What’s driving into 2024
Plenty of new models will join our roads in 2024. Mark Smyth looks at some that could pique your interest
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The holidays are behind us and it’s time to put all those plans into place for 2024. It could be a career change, booking a dream holiday or joining the gym, again. If you’ve decided to buy a new car soon it’s going to be a year of diverse choices, from more urban crossovers and SUVs to powerful performance cars and executive sedans to silent electric models.
If you are in the market for some new wheels this year, turn the key to start 2024 with our pick of new cars heading to the showrooms.
It’s not an A-Z list but we’ll start with Aston Martin anyway because while our sources won’t go on the record, unofficially we can tell you there will be a new Vantage and the next generation of the DBS, after the launch of the DB12 last year. The great news is that both will benefit from the much-needed focus on interior design that we saw in the DB12, but again, you didn’t hear that from us.
Sticking with the Brits and while the updated Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport are about to go on sale, all eyes are on Jaguar this year. We’ll say goodbye to the F-Type with final editions around the middle of 2024, but Jaguar’s plans to go all-electric are what is keeping us in suspense. Expect the first concept later in the year as a rival to the Porsche Taycan and Audi E-Tron GT, with production versions due on sale in 2025. It’s a massive gamble for Jaguar and one we hope will work, but it’s impossible not to be a little sceptical.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Before that, during the first quarter, we will see the updated version of the E-Tron’s Stuttgart sibling, the Porsche Taycan. Shortly after that the new Macan will make its debut, including an all-electric version and a little later on Porsche will unveil the updated version of the 911. They will all make their way to SA, of course, as will the new generation of the Panamera, which was revealed towards the end of last year.
Moving away from the Germans, Ford has just launched the Puma crossover in SA. It’s a great little thing, full of character and lovely to drive, but rather awkwardly, Ford is going to reveal the new Puma any day now, along with the new Kuga. If it’s horsepower you’re after then the new Mustang will gallop into town soon too, just don’t confuse it with the fully electric Mustang Mach-E, which is being evaluated by Ford SA at the moment.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied