Though sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks now account for the lion’s share of new-vehicle sales, (to paraphrase Mark Twain) the reports of the passenger car’s death has been greatly exaggerated. Seems there’s still a lot of life left in the genre, as evidenced by the extensive selection of all-new and fully redesigned family sedans, luxury cars, and sport coupes that lead the class of 2019.
Here’s a quick look at 15 of the most significant new cars headed to dealerships, with images for each of them featured in the accompanying slideshow. We’ll take a look at the hottest new SUVs and trucks for 2019 in a separate post.
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera. Aston Martin brings back – and combines – two famed nameplates from its storied history for its new flagship coupe, the DBS Superleggera. Gorgeously styled with fluidly flowing body work crafted from carbon fiber, it’s 2+2 interior is equally appealing, with front-seat occupants treated to sport seats upholstered in supple “aromatic” leather and Alcantara. A 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine generates a mighty 715 horsepower and, assisted by a performance-enhanced eight-speed automatic transmission, can launch the car to 62 mph in a sudden 3.4 seconds and hit a terrifying top speed of 211 mph. Riding on 21-inch rims and Pirelli P-Zero performance tires, and with assorted performance-enhancing systems at hand, the car is engineered to hug the corners as tightly as a toddler with a teddy bear.
Audi A8. A fourth-generation version of Audi’s flagship sedan debuts for 2019 with a fresh design language. A spacious leather and wood trimmed interior coddles its occupants in comfort, and features Audi’s configurable Virtual Cockpit instrumentation, with dual touchscreens with haptic feedback for the infotainment system. Opulent options include heated center console and arm rests, a dual-tablet rear entertainment system, and executive-class rear seats that recline, massage, and feature adjustable head- and footrests. It comes powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine with 48-volt “mild hybrid” technology, and rides on an active suspension for improved vehicle dynamics. A new frontal auto-braking safety system can help prevent against crashes with cross-traffic at intersections. The new A8 can even be pulled into and out of a garage or tight parking space remotely.
Bentley Continental GT. The third generation of Bentley’s sporty and stately Continental GT coupe bows for 2019, and continues its familiar long-hooded appearance, albeit with added refinement nose to tail. A 6.0-liter W12 engine (it’s like a pair of conjoined V6s) pushes the GT’s hefty curb weight along at a rapid clip (0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds) with 626 horsepower and a forceful 664 pound-feet of torque; top speed is a warp-nine 207 mph. An electronically controlled suspension balances ride comfort and energetic handling abilities via selectable driving modes. As one would expect, the four-seat coupe’s interior is up to Bentley’s over-the-top standards and is upholstered in rich leather and trimmed in wood and piano black finishes. Also, as one would expect, the list of standard features is exhaustive with almost limitless customization available.
BMW M850i xDrive. BMW brings back the 8 Series coupe after a 20-year hiatus as an appropriately long, wide, and low slung ride, with what BMW calls “double bubble” contouring. Headlamps incorporate both LED and laser light technology and are said to bethe slimmest used in any BMW to date. An optional carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic roof reduces the coupe’s curb weight and lowers its center of gravity for a notch better handling. Inside, sport seats are trimmed in Merino Individual leather with contrast stitching. The M850i xDrive packs a punch with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter 530-horsepower V8 engine; mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, it can leap to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. All-wheel-drive and a self-parking function come standard, with an adaptive racing-inspired suspension among its many performance-minded options.
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. As automotive enthusiasts wait for a coming mid-engine Corvette, Chevrolet brings back the rip-roaring ZR1 as a bona fide Ferrari fighter. Coming in both coupe (with a removable roof panel) and convertible variants, it’s the fastest ‘Vette ever, thanks to a new dual fuel-injected supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that channels a speedy 755 horsepower to the rear wheels via either a seven-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. A model-specific front fascia channels copious amounts of air for propulsion-system and drivetrain cooling. A carbon-fiber “halo” hood is open in the middle to accommodate the supercharger/intercooler assembly. An optional ZTK Track Performance Package includes an adjustable high-wing spoiler for added downforce, a front splitter with carbon-fiber end caps, Michelin summer performance tires, and specific chassis and Magnetic Ride Control system tuning. It’s packed with features and starts at around $120,000
Genesis G70. Hyundai’s luxury division debuts this BMW 3 Series-esq rear-drive compact sedan for 2019 with assertive styling. A 2.0-liter with 252 horsepower is standard with a turbocharged 365-horsepower V6 available. An eight-speed automatic transmission with launch control comes standard, though the base rear-drive 2.0-liter model can instead be fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox; all-wheel-drive is optional. A multi-link suspension at the front and rear along with a torque vectoring systemafford entertaining handling, with multiple drive modes at hand to fine-tune powertrain response, steering feel, all-wheel drive torque distribution, suspension firmness, and even the engine’s sound. Standard features include a full rack of accident avoidance systems.
Honda Insight. Honda brings back the Insight name, and this time around it’s a midsize four-door hybrid that’s capable of a penny-pinching 55 mpg around town. With a dynamic front end treatment and coupe-like profile it sports a decidedly forceful look. Power comes from an electric-assisted 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with the equivalent of 151 horsepower and a lively 197 pound-feet of torque. Frugal-minded drivers can put the car EV mode for limited all-electric operation, and can increase regenerative braking to help bolster battery charging. Efficient battery packaging enables a spacious 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, while maintaining a roomy interior. There’s even a selectable sport mode that affords livelier operation.
Hyundai Veloster. Hyundai’s small and sporty three-door front-drive hatchback gets a major redesign for 2019 with burlier styling. The standard engine is a 2.0-liter with 147 horsepower, while the Turbo version packs a 1.6-liter turbo-four with 201 horses; the former can be mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, while the latter offers a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic as an alternative to the manual. The sportiest N version leaps off the line with a 275-horsepower turbo-four and the six-speed manual. Automatic-equipped models include selectable driving modes, while Turbo models feature an active engine sound feature that boosts the exhaust note for added visceral effect. An active cornering vectoring control helps maintain crisp handling. Assorted collision-preventing systems and infotainment features are included with Amazon Alexa, and Android Wear/Apple Watch connectivity available.
Kia Forte. Still a great car for younger and budget-minded drivers, Kia refreshes its compact sedan for 2019 and imbues it with handsome styling inside and out that makes it look like a costlier car. A revamped 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generates an estimated 147 horsepower and can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a gearless CVT automatic transmission. As befits a car with youthful appeal, full smartphone connectivity is included with the Apple Car Play and Android Auto interfaces incorporated; a wireless phone-charging pad is newly available. For safety’s sake, the Forte can now be fitted with forward auto-braking, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor, and a lane keeping assist system.
Lexus ES. The midsize Lexus ES luxury sedan comes in a fully redesigned version for 2019 with added pizazz and personality. It’s longer, lower, and wider, and comes wrapped in dynamically recast bodywork with additional curves and creases and the automaker’s signature spindle-shaped grille. A 3.5-liter V6 engine sends 302-horsepower to the front wheels via a new eight-speed automatic transmission. An F-Sport iteration is newly added to the line and can be fitted an Adaptive Variable Suspension to ratchet up the sedan’s cornering prowess without undue ride harshness. A hybrid version combines a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor to realize the equivalent of 215 horsepower at an estimated 44 mpg in city/highway driving. The Apple Car Play interface is new this year – it’s also Amazon Alexa-enabled – with a full range o