19 Most Anticipated Cars of 2019
2019 is set to be one of the most exciting years ever for the automotive industry. Whilst Brexit puts pressure on the lower end of the market, the top end is still flying. Combining a fresh set of hypercars, groundbreaking supercars and ever-evolving electric car technology; there has never been a more interesting time for the performance car market.
After much deliberation here is our definitive list of the cars we are most anticipating in 2019:
#19 Mercedes AMG GT R Roadster
The Mercedes AMG GT R made a huge impact on arrival in 2017 and has carried that success into 2018, with many considering it one of the most appealing supercars in its price-range and a worthy rival to the Porsche 991.2 GT3. With no GT3 convertible in existence, Mercedes are looking to capitalise on that gap in the market with the AMG GT R Roadster. With track orientated drop-tops under £200,000 in short supply the AMG GT R Roadster is bound to become highly sought after and one of the best looking and sounding convertibles on the market.
#18 Audi R8 Performance
The second generation of the R8 is now due it’s mid-life refresh with Audi making several updates to this much-loved supercar. Following the nomenclature of the RS6 Avant the latest R8 will be called the R8 Performance instead of the Plus. There is a more angular front end, a power increase and some de-chroming but much of its winning formula stays the same. The R8 will no doubt continue in 2019 to be one of most useable and best value supercars.
#17 New Porsche Macan
The 1st generation Macan is now the best-selling Porsche model of all-time and has also become notable for it’s lack of depreciation, with strong residuals adding to it’s desirability. The new facelift Macan looks to carry on this success, although in 2019 there will only be petrol engines, since Porsche announced in 2018 it would stop producing diesel cars altogether. Our preference at Romans will always be for the Turbo and GTS variants and we hope to see the new facelift versions later on in 2019.
#16 Aston Martin DBX
The latest manufacturer to jump on the luxury SUV bandwagon is Aston Martin and who can blame them. With Aston Martin now a public limited company its shareholders will want to see the company become more profitable. The SUV sector keeps expanding and it’s now almost abnormal for a family not to own an SUV. Whilst Range Rover are generally still seen as the number 1, Aston Martin will try to shake up the market with the DBX. This could easily become the best-selling Aston Martin of all-time, so it’s a very important model for the British Car Industry and for Aston’s shareholders.
#15 Bentley Continental GT Convertible
One of the more obvious cars on this list, the 3rd generation of the Bentley Continental GT has been very well received and it was only a matter of time before the convertible version was revealed. Costing £25,000 more than the coupe, it looks like we will start seeing them on the road by spring time. Currently Bentley are only offering the more traditional W12 engine for both coupe and convertible, but we expect V8 versions to follow at some point later in 2019.
#14 Mercedes AMG GT 4 Door
It seems there is a never-ending supply of new AMG models but Mercedes is looking to capitalise on the success of the GT Series. A 4-door coupe version aims to give an added sense of practicality and technology to its flagship sports car. With the 4Matic all-wheel drive system and the added seats in the rear improving practicality, Mercedes have managed to maintain the fastback-style tailgate of the GT. This ensure the new 4 door coupe version has managed to carve out an exciting niche in the AMG line up and will now directly compete with the Porsche Panamera.
#13 McLaren 720S Spider
Quite possibly the most anticipated convertible version of a current production car is the 720S Spider. It’s been over a year since the we first started seeing the 720S coupes on the road so it’s nice for once that McLaren haven’t rushed the Spider version through. The 720S has amazed critics and customers with it’s unbelievable performance and razor sharp looks and whilst they are certainly not depreciation-proof we think the McLaren 720S Spider will become one of the must-have convertibles of Summer 2019.
#12 Porsche 992
The changing of the guard for the series of Porsche 911 is always an important moment and one that ushers in a whole new generation of Porsche 911s. In 2019 we will be introduced to the 992 Series where we will likely see the new Carrera and Carrera S and possibly the Turbo and Turbo S versions towards the end of the year. It’s evolutionary rather than revolutionary but there is a lot to get excited about including revised styling, a new 8-speed PDK gearbox, more power and a plethora of upgrades and tweaks throughout including a new ‘Wet Mode’.
#11 Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Although technically the first deliveries for the Rolls-Royce Cullinan have begun in 2018, we won’t really start seeing them on the market or on the roads until the best part of 2019. Taking the crown for the most luxurious SUV in the world it’s also the most expensive and of course will appeal to the ultra-rich. Including lavish optional extras such as a gold-plated Spirit Of Ecstasy and rear theatre configuration to name a few, the majority of cars will be costing in excess of £300,000 when new. Although the styling hasn’t pleased everyone, this is very much a Rolls-Royce and owners will appreciate the highest quality of materials, the ultra-relaxing ride and capable smooth performance of that V12.
#10 McLaren Senna GTR
The only way you can make a more extreme looking hypercar than the McLaren Senna was to build a GTR version. The McLaren Senna has wowed the world and whilst the styling may split opinion, it is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary technical achievements to date and has been universally praised by critics for it’s performance and driving experience. The Senna GTR is a track-only special with only 75 units built worldwide and will follow the P1 GTR formula of insane aerodynamics, ridiculous downforce and unbelievable power to weight ratio.
#9 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Another car which has started deliveries in the 4th quarter of 2018, but has snuck onto the list, as it will be 2019 where the DBS Superleggera really makes it’s mark and we start seeing them regularly on the roads. The flagship Aston has really hit a sweet spot of design, performance and style and we believe it is the car that actually will make people think twice about buying an 812 Superfast or an Aventador S. The front engine “Super GT” seems a huge step up from it’s predecessor the Vanquish and we are really excited to start getting them into stock.
#8 Range Rover SV Coupe
In the face of emerging new rivals which are more powerful, more expensive and better in so many ways, the Range Rover still remains the benchmark and the most popular luxury SUV in the UK. 2018 saw both the full-size Range Rover and the Sport receive a mid-life facelift and 2019 will see the new generation of the Evoque. However, it’s the SV Coupe which stands out above the rest with it’s super sleek 2-door design. A limited run and hand built by the Special Vehicle Operations department – a Range Rover for the collectors? We can’t wait to get our hands on one.
#7 Porsche Taycan
The Porsche Taycan is one of the most important models Porsche has ever announced. It is Porsche’s first all-electric car and is hugely significant, as effectively the Taycan is laying the foundation for everything that Porsche builds in the future. Porsche have invested hugely into electric cars and believes by 2025 half of the vehicles it produces will be electric. Using technology derived from Formula-E, the Porsche Taycan is a 4-door saloon model designed to compete with the Tesla Model S. Whilst Porsche enthusiasts may be up in arms about this new direction, the Porsche Taycan is a potential game-changer.
#6 Porsche 991 Speedster
In the last couple of years, it has become more of a challenge to get a spot on Porsche’s VIP list which allows you access to it’s limited run cars. Many people have been left disappointed or outraged but almost everyone would have taken an opportunity to be selected for the 911 Speedster, which is the very last of the 991 Series limited edition cars. With 1,948 examples built worldwide there should be enough to go around but having borrowed the 4.0L flat-6 from the GT3, a manual gearbox and a “double-bubble” styling cue, this is a very special car which will have enthusiasts, collectors and flippers equally excited.
#5 Bugatti Divo
Revealed earlier in 2018 the Divo caught us all by surprise. No one expected Bugatti to bring something out so soon after the Chiron, which is barely halfway through it’s production run. Based on the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo concept car the Divo is a more track focused and extreme variant of the Chiron. With only 40 examples built worldwide and a base price of $5m, the Divo has an argument to say it is instantly the most valuable car of the last 20 years so there is no surprise all 40 were sold out on day 1.
#4 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
The SVJ has been hot on everyone’s lips for the last 6 months, it’s the car that that we get asked about the most in terms of how much premiums will be, when will we get one etc. When it comes to special cars Lamborghini know exactly what they are doing, they build hype and they deliver on the hype and the Aventador SVJ might just be it’s crowning moment. With 900 meant to be built worldwide, this should be an active market as with so much drama, noise, excitement and road presence; those who missed out will be desperate to get their hands on what can only be considered the ultimate Lamborghini.
#3 Ferrari 488 Pista / Pista Spider
With the first 488 Pistas just starting to be delivered we will have to wait till 2019 to see our first one at Romans. There is unprecedented hype for this car as enthusiasts everywhere did anything in their capabilities to be chosen for a Pista slot. There is no denying that the 458 Speciale went down as an instant classic and will be a very important car in Ferrari’s history. However, premiums in the market for the Pista have far exceeded those for the Speciale in 2014, indicating that demand for the Pista is truly off the scale. Outside of the hypercar world, it’s a toss-up between the SVJ and the Pista as to being the world’s most desirable car and with Spider versions also on the horizon, 2019 is going to one hell of a year for these Italian heavyweights.
#2 Mercedes AMG One
Whilst the Holy Trinity has set the hypercar world alight in recent years, it looks as though we are just starting to usher in a new era of hypercar. Is there a new trio which could reign supreme? Mercedes have re-entered the hypercar stakes with the Mercedes AMG One (having recently dropped ‘Project’ from it’s name) and it derives all of it’s Formula 1 winning technology for this plug-in hybrid, of which there will be 275 examples worldwide. We’ve all been waiting patiently for it but we will finally see the first deliveries in 2019 and early signals are that Mercedes have created something extraordinary here. Will we see one at Romans? Let’s hope so.
#1 Aston Martin Valkyrie
We first heard about this car and the partnership between Red Bull and Aston Martin way back in 2016. It feels like a life time since then that everyone has been waiting for it but 2019 will be the year that the Valkyrie finally arrives. The fastest and most advanced hypercar in history, the car that has the potential to have an impact on the industry akin to the McLaren F1 or the Bugatti Veyron which managed to move things onto another level before it’s time. With only 150 worldwide and a price tag of £2.5m, the chances are that you may never see one in your life, let alone have a chance to buy one. Let’s say our prayers, be a good boy this year and maybe, just maybe we will get one at Romans.
