With 2024 passing as fast as Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 car, the arrival of the 242 plate on July 1 is almost upon us. Naturally, buyers across the country will be clamouring to get their hands on a car with the latest registration, but before you dash out and buy one straight away, consider what might be coming over the next few months. These are the best cars that are on their way in the second half of the year, and they might just persuade you to hold off on that 242-plate purchase for a month or two longer.
Peugeot E-5008
It isn’t coming until the autumn, but the new E-5008 will, as the name suggests, be an electric version of the next generation of Peugeot’s already popular 5008 family SUV. Peugeot has promised a full seven seats, despite the battery under the floor, which will offer customers a choice of two capacities. The basic version gets a 503km official range on a single charge, while the larger option will provide a striking distance of around 660km. And with charging speeds of up to 160kW, Peugeot reckons a charge from 20-80 per cent takes 30 minutes.
And those who prefer petrol power needn’t worry, because Peugeot will continue to offer petrol-powered 5008 models, which will get a similar look to the electric model. Expect to see the brilliant little 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine providing sufficient power and economy for the big family bus.
Dacia Spring
Anyone who has travelled to the rest of Europe may have noticed the little Dacia Spring electric car, but the Renault-owned car maker never put a right-hand-drive version into production. Until now. The next-generation Spring will be built in right-hand-drive form, and it’s coming to Ireland at the tail end of 2024. Expected to be the cheapest new electric car on the market when it arrives, we’re predicting a price tag of below €30,000.
Under the modern and minimalist skin, the Spring will have a compact battery that helps to keep the weight below 1,000kg. That means it only needs a small electric motor, while the 26.8kWh battery offers an official range of 220km on a charge. Safe to say, this is a car aimed at those in towns and cities, rather than drivers who regularly travel long distances.
Audi Q6 e-tron
Keen students of mathematics will be unsurprised to find this is an all-electric halfway house between the more compact Q4 e-tron and the bulkier Q8 e-tron in Audi’s range. Based on the same architecture as the new, all-electric Porsche Macan, the Q6 e-tron promises a broad range of motor power outputs and a selection of battery sizes, allowing customers to specify the car that suits their needs.
Smartly styled inside and out, the Q6 e-tron has technology at its heart, including clever ‘dynamic’ taillights that adapt to the situation and can ‘communicate’ with other drivers through pictograms. The car also will also be offered with a passenger touchscreen that’s effectively invisible to the driver, allowing other occupants to watch TV and films on the move. Safety tech is plentiful, too, and Audi is promising a range of up to 625km from the most efficient models.
Cupra Tavascan
Cupra’s long-awaited take on the VW ID.5 and Skoda Enyaq Coupe was first revealed last summer, but it won’t come to Ireland until later this year. Like its sibling cars, with which it shares much, the Tavascan will be a sportily styled all-electric SUV with a coupe-inspired design, as well as Cupra’s usual design flair.
An illuminated badge, LED lights and sharp lines will all feature on the new model, which will also come with the Volkswagen Group’s latest touchscreen technology. High-end versions will get the same two-motor, 340hp all-wheel-drive powertrain as the VW ID.5 GTX, while the 77kWh battery should ensure a range of more than 500km.
Alfa Romeo Junior
Alfa Romeo is known for its sporty saloons, coupes and convertibles, but the brand is fast becoming an SUV specialist, with the new Junior expected to join the Stelvio and Tonale models later this year. Alfa Romeo’s first electric car, it’s based on the same underpinnings as the Jeep Avenger, but with vastly different bodywork.
A radical take on Alfa Romeo’s triangular grille features alongside distinctive headlights. And a stylish cabin is also on the cards. Under the skin, there are electric and hybrid power options to consider.
Citroen C3
Citroen is completely overhauling its C3 this summer, with the new model promising more SUV-like styling and electric power. Value for money is the name of the game here, with Citroen aiming to build a kind of people’s car like the 2CV. However, the new C3 will be considerably more modern, with sharp styling and a minimalist yet comfortable cabin, as befits the Citroen brand image.
We’re expecting a 44kWh battery to provide a little over 300km of range, but those who prefer petrol power will also be catered for as time goes on. We’re expecting the fossil-fuelled C3 models to use the 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine seen in so many other Citroen products.
Carzone - 23-Apr-2024