best-seller, topping the current titleholder, the Model 3 compact car.
Ford Bronco
The Ford Bronco is being revived, and the SUV’s dedicated fan base is stoked.
Discontinued in the 1990s after the infamous O.J. Simpson case gave the vehicle a dose of unwanted publicity, memories of that incident are fading.
Ford recently teased that it will reveal the vehicle in the spring.
“This one is going to be unabashedly a lifestyle vehicle,” Acevedo said.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
In the buzziest reveal of the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show in November, Ford debuted its long-anticipated “Mustang-inspired” electric crossover. Turns out it’s not just “inspired” by Mustang – it is a Mustang.
At least, it has the name attached to it. The Ford Mustang Mach-E crossover is a sibling of the pony car from a styling perspective. But that’s about where the similarities stop.
Case in point: You won’t get the Mustang’s trademark growl. It’s a batterypowered car, so this pony will stay silent. But with “attractive styling and aggressive performance capabilities all at a relatively reasonable price,” it could be a big success, Brauer said.
Volkswagen ID. Crozz
After its diesel emissions scandal, Volkswagen vowed to pivot to electric vehicles. The automaker has revealed a series of electric models at recent auto shows, but still hasn’t started selling one after the demise of the eGolf.
That should end in 2020 with the arrival of the Volkswagen ID. Crozz crossover, according to Edmunds.
Volkswagen North America CEO Scott Keogh told USA TODAY that the company’s EV would be priced in the range of $30,000 to $40,000.
Land Rover Defender
This vehicle, an SUV made for offroading, disappeared from the U.S. market in 1997. But it’s making a grand return after debuting at the L.A. Auto Show in November.
With an expected starting price of $49,990, the boxy SUV will compete with the likes of Jeep Wrangler and even the Ford Bronco.
Lincoln Corsair
Ford is making a nostalgia play by reelectric viving the old Corsair brand with this compact SUV.
The Corsair replaces the MKC as Lincoln ditches the alphabet soup naming convention common among luxury cars in favor of recognizable brand names that resonate in the social media age.
Porsche Taycan
Derived from the Mission E concept car, the Porsche Taycan is aimed squarely at luring uber-luxury EV buyers back to the brand.
The electric sports car comes in multiple varieties. The Taycan Turbo S has a range of 256 miles and a starting price of $185,000. The Taycan Turbo has a range of 280 miles and a starting price of $150,900. And the Taycan 4S has a range of 253 miles and a starting price of $103,800.
Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe
Sharing a platform with the automaker’s full-size pickups, these SUVs have a loyal following.
At a time when competitors are trying to catch up with new three-row SUV offerings such as the Volkswagen Atlas, Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, GM will try to stay a step ahead with an overhaul of its family haulers.
Ram Dakota
Ever since the Dodge Dakota was discontinued following the 2011 model year, Fiat Chrysler has been missing from the mid-size everyday pickup segment.
That was fine for a few years when Americans seemingly lost interest. But GM’s success with the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, Toyota’s stalwart Tacoma and Ford’s revival of the Ranger showed that there’s plenty of room for midsize pickups.
Yes, Fiat Chrysler recently unveiled the Jeep Gladiator mid-size pickup. But that’s geared for off-roaders at a premium price. Expect the Dakota, which we haven’t yet seen, to arrive as the company’s affordable mid-size option.