Top 10 Most Anticipated Electric Vehicles for 2018
Since consumer interest for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles is growing, no doubt thanks to government purchase and lease rebates, more and more models will be available on the Canadian market. Many of those are scheduled to arrive in 2018, and here are those we’re the most excited about.
BMW i8 Roadster
BMW’s strikingly gorgeous plug-in hybrid sports car, the i8 coupe, will serve as the basis for the Roadster version, which still hasn’t been officially unveiled. However, we know that the exterior design will be only slightly modified, so it’ll be just as beautiful as the coupe.
BMW X7
This big six-passenger SUV—the biggest one produced so far by BMW—will be on sale next year. A concept version called the X7 iPerformance has just been revealed at the Frankfurt Auto Show, equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain consisting of a turbocharged gasoline engine and one or two electric motors.
Honda Clarity PHEV
The exterior design of the Clarity will undoubtedly turn heads, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. However, this big five-passenger sedan will be equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain in Canada, which produces 181 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. It will provide the car with a driving range estimated at 75 km, according to the EPA in the United States. After that, we can continue driving thanks to a turbocharged, 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine acting as a generator to send energy back into the 17-kWh battery pack. Charge time is estimated at 2.5 hours on a 240-volt outlet.
Jaguar I-PACE
After launching the F-PACE and the E-PACE, we’ll see a third SUV appear in Jaguar’s product range. However, this one will be fully electric. The I-PACE will be equipped with two electric motors, producing a combined output of 400 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, send to all four wheels. The I-PACE should deliver a driving range of about 350 km and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.0 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz S 560e
Retiring from the lineup after the 2017 model year, the S 550e plug-in hybrid will in fact be replaced by the S 560e. The full-size luxury sedan will be more powerful than the car it replaces, while its EV driving range will be increased from 33 to 50 kilometres. In addition, the car will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds and thanks to its more compact battery pack, trunk space will be increased from 395 to 410 litres.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
We’ve been waiting for it for a few years now, and it will finally arrive in Canada for the 2018 model year. The Outlander plug-in hybrid boasts a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine and two electric motors to provide an all-wheel drivetrain and a combined output of 200 horsepower. EV driving range is estimated at 54 km in Europe, and quick-charge port—a rarity among PHEVs—allows the vehicle to be recharged at 80% of its capacity in 25 minutes.
Nissan LEAF
The little LEAF benefits from a full redesign, with a new design, more power and a driving range of up to 241 kilometres. It should be on sale before the end of the year at a base MSRP of $35,998, before freight and delivery charges as well as government rebates.
Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid
Okay, it hasn’t yet been officially announced, but it’s only a question of time. The plug-in hybrid version of the third-generation Cayenne should borrow the new Panamera E-Hybrid’s powertrain, which consists of the turbocharged, 2.9-litre V6 and an electric motor to produce a combined output of 462 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. We’ expecting improved performance, but also a greater EV driving range.
Subaru Crosstrek PHEV
The compact Crosstrek crossover has just been redesigned for 2018, and a plug-in hybrid version should be added to the model range in 2018. Borrowing Toyota’s hybrid powertrain technology, Subaru should be able to introduce a Crosstrek that is both more powerful and more efficient than the previous-generation hybrid version that was offered for a few years.
Tesla Model 3
Yes, we know, production of the Model 3 is already under way. However, have you seen one on our roads so far? Nope. We’re nevertheless impatient to see this fully electric sedan perform in our Canadian climate. The automaker is claiming a driving range of about 350 kilometres and a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) acceleration time of 5.6 seconds. A more expensive version, equipped with a bigger battery pack, should offer a range of about 500 km.