FUTURE ICONS

THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD IS CHANGING FAST. THIS COLLECTIVE IS PART OF THE NEXT GENERATION THAT STAND TO BE GAME CHANGERS

- ANDY ENRIGHT, JOHN LAW, ALEX INWOOD

THERE HAS never been a more exciting time to be a car enthusiast. Why? Well, consider this. There has never been a Golden Age of Motoring, largely because every generation just gets better and better. Affordable hot hatches offer the performance of supercars a generation or two back. Everyday family transport delivers more luxury and feature-richness than a limo from the same era. We genuinely have never had it so good.

Of course, there's a significant contingent of motorists who don't welcome an electrified future. Likewise, many see the rise of the Chinese car industry and the political entanglements therein with suspicion. While autonomy can't come soon enough for some, it's viewed by others as the beginning of the end for the keen driver. There are definitely obstacles to overcome and solving these issues isn't the work of a moment.

Nevertheless, the fact stands that we're looking at a future where cars will be swifter, cleaner, more space-efficient, more luxurious, more economical, more sustainable, smarter, and leagues safer. We wouldn't even bet against them becoming more involving and sounding better either.

The old guard's already having to raise its game to face down a new legion of challengers. Legacy manufacturers are adapting fast. New entrants are desperately looking for an enduring edge to stand out in an increasingly crowded market.

The near horizon is jam-packed with sexy, exciting metal that stands to make the mid-2020s as transformative and thrilling as any era in motoring history. As internal combustion passes the baton, we welcome a new generation of icons.

PORSCHE Mission X 
PORSCHE'S ELECTRIC HYPERCAR AIMS TO OBLITERATE ALL COMERS