Top six premium cars to debut in 2016

1. ALFA ROMEO GIULIA

Alfa Romeo’s gorgeous Giulia will give buyers a desirable Italian alternative to the usual German medium size car choices, such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. We’d expect to see the Alfa mid-sizer match these key rivals with small and medium petrol and diesel turbo engines, and front- and all-wheel-drive versions.

7

2. AUDI A4

The next-gen A4 doesn’t look very different to the old one, but despite the evolutionary restyle, it is a brand new model with redesigned underpinnings and suspension aimed at making it sportier and more comfortable to drive. It will bring a lot of advanced driver assistance systems when it arrives in May.

7

3. MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS COUPE AND CONVERTIBLE

The new coupe and convertible version of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class will give buyers a welcome alternative to the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5. They look set to deliver the terrific interior quality and enjoyable steering and handling of the luxurious C-Class sedan and Estate.

7

4. JAGUAR F-PACE

Jaguar will give SUV buyers a fresh alternative with the arrival of its F-Pace. The new luxury model based on the brand’s medium-sized XE will be powered by a small turbo four-cylinder or a bigger supercharged six-cylinder which should make it a smooth, effortless drive.

7

5. TESLA MODEL X

Californian brand Tesla’s first Sports Utility Vehicle, the electric Model X, will arrive around February. The battery-powered SUV will be roomy, sporty and five-star safe. It will have a range of about 400km and, like the brand’s Model S, a lot of power.

7

6. RANGE ROVER EVOQUE CONVERTIBLE

We’re not sure if a convertible version of Range Rover’s Evoque SUV is a car to get excited about or ridicule (it’s probably the latter) but it’s an important car to know about because it will probably sell well and, as a result, is unlikely to be the last of the drop-top premium sports utility breed.

7

Other arrivals

Mercedes’ C450 Sport is an exciting C-Class version for those shopping for a sporty medium car. It will bring a powerful bi-turbo V6 engine and a new-to-the-model all-wheel-drive system in March.

Jaguar will introduce a second-generation version of the XF, and will add to its to its XE sedan range with coupe and Estate (wagon) versions.

A new, BMW X4-like swoopy-roofed version of the regular Mercedes GLC-Class will be called the GLC Coupe.

In a costlier realm, he Rolls-Royce Wraith will lose its roof in the translation to the Dawn convertible, and the Bentley Mulsanne will drop its top to evolve into Azure-replacement the Grand Convertible.

Finally, Japanese premium brands Lexus – with a new ES (February), a GS F, a convertible version of the RC, and a bigger new RX series SUV – and Infiniti – with its Q30 compact hatch (Feb), QX30 compact SUV (mid-year) and new Q60 (due in the fourth quarter) – will give buyers much more choice in 2016.