There is always an excitement to begin a new year for car enthusiast as the newest models and newest technology hit the market. Although the fallacy that dealers let go of all of their inventory to close the year because they have to make room for the 2019 models isn’t necessarily true but the stat of the year is when you will find the newest and best that everyone has to offer and we complied a list of what might be on your most desired for the new year.
Although this list isn’t done in any particular order, I have to admit the BMW I8 is one of our personal favorites. I had an opportunity to speak with a dealer whom just marveled at the intricacies of what went into building this model, starting with the building blocks themselves. The I8 is constructed with a carbon fiber and reinforced durable plastic. The Drive System is a hybrid combination of fuel and electric that has won its category in the World Engine Competition for 4 years consecutively.
The inside starts with a state-of-the-art infotainment system and tip-style touchscreen featuring a head up display. Internet and link options bring your Pandora, I-tunes, and Spotify to you as if you were in your living room. The leather inside is soft but more importantly the stitching is solid and looks durable despite the peasant esthetics. The color options include E copper metallic and Grey metallic with matching appointments available for inside that include optional carbon trim and ceramic surfaces.
The top speed of the I8 is clocked at 155MPH, it flies from 0-62 in 4.4 seconds for the coupe and 4.6 for the roadster. The fuel economy with the hybrid combination is an impressive 149mpg with the Coupe and 135mpg for the Roadster. The CO2 emissions are 42g/km for the Coupe, 46g/km Roadster. Like every member of this list, you’ve got to pay to play and the 2019 BMW I8 will set you back $163k starting.
Ferrari 488 Pista Spider
This could be the hippest convertible since Speed Racer drove the Mach 5. First off it has the styling of a Ferrari, and there is no mistaking the style of the sporty lines throughout the body. But don’t let the it’s pretty face fool you, this car has plenty of juice where it counts. The Pista goes from zero 124mph in 7.6 seconds and that’s not a misprint. Then again what would you expect when it has a 710bhp under the hood. It’s made with a ultra-lightweight carbon fiber and even has an optional one-piece carbon fiber allow wheels for cool price of $28,000 for the set.
Bentley Continental GT
A wise man once told me, “if you’re gonna’ dream, then dream big”. If you had to put together a car that would be a blast to drive with plenty of juice under the hood, while making a solid statement then this is it. It checks off everything on the previous checklist while not being too ostentatious to be used in the course of your everyday life. This is actually an updated version of the Bentley Continental GT. In addition to being dynamically superior, it also received an upgrade to the interior, thus noticeably improving the aesthetics and comfort in the process. If you’re so inclined for some extra power, then you wont be disappointed with a 6.0 liter engine the Continental will take you from zero to 60 in 4.0 seconds and reach a quarter mile in just under 12 seconds. Of course luxury like this doesn’t come on the cheap, so be ready to put a dent in the checkbook. The Bentley comes with a price tag of over $214k for the basic model, so when you get done dotting your eyes and crossing your T’s look to spend even a little bit more.
Porsche Taycan
The first time a saw this I was blown away. We wanted to put together a list of the only the most superior cars in the world and no doubt the Porche Tycan is a big name on a short list. It is a four-door all-electric masterpiece of engineering that will make some serious waves when it officially hits the streets later in 2019. It will be the first entry from the Porsche Mission E concept line to be available to the public which is set to launch in March. It features two electric motors that can create performance from a variety of outputs, potentially ranging from 402bhp to 603bhp.
Inductive charging is supposed to be standard and its 800V technology is state of the art and almost insures that the car will have a current and mostly full charge times. The Interior is a luxurious as a first class seat on an airplane with surround you in suede and leather, with strategically placed instruments that facilitate driving and add to the experience. What you may not know is that the body is made with carbon fiber and other lightweight materials that lowered the weight substantially but not at the cost of European lines and impeccable styling.
Tesla Roadster
When Tesla introduced its ground breaking Model 3 back in 2016 it sent a tidal wave through the auto industry. Moreover, critics and skeptics did thier best to put as much negative spin on the car line and how it wouldn’t work, mostly out of fear that they would one day take over the market. Well Tesla did roll out the line and it made an even bigger splash than anticipated. In fact, it put most of the industry in a big hole trying to play catch up. Not surprisingly, they may have pulled the same feat with their new Roadster. It has the sleek styling that will defiantly be drawing people;s focus but when they see its amazing performance it will also hold it.
Speaking of performance, how does Zero to 60 in seconds sound? At that rate the Tesla will put every production car to shame and even give those that aren’t quite street legal a run for their money. Additionally, the Tesla has stated that the top speed for the roadster is 250mph and although we were unable to test it, even if it is close to that speed, it would be unheard of most most cars let alone an electric one. When driving at normal city speeds, the all-wheel drive Tesla Roadster should do around 620 miles between charges, more than any other electric car, meaning a very low carbon footprint for the owner if they can ‘fill up’ using green energy sources. As these numbers suggest, this will be the most expensive Tesla ever $200,000, in fact, for the Founders Series plus a deposit of $50,000. Not so bad when you consider it has one of the most technically advanced autonomous driving systems available and a gigantic touchscreen for browsing the internet, listening to music and navigating from A to B.