january2021

SEXY GLAM

MAGAZINE - JANUARY 2021

verything seems to

be changing by the hour

as the global health crisis

completely upends the way

the world works, but while

automakers are making face

shields and ventilators, the

core of the business—de-

signing and engineering

cars to (someday) sell—

continues apace. It may be

happening in home offices

and otherwise socially dis-

tanced manners, but these

machines are just too com-

plicated to completely shut

down research and devel-

opment and restart it later.

Plus, suppliers have been

contracted to make every-

thing from shock absorbers

to stamping dies—and they

need to get paid.

The cars on sale today and

coming to a dealer near you

in the next year have been

in development for the past

five to 10 years. The ones

you’ll be able to buy a few

years from now are already

deep in the development

process. Cars you won’t be

able to buy for the better

part of a decade are already

being approved, with a de-

sign freeze in progress. This

industry runs on a multiyear

cycle, so even when it’s dis-

rupted, there’s always more

on the way. One note: The

arrival dates are subject to

change based on the dura-

tion of quarantines in vari-

ous regions.

From the SUVs, trucks, and

cars already confirmed for

production when the facto-

ries reopen to those wait-

ing to have the sheet pulled

later this year and the ones

still in the concept phase,

we have more than 50 of the

most interesting and exciting new vehi-

cles coming to your streets and drive-

ways. Endless variations of SUVs, rad-

ical trucks, cars of the future, and all

manner of cleaner, safer technology are

coming, and we have the goods on all

of it. - Scott Evans

Future SUVs: What’s NOW

Whether it’s cheap gas, perceived safe-

ty, or just collective preference, SUVs

and crossovers are the fastest-growing

segment of the vehicle market, mostly

at the expense of cars. American shop-

pers can’t get enough of ‘em, and auto-

makers are happy to design as many of

these higher-profit margin vehicles as

they can to meet the demand.

Much as cars used to offer a wide va-

riety of body styles and functions ap-

pealing to all sorts of buyers, SUVs and

crossovers today come in seemingly

endless shapes, sizes, and powertrains.

From EVs to rock crawlers, there’s

something for everyone coming to your

local showroom soon.

Volkswagen Tiguan

What’s New: Volkswagen’s global

best-seller is due up for a refresh, and

you’ll recognize it right away with its

sportier nose job and all-LED exter-

nal lighting front and back. Inside, the

Tiguan gets a sportier steering wheel,

borrowed from the larger Atlas Cross

Sport, and VW’s latest infotainment

system with over-the-air update capa-

bility. Also available: multicolor interi-

or ambient lighting to set the mood.

What’s Not: Everything else. Volk-

swagen is considering a plug-in hybrid

drivetrain option for the next-genera-

tion Tiguan, but for now, it sticks with a

turbocharged four-cylinder engine and

eight-speed automatic.

When: Fall 2021

How Much: $26,000 (est)

Alfa Romeo Tonale

What’s New: Alfa needs to expand its

lineup, and fast. SUVs are hot, so next

up is the subcompact Tonale to slot

under the compact Stelvio. We expect

it to be front-drive based with the op-

tion of all-wheel drive, and it will use

FCA’s small SUV architecture. The

Tonale Concept was powered by an

unspecified plug-in hybrid drivetrain,

which we think could be the 1.3-liter

turbo-four in front and electric motor in

the rear used by the Europe-only Jeep

Renegade plug-in hybrid, which makes

240 hp total. We also think the Alfa

will get a non-hybrid option, probably

a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4.

What’s Not: The Tonale will share a

platform and likely powertrains with

other FCA small crossovers, such as

the Jeep Renegade.

When: Early 2021

How Much: $35,000 (est)

Audi E-Tron Sportback

What’s New: Although it’s essential-

ly a fastback version of the E-Tron

SUV, with a new roof, new rear quarter

panels, and a new tailgate, the E-Tron

Sportback has a more carlike presence,

like a tall hatchback rather than an SUV

trying to look sporty. The Sportback

will benefit from a number of technical

upgrades from Audi designed to boost

Future Cars! 2021 And Beyond

The most exciting new cars, trucks, and SUVs coming in the next few

years, all in one place.