Scenario

Cars, all the innovations coming in 2025. Many electrics but hybrids growing

Manufacturers expand their offerings and many new models will arrive as part of a reshaping of strategies.Manufacturers relaunch electrified combustion engines, more affordable cars and innovative technological solutions

21 December 2024

3' min read

The storm that has hit the automotive sector will not affect the number of new models arriving in the coming year to any great extent.

In short, there will still be plenty of them (we list them on the Motori24 site), thanks also to the complicity of Chinese brands. In this respect, it must be said that compared to what was assumed until recently, the proliferation of electric models will be less numerous, given the difficulty they have in making inroads into the hearts of motorists.

The impasse favours cars with hybridised thermal engines and even brings out the pit into which turbodiesels were falling. Moral of the story? The re-evaluated road map of electrified Ice engines also infects brands that had set dates when they would become full-electric only.

In this renewed scenario, there are significant examples, such as that of Audi, which leads somewhat that of the entire Volkswagen group, which is also relying on turbodiesels in all its ranges. The latest confirmation is given by the new seven-seater suv Volkswagen Tayron. But back to Audi. Taking advantage of the debut of the Premium Platform Eletric architecture developed with Porsche, on which the Q6 e-tron and A6 e-tron suv ranges are based, Audi has defined the Premium Platform Combustion that shares the same advanced electronic and digital technologies with the electric one and supports the new Q5 and A5, i.e. the heir to the A4.

Instead, with models to be launched in 2025, BMW and Mercedes are focusing on new architectures developed for each type of propulsion. Bmw's Neue Klasse that will debut with the electric Ix3 is also suitable for hydrogen powertrains. On the other hand, Mercedes' Mma, which will debut with the first model of the new generation of compact cars, the Cla, supports the brand's reshaped strategy that has moved away from the farewell to thermal engines by also envisaging new high-efficiency units for hybrid systems and even a 'diesel attack' inspired by the 'suv attack' launched in 2015, which announced the arrival of many high-wheelers.

Staying in our neck of the woods, we come to Stellantis. In 2025, much later than expected, it seems more due to supply problems than to software as some have predicted, the Fiat Grande Panda hybrid and electric car will arrive. In addition, barring setbacks related to the current situation in Italy, we should see the new generation of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

It will be the first model on the StlaLarge platform and could also be offered with a range extender system, while both the new Jeep Compass and the Ds N°8 saloon, both hybrid or electric, which should be produced in Italy at Melfi, will be based on the Stla Medium already used by Opel and Peugeot for their medium-large suvs. Stellantis, however, is relying on the Chinese brand Leapmotor to stay engaged in the electric sector with proposals at prices that are not exorbitant, producing in Europe the T03 citycar and the C10 medium-sized SUV.

Instead, the landing in Europe of Chinese brands is driven not so much by electric cars but by the start of production in EU countries and by cars with conventional thermal and hybrid engines, some even with sophisticated plug-in super hybrid systems. This is the case of the daring Byd, which has just brought the electric sedan Sealion 7 to Italy, but which next year will also expand its offer with some plug-in hybrids. The same strategy also guides Jaecoo&Omoda by Chery, with Omoda even dedicating an LPG bi-fuel version of the SUV 5 to Italy.

Parallel roads are also travelled by other brands. For example, the Koreans Hyundai and Kia. The former, which has just marketed the plug-in hybrid version of the new Santa Fe, is focusing on full-electrics with the compact Inster and the big Ioniq 9 SUV, but other electrics are on the horizon in the coming months. On the other hand, Kia will reinforce both its electric offering by integrating three new versions of the all-new Ev compact suv into its range, including one with all-wheel drive, and by marketing the Ev 4 hatchback sedan, as well as its line-up of Ice cars, in particular by revamping the best-selling Sportage.

The Renault group is also in this vein, and as it prepares to put on the road the Horse hybrid engines developed in China with Geely to renew its ranges, it is announcing the marketing of the electric R4 and Twingo together with the Alpine A290 and A390 battery-powered sports cars. In addition, it is offering the Bigster suv, which is the first mid-size model by Dacia only with hybrid and LPG bi-fuel powertrains.