Electric cars coming in 2024 🚀
Every year people say ‘it’s an exciting time for the electric car market’, and that’s because it is! Electric cars are still an example of new technology. Diesel and petrol cars ‘had more than a century to work out the kinks’ and we’re only just starting that journey for EVs.
As we approach the end of 2023 and the start of 2024, we want to compile the most exciting cars due to be released in that time period. Technology is rapidly advancing - with mileage increasing and the time it takes to go from 0 to 60mph decreasing - this is an exciting time to be driving (or looking to drive) an electric car!
Lotus Eletre
The Lotus Eletre has caused some controversy because it is an SUV - something Lotus have never produced before.
Lotus refers to this car as an electric Hyper SUV
Despite being noticeably heavier than other Lotus models because of its sizable battery pack, the Eletre maintains impressive acceleration, courtesy of its electric motors, generating a minimum of 603 horsepower. There will be three different levels of the Eletre: the Eletre, Eletre S and Eletre R.
| Eletre | Eletre S | Eletre R | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range (miles) | 373 | 373 | 310 |
| 0-62mph (seconds) | 4.5s | 4.5s | 2.95s |
| Top speed (mph) | 160 | 160 | 165 |
| Starting price | £89,500 | £104,500 | £120,000 |
Table data is taken from the Lotus Cars website
Based on the table above, the Eletre S and the original Eletre appear to be very similar. However, the Eletre S uses the same drivetrain but adds luxuries such as ambient interior lighting, soft-close doors and a better audio system which gives it a higher price tag.
So, when is the Eletre available? According to the Lotus website, an order placed today will be ready by summer 2024. The Lotus Eletre is on sale across global markets now with first deliveries starting in China. The UK and Europe will shortly be starting delivery.
Lotus Emeya
The second Lotus on the list is the Emeya.
The sports car company revealed the Emeya only 18 months after the announcement of the Eletre. There are some similarities between the two.
The Emeya will be available in a similar configuration as the Eletre SUV, with a base model, a more athletic S variant, and a high-performance R version. Utilising the identical powertrain as the Eletre, the Emeya's R model boasts an impressive 905 horsepower. It is thought that the driving range should be similar to the Eletre, between 260 and 315 miles.
Production for the Emeya is on track to start in 2024, so we should expect these to be on the roads by the end of 2024.
Alpine A290_β
This is a concept car that is intended for daily road use rather than a track. The Alpine A290_β is inspired by racing and F1 cars, blurring the line between practicality and racing.
One of the most notable features of this is the fact that it has only three seats, which is unlikely to make production, putting the driver directly in the middle of the car.
According to Alpine ‘the decision to call the car A290_β is based on the Alpine brand’s global naming strategy. The names start with the letter A, followed by three numbers. The number 2 stands for the B-segment and the 90 stands for the brand’s future Lifestyle range. The Greek letter beta indicates an intermediate phase working up to the production vehicle’s official launch in 2024.’
Interestingly, the car is said to be powered by a pair of electric motors which each power a front wheel. This is unlike other EVs that use electric motors to power axles for all-wheel-drive.
The A290_β is likely to be released in 2024 and available in the UK by 2025.
Polestar 4
This is the fastest production car ever made by Polestar with it reaching 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds and a maximum power output is 400kW (544 horsepower).
There will be single and dual-motor performance models, the former will give you up to 300 miles of range and the latter will get up to 270 miles. This electric car will start from £55,000 as Polestar focuses on making the brand more accessible.
Interestingly, there is no rear window which means drivers must rely on cameras and mirrors to see from the back. The view from the long, glass roof is apparently “spectacular.” The lack of a rear mirror will be fine in the US due to regulation being: a plane or flat mirror with a reflective surface, where the height and width in the reflected image of an object when observed directly at the same distance. However, Polestar has said this model won't have a rear window in any market.
The product of Polestar 4 is beginning in late 2023 in China but a full-scale launch in Europe is not expected until early 2024, so we should expect to see this in the UK in 2024!
Polestar 5
The Polestar 5 takes inspiration from the Precept, in terms of its minimalistic interior and sustainably sourced materials.
We know little about the Polestar 5 as it stands currently. The company has said it plans to build a manufacturing facility in China devoted to building the Polestar 5 and intends the new plant to be carbon neutral.
It is likely to have no more than 310 miles of range, as Polestar focuses on responsible, practical battery sizes and fast recharging. Full pricing and specifications are yet to be confirmed by Polestar, but we expect the Polestar to cost from £100,000.
The Polestar 5 is planned for an official launch sometime in 2024.
Mini Cooper Electric
The Mini Cooper Electric nods to the design of the classic Mini - with round headlights and a contrasting roof. This car has the first OLED display (organic light-emitting diode) which gives a better picture quality.
The Mini Cooper Electric is offered in two versions: E and SE. The Cooper E is outfitted with a 40.7kWh battery, providing a range of up to 190 miles. It accelerates from zero to 62mph in 7.3 seconds.
On the other hand, the Cooper SE features a larger 54.2kWh battery, offering a 250-mile range. It boasts a more robust electric motor and achieves a 0 to 62mph speed in 6.7 seconds.
For charging convenience, the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes, with a DC charging capacity of up to 95kW. Additionally, there's an onboard 11kW AC charger.
| Classic | Sport | |
|---|---|---|
| Range (miles) | 177-190 | 234-250 |
| 0-62mph (seconds) | 7.3s | 6.7s |
| System power (kW) | 135 | 160 |
| Starting price | £30,000 | £34,000 |
The Mini Cooper Electric will be Available to order in early 2024, with first deliveries starting in the spring.
MG Cyberster
The MG Cyberster is a two-seat, convertible, electric car. It will be priced between £50,000 and £60,000 when it goes on sale.
It will be able to accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, will reach a top speed of 120mph and have a range of 323 miles.
Guy Pigounakis, MG UK’s Commercial Director stated, ‘This is the perfect time to introduce an MG that completely reconnects with our performance DNA and is designed to enthral the driver on every level. MG is all set for an electric, sporting future and it is the perfect way to start celebrating our 100th anniversary.’
The details of the MG Cyberster are still largely unknown but is to be released in Summer 24.
To find out what cars are currently available at The Electric Car Scheme, check out our EV salary sacrifice calculator to see how much you can save with salary sacrifice
