2015 Alfa Romeo Giulia: Alfa Romeo really is coming back to America, and a new compact sedan is the make-or-break offering. The Giulia promises zesty Italian style and driving fun, but it's a distant cousin of the Dodge Dart, so it will likely be "imported" from Belvidere, Illinois.
2015 Aston Martin Vantage: Even boutique automakers can't escape new rules for lower emissions and higher mpg. That's why Aston Martin is paring pounds and toning-up engines for its "junior" 2-seaters. The result should be a quicker, cleaner, and even sexier Vantage that 007 can endorse.
2015 Audi A9: Audi looks to accelerate its sales momentum with a new 2-door sports-luxury coupe and convertible. Derived from the A8 premium-large sedan, the A9 will be an image-building flagship vying for showroom attention with the brand's exotic R8 sports car.
2015 Audi R8: Audi's mid-engine 2-seat exotic is redesigned with added power and "lightness," plus new fuel-saving tech and fresh styling. For all the changes, though, the new R8 should be just as user-friendly and everyday practical as the supercar it replaces.
2015 Audi TT: Audi's entry-level sports car is redesigned with sharper styling, more power, and less weight. The third-generation TT also promises better fuel economy, greater agility, and a more-upscale interior. But will it be the credible Porsche Boxster rival that Audi intends?
2015 BMW X4: Imagine a junior edition of the coupe-styled X6 crossover, based on the redesigned X3 SUV, and you have the newest all-wheel-drive Bimmer. The X4 had been in limbo, but now it's good to go, thanks in part to Porsche's expected "baby Cayenne."
2015 BMW Z2: BMW is readying a back-to-basics roadster to slot beneath its 2-seat Z4. With rear drive and a soft top, the Z2 will answer a redesigned Mazda MX-5 Miata and new mid-engine sports cars from Volkswagen Group. It should be a great drive, but maybe not great dollar value.
2015 Honda S2000: Honda is said to be planning a new small sports car with a mid-mounted gas/electric hybrid powertrain and weight-saving construction. But this "new S2000" is likely years away, time enough for the market to change and Honda to change its mind.
2015 Infiniti LE: Infiniti is planning their first pure-electric premium-compact sedan, based off of parent company's Nissan Leaf. The LE is estimated to go on sale in the first half of 2014.
2015 Jaguar XS: Jaguar plans a new premium-compact car to chase the BMW 3-Series, and it promises to be far more special than the old X-Type. The XS might even have BMW power, but less weight could give it the edge in performance, fuel economy, and roadability.
2015 Lotus Elite: The boutique British brand famous for lightweight sports cars does a U-turn with a posh V8 convertible-coupe aimed at Aston Martin's DB9 and Ferrari's California. The new Elite is part of a stunningly ambitious growth plan for tiny Lotus, and both face long odds.
2015 Mercedes-Benz SLC AMG: Mercedes-Benz plans a kid brother for its racy SLS AMG as a direct challenger to the Porsche 911, Nissan GT-R, and other semi-exotic sports cars. The SLC AMG won't have gullwing doors, but it does promise similar warp-speed performance for one-third less money.
2016 Acura NSX: Honda's upscale brand resurrects its storied mid-engine sports car as a high-performance gas/electric hybrid with sharp new styling, all-wheel drive, and a born-in-USA label. The next NSX won't be cheap, but should be more accessible than most any other supercar.
2016 Bentley SUV: Volkswagen Group's ultra-premium British brand is poised to offer its first SUV. The EXP 9 F concept hints at what may be coming, though Bentley is still finalizing specifics like powerteams, the name--and maybe styling, judging from negative early reactions.
2016 Porsche 550: Europe's financial crisis has put a question mark on timing for the long-rumored "baby Boxster," in large part due to the delay in approving the Volkswagen 2-seater on which it will be based. But unless the global economy tanks again, the new entry-level "550" is probably going to happen, and it promises to be another crackerjack mid-engine Porsche.
2016 Porsche 929: Porsche is plotting a sports-luxury coupe based on its next-generation Panamera sedan. The "929" recalls the 928 of yore, but will also come as a soft-top convertible and sport wagon. All should be fast, agile, desirable and exclusive, with prices to match.
2016 Mercedes-Benz MLC-Class: The redesigned Mercedes-Benz M-Class is getting a slinky coupe-styled sister to take on the Acura ZDX, BMW X6, and other high-fashion SUVs. It seems a crazy idea, given the small U.S. demand for such vehicles, but Mercedes is thinking globally.
