Concept Cars and Future Cars

IntelliChoice has tapped its industry resources to produce this unofficial guide to concept cars and future cars in the automotive industry. Due to the dynamic nature of the business, these are strictly predictions of future cars. Plans and timing are subject to change. Updates and additions to the concept cars and future cars are made as information becomes available.

2008 Acura TL

Redesign. AWD and more power likely.

2008 Alfa Romeo 156/166

After years of delays, Alfa enters U.S. market with the next-generation 156 sedan and possibly wagon.

2008 Alfa Romeo Spider

Next-generation Spyder, built on platform co-developed with Lancia and Saab.

2008 Audi TT

New 280-horsepower V-6 added to powertrain choices. Roadster model introduced.

2008 BMW M3

The M3 coupe will feature a 4.0-liter/400-horsepower V-8 engine derived from the M5's mighty V-10.

2008 BMW V5

A new crossover vehicle that will share its AWD platform with the next-generation X5, the V5 merges sedan luxury with all-weather performance and sport-coupe dynamics. Engines will be next-gen I-6s and V-8s, the latter with second-gen direct-injection systems.

2008 BMW X3

Freshening.

2008 BMW Z4

M edition brings a 3.2L/343-hp engine, firmer suspension, dramatic body work, and better dressed interior.

2008 Buick Rainier

Redesign.

2008 Buick Rendezvous

All-new, lower, sleeker design on Lambda architecture.

2008 Cadillac BRX

The BRX small SUV will be key to Cadillac's attack on Europe. Expect a major upgrade in componentry from the Theta-based Chevy Equinox/Pontiac Torrent on which it's based. The CTS's 2.8-liter V-6 should be the BRX's standard engine, with the 3.6-liter V-6 fitted to top-of-the-range versions. There'll be no third-row seating; Cadillac doesn't think it's needed in this segment.

2008 Cadillac CTS

Redesign.

2008 Chery Coupe

Malcom Bricklin has announced that the brand name will not be "Chery" in the United States due to legal protest from General Motors citing the name being too close to "Chevy." All-new Chinese-built coupe with a turbocharged engine, priced in the mid $20s.

2008 Chery Sedan

All-new Chinese-built sedan offered with V-6 and V-8 engines.

2008 Chery Sport wagon

Seven-passenger sport wagon with AWD and V-8.

2008 Chery SUV

Small sport/ute.

2008 Chevrolet Aveo

Redesign. Next Aveo will again be produced by GM Daewoo in Korea.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu

Redesigned on the Epsilon 2 platform.

2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Redesign.

2008 Chrysler Pacifica

Redesign.

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Redesign.

2008 Chrysler Sebring

Midsize sedan and convertible developed on the Mitsubishi Lancer platform. Redesign convertible follows next year.

2008 Chrysler Town & Country

Redesign. The T&C is expected to be more differentiate from the Caravan with the next generation, and it will likely benefit from minivan cooperation with Volkswagen.

2008 Dodge Caravan

Redesign.

2008 Dodge Stratus

Midsize sedan and convertible developed on the Mitsubishi Lancer platform, with a wagon to join later.

2008 Ferrari Coupe

Entry-level Ferrari rumored, with possible retractable hardtop.

2008 Ford Crown Victoria

Redesign, based on next-generation, rear-drive Falcon platform developed in Australia.

2008 Ford EcoSport

Ford will add a B-segment small car beneath the Focus in America, derived from the Fiesta platform. Insiders suggest it will share lineage most directly with the Brazillian-made EcoSport and be a small sport wagon configuration.

2008 Ford Escape

Redesign on the Mazda 6 platform.

2008 Ford Expedition

Long-wheelbase version introduced.

2008 Ford F-150

V-6 diesel engine to become available.

2008 Ford Focus

Redesigned on current platform, rather than adopt the European C1 platform used by the Mazda 3 and Volvo S40/V50.

2008 Ford Freestar

Redesign.

2008 Ford Shelby

A high-performance car bearing Shelby's name is likely to replace the discontinued GT. Likely candidates are either the GR-1 or Shelby Cobra concepts.

2008 GMC Envoy

Redesign.

2008 GMC Sierra

Redesign.

2008 GMC Sport Wagon

All-new sport wagon derived from the Lambda architecture.

2008 GMC Yukon

Hybrid model added, with technology developed in partnership with BMW and Chrysler.

2008 Honda CR-V

Redesign. Expect size and power increase.

2008 Honda Element

Redesign. Expect power increase and a more monochromatic exterior.

2008 Hummer H3

Sportier Alpha variant added with hotter powerplant, possibly a turbocharged 3.7L I-5.

2008 Hyundai Dynasty

Premium sedan launched for U.S.

2008 Hyundai Pickup

Launch.

2008 Hyundai Sport Wagon

Versatile, all-weather sport wagon joins the popular vehicle segment.

2008 Infiniti CX

Infiniti will join the BMW X3-fighter fray for the 2008 model year with a smaller V-6 and four-cylinder counterpart to its FX35/45 crossover. Named CX25 (for the 2.5-liter four-cylinder version that'll be the volume seller in Europe), and CX35 (for the hotter 3.5-liter V-6 version expected to take most sales in the U.S.), the CX will share many of the FX's bold styling cues. It'll be built on a shortened next-generation FM front-mid-engine platform. The versatile FM underpins FX35/45, M35/45, G35, Nissan 350Z, and the next Skyline GT-R.

2008 Infiniti FX

Redesign.

2008 Infiniti Q45

Redesign.

2008 Isuzu Ascender

Diesel engine offered.

2008 Jaguar S-Type

Redesign.

2008 Land Rover Defender

Out of the U.S. market since 1997, the Defender will return for 2008 with a redesigned vehicle codenamed L317. By the time it's replaced, the Defender would have been manufactured for 25 years. This next-gen vehicle will be based on the LR3's platform.

2008 Lexus IS

Coupe and convertible variants join the range. Also, a high-performance V-8 version is under development to compete with the BMW M3 and the next-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG.

2008 Lexus LF-A

A show circuit darling, the LF-A sports car concept reveals the design for a production vehicle underdevelopment. Rumors have been corroborated by official information that this high-speed wedge is powered by a 500-plus horsepower engine. Spies report that Toyota has been testing a V-10 engine, but a similar output V-8 is likely. ""The LF-A is theoretically developed to run a parallel course to our company's efforts in Formula One racing,"" added Jim Press, Toyota Motor Sales executive vice president and COO. ""It would probably feature a powertrain and drivetrain configuration strongly influenced by whatever is being used in competition at the time."" Although it is about five inches shorter in length than the Porsche 911 Turbo, its wheelbase is nine inches longer. At 48 inches, it is nearly identical in height to the Ferrari F430. And with a width of 73.2 inches, it splits the difference between the Mercedes Benz SL55 and the Aston Martin DB9. More than an heir to the Supra mantle, this supercar may be priced near $100k.

2008 Lexus LS 600h

Hybrid luxury sedan brings power and fuel efficiency.

2008 Lexus SC

Redesign.

2008 Lexus VX

Larger than the RX, this new sport wagon will be derived from the GS platform. Look for V-6, V-8, and hybrid powertrains.

2008 Lincoln LS

Redesigned on FWD/AWD platform used by the Ford Five Hundred.

2008 Lincoln Navigator

Long-wheelbase version introduced.

2008 Maserati Spyder

Redesign. The new Spyder will feature avario-roof hardtop/convertible like the current car, and it will be built at the Modena Ferrari factory.

2008 Mazda CX-9

Large three-row sport wagon.

2008 Mazda Tribute

Redesign on the Mazda 6 platform.

2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Redesign. Expect sportier styling to draw more from the CLS than the S-Class. The C will be offered in RWD and AWD, with the next-generation 4Matic. The new C-Class will introduce Mercedes' new KDT EVT engine series - supercharged, direct-injection engines with electronic valvetrains replacing the camshafts.

2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class

Redesign.

2008 Mercedes-Benz MLK-Class

Tentatively set to make its debut in mid-2008, the MLK is said to be based on an AWD version of the next-generation C-Class platform, which means 230-horsepower, 3.0-liter and 270-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engines for U.S. buyers and the possibility of a V-8-powered AMG version later in the vehicle's lifecycle.

2008 Mercury Grand Marquis

Redesign, based on next-generation, rear-drive Falcon platform developed in Australia.

2008 Mercury Milan

Hybrid model added.

2008 Mercury Minivan

All-new, based on Ford Freestar.

2008 Mini Cooper

Redesigned on a BMW-engineered platform that allows for the flexibility to create model variants. The new Mini will very closely resemble the current car, with detail changes throughout. The new engines have been co-developed with PSA Peugeot-Citroen. Rumors suggest U.S.-bound models will likely feature a 1.6L/143-hp turbo I-4 and 1.6L/168-hp turbo I-4. The John Cooper Works model may boast as much as 230 hp.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer

Redesign. Platform will underpin new Chrysler PT Cruiser and Dodge Neon. The more modern sedan, with a sweeping arc roofline, will boast an Evolution X flagship next year.

2008 Nissan Maxima

Redesign.

2008 Nissan X-Trail

A small sport/ute sold in other markets, the X-Trail may be Nissan's first foray into alternative-fuel SUVs Stateside.

2008 Pontiac Bonneville

All-new sedan built on the rear-drive Zeta platform, offered with optional V-8 engine.

2008 Pontiac GTO

Internally called the GMX282, the 2008 GTO will be built on GM's new Zeta platform, now under development in Australia by GM's Holden subsidiary. The Zeta platform brings a new suspension all around, with a more sophisticated independent rearend promising better traction and even sweeter handling. The wheelbase has grown marginally to 110 inches. The next GTO will carry over the 6.0-liter, 400-horse LS2 from the current car as well as the six-speed manual transmission. The new GTO looks more muscular than today's model, with a fastback roofline and strong tension in the profile and pumped fenders. Overall length is down 0.8 inch to 189. The only retro nods on this car are the wide-track Pontiac-style front end and the twin hood scoops.

2008 Pontiac Solstice

A lightweight coupe is under development, making a hardtop street model a real possibility.

2008 Pontiac Sport Wagon

V-8 engine offered.

2008 Porsche Panamera

High-performance sedan to compete with Maserati Quattroporte and Mercedes-Benz CLS. Likely based on rear-drive platform shared with VW for a model to fit between the Passat and Phaeton. Expect the four-door to share Cayenne engines, meaning 340-hp and 450-hp variants.

2008 Rolls-Royce convertible

Four-seat convertible based on the 100EX concept.

2008 Saab 9-2x

Redesign. Trading corporate partners, Saab will break from Subaru to develop its entry-level sedan from the next-generation Opel Astra. This will allow for more Saab character, home-market factory, and a traditional inline four (rather than flat, boxer engine).

2008 Saturn Ion

Redesign.

2008 Saturn Outlook

V-8 engine offered.

2008 Scion xA

xA replacement, with new unknown name.

2008 Scion xB

Scion is expected to follow up its hit xB with another boxy vehicle, this time based on the styling of the t2B concept that rides on the more substantial Toyota Avensis platform.

2008 Subaru Forester

Redesign.

2008 Subaru Impreza

Redesign.

2008 Subaru Minivan

All-new vehicle based on the Legacy platform. Lessons learned from the failed J-market Traviq minivan ensure this N.A. product will stick to both market norms and remain true to Subaru brand values, including a boxer engine and AWD.

2008 Suzuki Aerio

Redesign.

2008 Suzuki Sport Sedan

All-new small car expected to bring the performance Suzuki is known for in motorcyles to cars, finally.

2008 Suzuki Verona

Redesign.

2008 Toyota Corolla

Expect Toyota to get edgier with its next-generation Corolla, hitting showrooms in 2007. The 2008 should bridge the generation gap between the Scion and Toyota lines and will have more interior volume than the current model. While the Scion roster consists of hatchbacks, the Corolla will continue here as a three-box sedan, with hatchback versions for overseas markets, only. A hybrid-powered version may follow.

2008 Toyota Highlander

Redesigned on the Avalon platform, growing larger in size to make room for the RAV4.

2008 Toyota Matrix

Redesign.

2008 Toyota Tundra

Heavy-duty version with a dieselengine.

2008 Volkswagen Bedouin

Compact, five-door SUV.

2008 Volkswagen Minivan

VW has announced that it will not build the expressive, but expensive, Microbus concept. Instead, its next-generation van will be designed for international markets, scheduled for 2008. That means it'll be an ordinary-looking, boxy van without stylized flower-power. In a surprising twist, VW will turn to Chrysler to build the seven-seat minivan in America, co-developed with the next-generation Dodge Caravan. The VW will have a VR6 and a diesel engine.

2008 Volkswagen Sedan

VW is developing a rear-drive, five-door sedan based on the Passat platform. To be offered with an available V-8, this new sedan will be a Mercedes E-Class competitor, where the failed Phaeton went up against the S-Class.

2008 Volvo C30

Small coupe and convertible to share basic platform, mechanicals, and drivetrain with the S40/V50 range. Styling will draw from the 3CC concept.

2008 Volvo S40/V50

Freshening.

2008 Volvo S60/V70

Redesign.

2008 Volvo S80

Redesign. AWD and V-8 will be available.

2008 Volvo XC50

All-new crossover. Smaller andmore affordable than the XC90.

2008 Volvo XC90

Freshening. Turbo I-5 is replaced by new I-6 engine.