The beginning of a new year is always a good time to look ahead to what new cars are parked in the showroom. There are many electrically powered models on the market, but there are also more conventionally powered new cars. These are the ten protagonists.
Peugeot 308 – Opel Astra – DS 4
We’ll start right away with triplets that are no doubt eagerly awaited. Groupe PSA, as the group is still called, is preparing its latest generation of compact mid-sized cars. Compared to their predecessors, all three have a major makeover in store. The Peugeot 308 and Opel Astra are both quite old and are, thanks to the thoroughly changed design language of both brands, quite different than before. The DS 4 certainly, since the previous one dates from the time when DS was not yet a separate brand. We do not have to expect fully electric versions of the three for the time being, but plug-in hybrid drive does.
Nissan Qashqai
Although Nissan will be less focused on the European market in the coming years, there is just another follow-up of its absolute sales topper. The new Qashqai promises to be a lot, because it is on a completely new platform and will receive an electrically powered version in addition to various mild-hybrid petrol engines. At least, there will be a Qashqai with Nissan’s e-Power on board. Electric drive, but powered by a fuel engine. We are curious.
Toyota Yaris Cross
The Toyota Yaris gets a more adventurous big brother in the form of the Yaris Cross. A crossover in this already quite saturated segment is a potential sales topper and Toyota hopes to achieve that with the Yaris Cross. With its hybrid drivetrain and eye-catching appearance, they may well succeed, so don’t be surprised if you start seeing this car regularly in 2021.
Volkswagen Nivus
In the same vein as the Yaris Cross, Volkswagen has of course been represented by the T-Cross for a while. However, that does not mean that Volkswagen is resting on its laurels. A market with so much potential naturally demands even more, so the brand comes with the Nivus. That is essentially a T-Cross with a more sloping roofline. In Brazil they had the scoop with the car that you see here in the picture, here in Europe we get a slightly modified variant in the new year at most.
Mercedes-Benz C-class
The ‘German three’ are always somewhat out of step with each other when it comes to the age of their middle class. The Mercedes-Benz C-class is currently the oldest of the three, but in 2021 it will make the Audi A4 and BMW 3-series look tired again. At least, that is of course the goal of Mercedes. You do not have to expect a major change of course in terms of design, but soon the new C-class will again be in line with its bigger brothers in terms of looks.
Skoda Fabia
The Skoda Fabia has been behind the Volkswagen Polo for a long time, because the current Polo has been among us for a few years on a platform that the Fabia has not yet been able to make an appeal to. This will change in 2021. The completely new Fabia will be released in the course of the year. Not only does it appear sharper, but also much more mature. If that is not enough, there will also be a Combi! The Polo does not have that. In fact, the Fabia thus gains a market monopoly.
Renault Arkana
Compact sedans and coupes actually no longer exist in our part of the world, but we do get more and more SUVs in return with sloping roof lines. Also from Renault. The Arkana will be released in 2021 on the same basis as the Captur and Clio. A sleek newcomer that, despite its relatively modest base, is even more robust than the Kadjar. With standard RS Line decoration, it must also be clearly more lavishly endowed than its brother, the Captur. And not unimportantly; as with the Captur, a plug-in hybrid E-Tech version is likely to be on the way.
Kia Sportage
If you thought that only Hyundai with the new Tucson is nice and quirky to work, just wait for its Kia brother. The new Sportage can probably also do something in that regard. As can be seen in the illustration above, we expect a fairly striking front with – unlike the current Sportage – placed low in the nose and split headlights. Standing out is nice, but more importantly, the Sportage will undoubtedly also come as a plug-in hybrid. After all, there is also the Tucson. Until now, the Sportage has been a resounding success for Kia, the new one has great shoes to fill in that regard.
There is more …
Of course there is much more to come for those who do not necessarily want to drive fully electric. What about the new Mercedes-Benz GLC, for example? Or the new BMW 2 Series Coupé and M3 Touring? And then Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis is also coming this way. In short, it promises to be another interesting year with plenty of first acquaintances.