2017 is right around the corner and the new year is bound to bring some awesome new automotive reveals. There are plenty of new reveals to look forward to in 2017, but we have boiled it down to five of our favorites. There are plenty of future models that we would like to have put on this list, like the Tesla Model 3 and Porsche Mission-E, but those cars probably won't see production until 2018. These are five highly anticipated models that will probably debut to the public next year, and see production shortly after.
This is a two-for-one, because Toyota and BMW are co-developing a sports car. Toyota will likely call its car the Supra, and BMW should use the Z5 moniker. There have been varying reports about what will power each of these sports car. The Supra could use a 350 horsepower four-cylinder with a hybrid drivetrain, while the Z5 could borrow four and six-cylinder engines from the BMW range. Unfortunately, a hardcore Z5M version seems unlikely. The Z4 has been a slow seller in need of a refresh and enthusiasts have been begging for a new Supra for over a decade. 2017 should end the suffering of BMW and Toyota enthusiasts.
The Corvette is a model that we almost didn't know that we were excited for in 2017. The Corvette Z06 already packs 650 hp from its LT4 engine, so it would be hard to imagine Chevy making anything that could top it. However, we have seen spyshots of a mystery Corvette with some insane aero. This mystery model is rumored to be the next-generation Corvette ZR-1 and we could see it as early as January at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show. The car could have an updated version of the LT4 engine, or a new LT5 V8 that's twin-turbocharged. Either way, this new Corvette is expected to make at least 700 hp, which should be absolutely epic.
One of the most perplexing models that should be revealed in 2017 is the Porsche 991.2 911 GT3. The current GT3 comes with a 3.8-liter flat-six engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch. Unlike the previous 997 generation model, which was only available as a manual, the 991.1 was only offered with the PDK dual-clutch. Other than the regular Carrera models, the limited edition 911 R was the only way to get a manual transmission with a GT3 RS engine. This 991.2 GT3 may change that, because it is rumored to come with the option of a six-speed manual. Porsche collectors are probably drooling over this car, and we bet that it will probably burst the bubble of insane prices for the 911 R.
Although Jeep may reveal the next-generation Wrangler in 2017, it is not the model that we are most excited for. That honor goes to the Hellcat-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. Every since the Hellcat engine was introduced, we dreamed about other models that could benefit from the car's 707 hp supercharged V8. FCA must have mirrored our excitement, because it will be dropping the engine into a Grand Cherokee. This amazing super-SUV will be known as the Trackhawk and will be a serious competitor for cars like the Tesla Model X, BMW X5M, and Mercedes GLE 63 AMG. Expect to see Jeep reveal the car sometime around July of 2017.
The latest AMG version of the E-Class has blown us away, but we have yet to see what BMW's next M5 will look like. The G30 5 Series was just introduced this year, and although it is a technological masterpiece, it didn't really excite us as much as the Mercedes did. Hopefully the F90 M5 should deliver the excitement that the standard car couldn't bring. The M5 will likely be powered by a modified version of the current 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, this time with over 600 hp. The coolest part of the car will be an AWD system which can turn into RWD at the push of a button. We didn't think that AWD belonged on an M car, but the ability to turn it into a full RWD system should make the car pretty interesting.