On the slow march toward the sunset of internal combustion engines, automakers this year revealed varying paths toward the seemingly inevitable electric future. Supercars, EVs and surprising off-roaders grew more powerful, more comfortable and more packed with tech than ever — all while striving for the elusive qualities that make for enthralling design and engaging performance.
That engagement seems increasingly ephemeral, but also consistently crucial for discerning buyers who prioritize the latest and greatest developments in the automotive industry. Skyrocketing classic car values and the resurgence of ‘restomods’ over the last few years confirm the trend, even as new makes and models — or entirely new car companies — set new standards and constantly redefine what it means to be avant-garde.
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Hybrid supercars represent perhaps the greatest bridge between the ways of old and the silent future, combining massively powerful gasoline engines with the undeniable force of electric motors. Plug-in hybrids can run fully on electrons, to satisfy stringent emissions standards and help keep neighbors happy; but once the full powertrain roars to life, suddenly the acceleration stats reserved for race cars become all too commonplace on public roads.
Electric vehicles also continue to improve, as manufacturers discover new ways to enhance the unique driving pleasures made possible by skateboard battery layouts, inventive interior packaging and innovative power delivery algorithms.
Yet nothing reveals the true heart of automotive enthusiasm quite as much as the recent spate of retro-themed analog throwbacks that aim to celebrate the end of the internal combustion era. Even as the swan song nears its end, these overlapping years nonetheless mark the best of times for anyone who loves speed, comfort and cutting-edge tech.
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Bugatti Tourbillon
Bugatti’s latest and greatest, unveiled in early summer, represents the French firm’s first new offering under the oversight of Croatian electrification pioneer Mate Rimac. As expected, the Tourbillon pairs hybrid power with a ridiculously fierce gasoline engine — in this case, an all-new 8.3-liter V16 that can rev to a spectacular 9,000 RPM. Where the outgoing Chiron and its Veyron predecessor depended on four turbochargers to create record-setting amounts of low-end shove and high-end power simultaneously, the Tourbillon features three electric motors to allow for as much as a combined 1,800 hp.
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Yet somehow, the powertrain stats played second fiddle in most coverage of the Tourbillon, thanks to a svelte design that builds on the aesthetic of the Chiron, and especially an eye-popping gauge cluster inspired by fine watchmaking. Constructed from materials that include titanium, sapphire and ruby, the ornate design can run in full analog mode or in concert with a digital screen — and the steering wheel rotates around the gauges, mimicking the hands on a clock.
The first hybrid Bugatti will also manage up to 37 miles of all-electric range but, more important, may achieve a claimed sprint from a standstill to 250 mph in just 25 seconds. Aerodynamic concepts inspired by advanced F1 race car construction contribute to that top speed, while helping to save weight because the sizable rear diffuser alone increases downforce, reduces tire wear and also serves as a removable crash structure. Meanwhile, the sound of what’s essentially two high-revving V8 engines working together in concert simply beggars belief, even from a company consistently accustomed to leading the charge in terms of both design and performance.
Approx. $4.1m, bugatti.com
Porsche 911 S/T
It takes a lot for a new Porsche to leave almost everyone who slips behind the wheel convinced that this, finally, is the greatest 911 ever. And yet, that’s exactly what Porsche managed with the new 911 S/T, which harkens back to factory-supported customer racing cars of the 1970s. The 911 S/T therefore prioritizes a level of analog driving so often lost in the modern era, with a tighter steering ratio and no rear steering to muddy the water, a shorter final drive ratio for improved wheel torque, and a lightened single-mass flywheel for faster revs.
But beneath the skin, modern tech supports the retro theme, allowing the dry-sump 4.0-liter flat-six engine borrowed from a GT3 RS to crank out 518 hp and 343 lb-ft of torque on the way to a 9,000-RPM redline. Porsche’s development team for the S/T spent months fine-tuning the suspension to provide both compliance for daily driving as well as track performance, and weight savings allow this 992-generation 911 to tip the scales at the lowest of Porsche’s constantly expanding lineup.
The S/T builds on the recipe last seen on the 2017 911 R, and as perhaps expected, Porsche will only produce 1,963 examples — meaning that those few buyers who manage to snag an allocation can certainly expect to enjoy constantly appreciating values on the secondhand market. But the rare owner who actually drives their S/T will no doubt enjoy every minute behind the wheel even more than the sheer financial considerations suggest.
From $291,600, porsche.com
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Lucid Air Sapphire
The second-quickest production vehicle ever made just happens to be a luxury sedan built in America that can seat five adults comfortably. Truly, nothing proves the potency and potential of electrification better than the Lucid Air four-door in Sapphire spec, which adds an extra motor to the rear drive unit to create an absolutely absurd 1,234 horsepower and 1,430 lb-ft of torque. The additional traction made possible by all-wheel drive and torque vectoring between three electric motors combined helps the Sapphire render 0-60 mph at an almost laughable 1.89 seconds.
More relevant, maybe: The Sapphire can hit 100 mph in 3.84 seconds, or quicker than many other fast cars can reach 60 mph. And that’s on the way to a top speed of 205 mph — a figure limited only by the tire rating, not Lucid’s motor and battery tech. The roller-coaster jerk of such brutal acceleration can leave drivers and passengers almost out of breath, bordering on nausea. Yet, for daily driving, the Sapphire also marries surprisingly smooth driving dynamics with a level of thoughtful interior design reserved for only the finest legacy automakers. And bear in mind, Lucid only released its first car in 2021 — not bad for essentially a start-up manufacturer.
Sapphire will continue to expand as a sub-brand among Lucid’s growing lineup, including the forthcoming Gravity SUV and two as-yet-unnamed, smaller crossover-style EVs. Compared to lower-spec Air models, the inaugural Sapphire adds more heavily bolstered seats to prevent bodies from sliding around, carbon-ceramic brakes to rein in any exuberant launches and aerodynamic enhancements to help maintain an impressive 427 miles of range. Plus, the dual rear motors also made possible the development of new track-focused drive settings, including easily controllable drifts that somehow also render a 5,336-lb curb weight irrelevant.
From $250,500, lucidmotors.com
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Lamborghini Revuelto
Lamborghini’s long-tenured Aventador received a replacement this year, in the form of the new Revuelto plug-in hybrid. And any Lambo fans worried about losing the screaming V12 engine of Sant’Agata Bolognese’s flagship mid-engine supercar can rest assured that the Revuelto absolutely hits the nail on the head when it comes to emotional engagement, proving that plans to hybridize the rest of the lineup in the following year will never sacrifice the spirit of internal combustion revelry.
The combined power plant, made up of the 6.5-liter mill and three electric motors that together contribute 479 lb-ft of torque, can reach up to a combined rating of 1,001 hp. Even a decade ago, so much power in the hands of customers driving on public roads would have been unconscionable. Yet Lamborghini’s impressive vehicle dynamics programming utilizes power splits between all four wheels to make the Revuelto a joy to drive hard and fast, in a straight line or in surprisingly tight curves for such a large vehicle.
Even on a track, nothing about this plug-in hybrid’s performance suggests that it weighs 3,906 lbs — other than tire wear, and owners will need to adjust to burning through rubber anyway, because revving the barking V12 to redline creates a symphony reserved only for the greatest Italian exotics. Best of all, the howling beast can also go into hibernation when required, with up to 6.2 miles of all-electric range made possible by a 3.8-kilowatt-hour battery.
From $608,300, lamborghini.com
Maserati GranCabrio Folgore
This year, Maserati bids arrivederci to the final Ferrari V8 engines that powered the Levante SUV and Ghibli sedan, two dated models that have long since reached the end of the line and have needed replacing. Going forward, Maserati will sell only the MC20 supercar, the Grecale SUV and the GranTurismo — the latter of which receives a convertible variant, dubbed the GranCabrio, late in 2024. The GranCabrio will share a Nettuno V6 engine with the rest of the lineup, in this case tuned to produce 542 hp. More important, the GranCabrio’s Folgore package represents a major step into the electric era.
The Folgore drops an internal-combustion engine in favor of three electric motors housed in the same chassis, with two at the rear and one in the front to produce all-wheel drive. Combined output steps up to 760 hp, but can leap to 818 hp for brief pulls in MaxBoost mode. Regardless, all 995 lb-ft of torque hit instantaneously, making this convertible a real screamer — albeit in silence, which adds a newfound spirit of luxury never before explored in the industry.
Top-down driving truly never felt so idyllic, especially because the GranCabrio chassis seems better tailored to the electric drivetrain’s weight. A so-called ‘dogbone’ battery layout (rather than the skateboard platform most EV manufacturers rely on) brings the center of gravity inward, while perfectly tuned air suspension contributes to enhanced composure at top speeds as well.
Despite weighing almost 1,000 lbs more than the gas-powered GranCabrio, the Folgore handles better in almost every scenario other than the tightest corners — and the EV’s massive power bump versus the ICE motor more than compensates once the road straightens out. This car drives well enough compared to the very best of its gas-powered competition, but is also the only electric convertible on the market today, truly making it a trendsetter in a class of its own.
From $207,000, maserati.com
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Ferrari 12Cilindri
As the name suggests, Ferrari’s new 12Cilindri cradles a V12 engine at its heart, quite possibly for the last time ever, in a low-slung grand tourer from Maranello. The new model’s design therefore fittingly references iconic Ferraris of old, most clearly the 365GTB/4 Daytona, but with a modern twist. Velvety forms drape over muscular wheel arches highlighted by futuristic, angular front and rear lighting, building on the sublime aesthetic established by the Roma coupe and Purosangue SUV that preceded the 12Cilindri.
Clinging to the glories of the past never looked so good — from any angle — and Ferrari promises that a convertible variant will follow, but don’t doubt the 12Cilindri’s performance in the meantime. The 6.5-liter V12 revs to 9,500 RPM, good enough for 819 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque along the way. But where the Purosangue attempted to redefine the performance super SUV, the 12Cilindri aims to add further refinement to the grand tourer’s ethos.
Rather than switching to a fully computerized suspension dependent on the ones and zeros of an engineer’s coding, the 12Cilindri sticks with more traditional shock damper technology. A center touchscreen on the dash, within reach of both the driver and passenger, enhances the everyday appeal. And yet a 0-60 time of just 2.9 seconds, with that power plant wailing at full throat, brings to mind the glory days of the Colombo V12, quite possibly the greatest series of engines ever built.
There’s a solid chance the 12Cilindri represents Ferrari’s final naturally aspirated V12 to skip the emissions compliance and power gains of either forced induction or electrification — hence the simplistic name that suggests this car is defined entirely by the engine lurking beneath that hood.
From $465,000 ferrari.com
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McLaren Artura Spider
As an ‘entry-level’ McLaren, the plug-in hybrid Artura certainly took the supercar world by storm after its delayed debut last year. Now, for model year 2025, the Artura receives a convertible Spider variant, which in typical McLaren fashion somehow only adds 136 lbs to the coupe’s overall weight. Optioning the retracting hardtop results in a curb weight of just 3,439 lbs — which is still less than many other hardtop, non-hybrid supercars — because McLaren originally designed the chassis intending to offer the open top as an option.
All of the Artura’s best characteristics carry over to the Spider, too. The 120-degree twin-turbocharged V6 mounts low in the chassis for ideal weight distribution, and contributes additional power resulting in a bump up to a combined hybrid rating of 691 hp. An electric motor snuggled into the transmission bell housing can put out 166 lb-ft of torque to fill in the lower end of the power band, whenever the gas engine isn’t singing up to its 8,500-RPM fuel cutoff.
The Artura Spider never sacrifices style or sound, either, with a modernized interior that continues design language established by the 600LT and 750S before it, plus a symposer that routes true exhaust noise into the cockpit for a resonating deep bass effect. And, as a bonus, McLaren has also brought the 19 hp update to the Artura Coupe, along with revised transmission programming that creates 25% quicker shifts, additional processing power for the hydraulic suspension system that improves response times by 90%, and augmented cooling ducts for the brakes.
Whether in full EV mode, cruising in top-down comfort or at full attack on the track, the Artura Spider is somehow three cars in one, all of them representing a solid bet against any possible competition.
From $250,000, mclaren.com
Lexus GX 550 Overtrail+
The GX arrived this year as Lexus’s version of the revitalized Toyota Land Cruiser. But really, both SUVs ride on Toyota’s Prado body-on-frame SUV chassis sold to the rest of the world for the past three-and-a-half decades. Where the Land Cruiser adds a hybrid powertrain to the Prado platform as a means of enticing American buyers, the GX 550 drops in a bigger, better engine, plus all the expected luxury on the interior and serious off-roading features, too.
The twin-turbocharged V6 has ratings of 349 hp and a hefty 479 lb-ft of torque, while interior appointments run the gamut from premium leathers to a spectacular set of massaging seats. Those seats come standard on the top-spec Overtrail+ package, which enhances everything that makes these body-on-frame trucks from a previous era so great. Of course, locking center and rear differentials are a must for a true off-roader, as are knobby tires and skid plates, but the GX 550 Overtrail+ also employs Toyota’s nifty e-KDSS adaptive sway bars to keep the chassis planted and stable through just about any terrain.
Equipped with e-DKSS, the Overtrail+ can stretch its legs to reach an unbelievable level of wheel articulation, with up to 24 inches of total travel possible before a tire comes off the dirt — while the ‘e’ in ‘e-KDSS’ indicates that a predictive algorithm then helps to keep the SUV’s body from leaning too much on smoother roads. On the inside, folding down the back seats creates plenty of room for the family’s gear, and with the ruggedness of bygone eras, such a stellar combination of modern tech and design makes this upfitted luxury Toyota perhaps the most desirable do-it-all SUV on the market today — without a doubt for the next few years, as well.
From $77,250, lexus.com
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Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono
Motoring these days is not just limited to supercars, EVs and off-roaders. In fact, modern technology might have benefited the motorcycle industry most of all. Never have performance, safety and reliability figured into motorcycle development as much as today — and no bike typifies the current era more than Ducati’s new Hypermotard 698 Mono.
Under Volkswagen AG oversight, Ducati has made great strides in engineering, which then made the Hyper Mono’s single-cylinder engine possible in the first place. If a single piston sounds insufficient for an exotic Italian motorcycle, keep in mind that the petite 659cc engine can crank out a ridiculous 77.5 hp at 9,750 RPM, plus 46.5 lb-ft of torque at 8,000 RPM.
Admittedly, the entire concept of such a simple, lightweight bike comes out of nowhere from Ducati — for a bit of context, the larger Hypermotard 950 uses a 937cc engine to produce 114 hp, but weighed around 100 lbs more than the new Mono, which tips the scales at a featherweight 333 lbs. Yes, the desmodromic engine still requires regular valve checks, but advances in metallurgy stretch the Mono’s service interval to an impressive 18,000 miles.
Every single one of those miles will be filled with fun on such a lightweight bike that’s equally at home on track, in canyons or ripping through the urban jungle — all only enhanced by an impressive suite of electronics that includes wheelie control, ABS tuning that purposefully allows mild rear tire slides, and an up/down quick-shifter on the optional RVE package. Combining power, confidence and boisterousness in one package, this Ducati absolutely nails the exact kind of engagement that every supercar, EV and off-roader tries to emulate. Its simplicity is made possible by advanced tech working in the background. Expect no less from the Ferrari of motorcycles.
From $13,000, ducati.com
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