See all Motoring NewsNext year is already looking like it’s shaping up to be a momentous year for new automotive launches. So, with that in mind, we’ve rustled up our favourites that should all arrive in Ireland before summer is reaching its peak, meaning they should be available on the 251 registration.
Audi Q5 Sportback
Audi’s persisting with its petrol- and diesel-powered midsized SUV line, even when more and more of the German company’s products these days are electric vehicles (EVs). And with the regular, upright-bodied Q5 already shown off to the world, the expected ‘Sportback’ spin-off has now been previewed too.
This racier-looking version of the European family favourite will sit on the same Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) underpinnings as the regular Q5 and comes with three engines from launch: a choice of 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engines in both petrol (TFSI) and diesel (TDI) flavours; and then a range-topping SQ5 with a V6 TFSI delivering 367hp. For those striking exterior looks, you don’t lose too much boot space, either.
Citroen C3/e-C3 Aircross
The cheerful little Citroen has won plenty of plaudits for the amount of character it offers in such a small package. Well, those wanting a little more room, but the same great value will therefore be looking forward to the new C3 Aircross landing instead. As the name implies, you’ll be able to get this compact crossover with a petrol engine, but it will also come with electric power as the e-C3 Aircross. This will have a 44kWh battery and around 300km of range, which will be fine for urban and semi-urban families with local commutes as their primary form of driving. The Aircross will also, for the first time, be available with seven seats, but not as the EV – only as the petrol or a forthcoming hybrid.
The Cupra Tavascan is just arriving for test drives in Irish dealerships now, with prices confirmed for the electric coupe-SUV. A natural bedfellow for the related Volkswagen ID.5 and Skoda Enyaq Coupe SUVs with which it shares so much, the Tavascan is only Cupra’s second all-electric model after the Born hatchback. It’ll come with a 77kWh battery and a 286hp motor to begin with, landing it the ‘Endurance’ epithet, and there will be two generous specifications known as Type 4 and Type 6. Future models include a dual-motor, four-wheel-drive variant known as the VZ, with up to 340hp.
Ford Puma Gen-E
A vitally important car for Ford and one which might deflect away a bit of the flak it has received in the wake of its decision to revive the Capri badge on an electric coupe-SUV. The smaller Puma Gen-E is a remarkably simple formula: take an existing, combustion-powered crossover that’s a big-selling machine, remove its engine, gearbox and fuel tank, and fit it with an electric motor and battery pack instead. Visually, the Gen-E doesn’t look very different to any other Puma, save for its smoothed-off nose on the outside and column-mounted gearshift within, but with 168hp and up to 376km of range to a charge, the electric model is set to be a success. It even has a bigger boot than its petrol sibling, measuring up to 574 litres courtesy of the underfloor ‘GigaBox’.
Range Rover Electric
Not one at the more affordable end of the market, but the incoming Range Rover Electric is going to be a mighty important vehicle for parent company JLR. At present, the ‘J’ part of that initialism (Jaguar) isn’t making any cars at all and is undergoing a bold new reinvention ready for 2026, so it’s up to Land Rover and its products to hold the fort in the interim. That makes this RR Electric only the second EV from the JLR stable, following on from the Jaguar I-Pace. No exact stats on its range and power have yet been revealed, but this large, luxurious SUV is already undergoing hot-weather testing in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, so more details on the desirable Rangie Electric will be revealed soon.
Suzuki e-Vitara
Possibly landing just at the end of the first half of 2025, the e-Vitara will continue one of Suzuki’s longest-serving nameplates and, at the same time, usher in the first fully electric model of this Japanese company’s history. Suzuki will offer the e-Vitara with two battery packs of 49- and 61kWh capacity, with an official 400km-plus from even the smaller of these, and power outputs will spread from 144- to 183hp, with the latter of these reserved for the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive variants. Expect Suzuki’s generous array of standard equipment and interior space for your money once the e-Vitara’s prices and specs are confirmed.
The word ‘icon’ gets bandied around in the automotive industry far too readily these days, but of the handful of existing cars which can perhaps rightly lay claim to the title – the Ford Mustang, the Porsche 911, the Land Rover Defender and the MINI, being a few candidates – the Land Cruiser surely deserves to be among their number. This rugged 4x4 has been with us continuously since 1951 and the latest version teams chunky, retro-charming exterior styling with a much-improved interior, courtesy of the ramped-up technology and quality levels. Power is provided by a 2.8-litre turbodiesel shared with the similarly evergreen Hilux pickup, and the Land Cruiser’s go-anywhere ability will be able to be enjoyed by seven passengers, given the standard seating configuration that will be offered here.