The year 2021 swiftly flew past and, in spite of an ongoing global pandemic, prompting a microchip shortage resulting in the unavailability of certain features in automotive electronics, we still saw a huge influx of brand-new models, as electric cars have rapidly gained popularity in first-world countries. Automakers have taken advantage of this situation by launching their own new cars, with some manufacturers sticking to new internal-combustion engine vehicles – mostly of the sports car or supercar variety – or brand new models, based on ones discontinued decades ago.
Brand-new cars range from the new Ford Bronco (so popular that there is a waiting list of more than twelve months), to the Mercedes EQ range of electric vehicles – giving Tesla a run for its electric crown. In fact, most of the automakers want to take on Tesla, except Toyota and Koenigsegg, who have decided to focus on a different route altogether by utilizing hydrogen power and keeping the internal combustion engine alive.
So, without further ado, here are some of the greatest new cars introduced and an old one resurrected for the 2021 model year.
10 Ford Bronco
The Ford Bronco made its debut in 2021 to massive fanfare, with 125,000 orders occurring in the year alone. The Bronco returned to production from a 25-year hiatus in both two-door and four-door body styles, with a choice of the 300-hp, 2.3-liter turbo EcoBoost i4 from the Ford Ranger with 325 lb-ft of torque, or a 2.7-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, producing 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque.
The 4-cylinder is offered as standard, with a 7-speed manual transmission and a 10-speed automatic as an option; however, the V6’s only transmission is the 10-speed auto.
9 Polestar 2
Polestar, if you may not have known, was Volvo’s tuner for their more performance-orientated vehicles. It still works closely with the Swedish firm in borrowing designs and improving efficiency. However, Polestar has established itself as a stand-alone company, focused on producing stylish electric vehicles. They use the same design language as that of Volvo, associating the brands together under a single, well-built, and extremely fashionable Swedish umbrella.
Whilst the production version was unveiled in 2019, Polestar only began mass production in 2020 for the 2021 model year. The company has announced that for the 2022 model year, additional personalization options will be made available for those who want to make their Polestar look even better. The Polestar 2 comes with a 78 kWh battery with a range of approximately 292 miles.
8 Maserati MC20
The Maserati MC20 is the first mid-engine Maserati supercar to be produced since the Ferrari Enzo-based MC12. However, whilst the MC12 was a reskinned and rebadged Ferrari, the MC20 isn’t just a prettified 296 GTB – it is a completely different car. The 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 has more in common with the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, found in the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and the Ferrari F154 twin-turbo V8, found in the Ferrari 488 and SF90 Stradale.
The MC20 produces 621 hp, going through an 8-speed dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission to the rear wheels. The line-up currently consists of the coupé and the recently unveiled convertible, with the coupé price starting at around $213,000 and the convertible at around $250,000.
7 Mercedes EQS
The Mercedes EQS is the first mass-produced electric car mostly focused on the luxury aspect of driving. It is designed to be even more comfortable than Mercedes’ own flagship, the S-Class, and as a result of its engineering, it jointly holds the crown of the production car with the lowest drag coefficient, coming in at a minuscule 0.20cd, along with the Lucid Air.
The low drag and the addition of the largest battery pack currently on sale – a huge 108 kWh – gives the EQS the current longest range of any electric car, running out of juice after 485 miles. This beats the Tesla Model S Long Range by almost 80 miles!
6 Audi e-tron GT
The e-tron GT is Audi’s answer to the Porsche Taycan, based on the Porsche Taycan platform. It features much of the same technology as the Taycan, but with more vents, angles, and Audi badges front and back. The e-tron GT also features all the interesting color choices, just like the Taycan.
Audi has launched an RS model of the e-tron GT, which produces a combined 590 hp from its two electric motors, and features a boost mode, jumping the total power output to 637 hp. This is still a bit off the Taycan Turbo S’ 761 hp; however, it is quick enough to propel the 5,000-pound car from 0 to 62mph in 3.3 seconds, with a possible 238 miles range.
5 Ford Mustang Mach-E
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is an electric crossover SUV. It has surprising practicality and is dynamically good to drive, with good powertrains and average range for the battery capacity. The Mach-E is available with either a 68 kWh or 88 kWh battery, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, and between 270 and 350 hp.
Ford has recently launched the Mustang Mach-E GT, which comes standard with the larger battery, all-wheel-drive, and 480 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque, pushing the 4,400 lb car from 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds – that’s as fast as a Supercharged 5.0-liter V8 Jaguar F-Type R!
4 BMW iX
The iX is BMW’s first attempt at a proper bespoke electric SUV. It follows BMW’s new design language, meaning that it gets a big (non-functional) grille and is mostly inspired by the BMW Vision iNEXT Concept.
Currently, the iX is available in two trim levels, both of which come with dual-motors and all-wheel-drive as standard. The xDrive40 trim is fitted with a 71 kWh battery, producing 322 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, allowing the xDrive40 to have an effective range of between 231 and 264 miles. The xDrive50 trim comes with a larger 105 kWh battery, resulting in 523 hp and 564 lb-ft and an effective range of between 342 and 391 miles on a single charge.
3 Rivian R1T
The R1T is a fully electric pick-up truck, produced by the California-based company Rivian. The R1T comes with four electric motors – one at each wheel – producing a monumental combined 800 hp and 900 lb-ft of torque. The R1T is offered with two different battery capacities, a 105 kWh with around 230 miles of range and a 135 kWh with around 314 miles. Finally, a 180 kWh battery with over 400 miles of range is in the works.
The Rivian R1T is packed with interesting features, many of which can only exist, due to the electric powertrain. One such feature is the Gear Tunnel. It sits behind the rear seats and in front of the bed near the floor. This extends through the entire width of the vehicle, ideal for longer pieces of sports or adventure gear. Rivian will even sell a fully decked-out kitchen that slides out from the Gear Tunnel!
2 BMW i4
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The BMW i4 is BMW’s first proper attempt at making an electric sedan. Unlike Mercedes, Audi, or VW – who build bespoke platforms for their electric cars – BMW builds platforms that can be used for either electric or internal combustion drivetrains. An example of this is the i4, which shares many basic features with the new 4-Series Gran Coupé. Styling-wise, they look nearly identical – apart from the subtle touches that denote this as an electric car.
The BMW i4 is currently available in eDrive40 and M50 trims. The eDrive40 is a rear-drive-only model, pushing out 335 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque while the M50 model produces a combined 540 hp and 586 lb-ft from two electric motors – one on each axle. The i4 features an 80.7 kWh battery with a range of between 245 and 300 miles, depending on the model.
1 Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 was one of the most surprising cars of 2021 with its extreme styling, power from the electric motors, and the fact that it came from Hyundai. Kia released their similar EV6 at more or less the same time – another surprising reveal.
The Ioniq 5 is powered by either a 58 kWh or (for the North American market) a 77,4 kWh battery going to a choice of the rear wheels only, or all four wheels through the use of a motor on each axle. The 58 kWh Ioniq 5 produces 170 hp and 258 lb-ft when going to the rear wheels only, or 232 hp and 446 lb-ft when the dual motor option is ticked. The 77,4 kWh car produces 225 hp and 258 lb-ft in a single motor guise, or a whopping 321 hp and 446 lb-ft with the dual-motor. The Ioniq 5 has a range of between 209 and 303 miles, depending on which combination of battery and motors are chosen.