This story appears in the November 7, 2016 issue of Forbes. Subscribe
Here are 15 of the hottest new releases for 2017--with tech advances aimed at real drivers who love the feel of the road. They include stately sedans, sleek sports cars, high-tech hybrid and electric vehicles, and a new generation of SUVs from some seriously luxurious brands.
It's enough to drive you wild.
Virtuous Reality
Audi's midsize A4 sedan is redesigned for 2017 and becomes lighter, roomier and more powerful in the process. Available accoutrements include Audi's Virtual Cockpit, which swaps the traditional instrument panel for a configurable and interactive 12.3-inch widescreen video display.
Bella Macchina
The Giulia is clearly not a traditional family sedan. It comes wrapped in passionately carved bodywork, sleek as an Italian suit. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine is quick enough for the masses, but the top Quadrifoglio model should be an enthusiast's favorite with a blazing bi-turbo V6.
Let There Be Luxury
G90 exudes opulence. Buyers can choose a twin-turbo V6 or smooth and powerful V8. The all-wheel-drive system can channel up to 90% of its power to the rear axle, but the emphasis is more on comfort. A handsomely cast wood-and-leather-trimmed cabin features limousine-grade rear legroom.
American Grandeur
Lincoln redoubled efforts to regain its status as a premier luxury brand. Three engine choices include a twin-turbo V6 with a V8-like 400 horses. A three-mode suspension maintains a smooth ride. Its rich interior can be fitted with 30-way adjustable front seats that heat, cool and offer massaging.
Intelligent Design
The 10th-generation can be packed with futuristic features, like steering-wheel controls for a car's infotainment system that respond to swiping gestures like a computer. Mercedes' Drive Pilot system also brings the E-Class closer to autonomous driving with assisted steering and lane changing.
The Posh Performer
Bentley debuts what it calls the "fastest, most luxurious, most exclusive sport-utility vehicle in the world." It's propelled by a powerhouse W12 engine. Inside it's all Bentley: Personalized with leathers and fit with Android tablets. Bespoke options: a Mulliner Tourbillon clock at $160,000.
A Crossover Star Is Born
The XT5 midsize crossover SUV affords added passenger room in an elegantly styled package. It packs a 310hp V6 engine and "twin clutch" all-wheel-drive system to enhance it's handling. Its opulent cabin can be accented with carbon fiber, two kinds of aluminum or three types of genuine wood.
Sexy Beast
The F-PACE shares its 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine with the F-Type sports car. An optional Configurable Dynamics system lets drivers fine-tune throttle, suspension, steering and transmission for a sporty or relaxed drive. The interior can be dressed up with ambient lighting and metal or wood finishes.
A Mighty Wind
The luscious Levante promises added exclusivity over mainstream luxury crossovers. It's tempestuous, with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, a 50:50 front-to-rear weight ratio and electronically controlled air suspension. Its fashionable cabin can be fitted with a 1,280-watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system.
Hot High-Tech Hybrid
After an 11-year absence, the NSX has been reinvented as a gas/electric hybrid. The next-gen NSX leverages dual electric motors, a turbocharged V6 engine for impressive bursts of speed and Acura's Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system to keep the car planted through the sharpest turns.
Charge It, Please
This expressively styled and spacious four-door delivers about 238 miles per charge. That beats the 215-mile range promised by the coming Tesla Model 3 and is more than twice the capacity of Bolt's competitor, the Nissan Leaf. The Bolt sells for around $30,000 after a onetime $7,500 tax credit.
Plug In, Turn On
The Panamera 4 will soon be offered as a plug-in E-Hybrid. Here, a quick twin-turbo V6 gas engine is enhanced by an electric motor for 462hp. The Panamera can run for 31 miles on battery power for zero-emissions, but engaging the E-Hybrid's "Sport Plus" mode unleashes its true performance-car persona.
Your New Ride, Mr. Bond
Aston Martin debuts DB11, the latest in a line of exotic sports cars including James Bond's DB5. The coupe's athletic exterior pays homage to its predecessors with elements like a front-hinged hood and the iconic trapezoidal grille. A galloping 600 horses enable it to reach 62mph in 3.9 seconds.
Low Ride, High Luxury
The LC 500 coupe will later be joined by a gas/electric hybrid version and a convertible. Swoopy curves capped by a signature spindle grille, the midsize LC 500 is light and lively, thanks to the use of race-car-worthy carbon fiber. Its V8 engine facilitates a sprint to 60mph in about 4.5 seconds.
America's Supercar
The Ford GT is the nation's supercar. This street-legal racer's profile is bedecked with curves, creases and vertical-opening doors. It puts more than 600hp on the pavement (via a V6, no less). But the GT is nearly unobtainable--Ford's has more than 6,500 applications for the first 500.
