New electric cars 2021: what’s coming and when?

Mercedes-Benz EQA

The entry-level EQ model borrows its body shape from the GLA compact crossover rather than the A-Class hatchback, leaving more room beneath the seats for battery cells without compromising on interior space. Originally slated for a mid-2020 debut, it had been delayed as a result of the pandemic, but it’s now on sale in EQA 250 form.

Starting from £40,495 (a figure that includes the government’s grant), the EQA offers 265 miles of range from a single charge of the 66.5kWh battery. A longer-range model is due to arrive at a later date, raising the bar to 311 miles. Meanwhile the powertrain features a 188bhp electric motor, mounted on the front axle and providing 277lb ft of torque. 0-62mph takes 8.9 seconds.

Skoda Enyaq iV

The Czech company's first bespoke EV, it will also be the first Skoda to use the VW Group's MEB platform. It will arrive in a selection of different power and battery combinations - including a flagship vRS performance model.

Physically as long as an Octavia, but with almost as much interior space as the seven-seat Kodiaq, the Enyaq iV promises up to 316 miles of range in rear-driven 80 iV guise, or 285 miles with the all-wheel-drive 80x variant. The top-spec vRS version promises 302bhp and a 0-62mph time of 6.2sec.

Prices start from a little under £32,000 for the entry-level iV 60 after government incentives have been applied, with the base car promising 242 miles of range from a 62kWh battery. However, iV 80 models no longer qualify for the government’s £2500 grant, so longer-range models start from £38,950.

June 2021

Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

Another casualty of the ongoing pandemic, the more practical version of Porsche’s first EV was originally set to arrive towards the end of 2020 but wasn’t revealed until early March this year. The first deliveries of the estate-esque Taycan are set to take place in the summer.

The extended roofline affords rear passengers an extra 47mm of headroom, with boot space increasing too. Prices start from £79,340 for the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo, which uses a rear-mounted electric motor producing 375bhp: 0-62mph takes 5.1sec, with a top speed of 137mph.

At the other end of the scale is the Turbo S, which costs £139,910 and can hit 0-62mph in 2.9sec thanks to its launch mode setting and the small matter of 751bhp. Meanwhile, the mid-spec 4S costs £87,820 and the Turbo model is priced at £116,950.

Rivian R1T

A surprise announcement at 2018's Los Angeles motor show, despite the company behind it having been first formed in 2009, the Rivian R1T is a pick-up truck reimagined for an EV generation. It has clever packaging that makes the most of available space, while the underlying powertrain promises to deliver as much as 754bhp and a 0-60mph time of under three seconds.

The R1T was set to go into production in late 2020, but first deliveries in the US have been delayed until June 2021. UK buyers will likely have to wait a little longer still to get their hands on one.

Summer 2021

BMW iX3

An electric version of BMW’s X3 SUV, the iX3 made its debut in mid-2020 with a new rear-wheel-drive powertrain comprising a single electric motor. It closely resembles the petrol-powered X3, rather than taking any design inspiration from the more radical i3 or i8, and is only the company’s second pure-electric car. The motor develops 282bhp, has an 80kWh battery and is capable of delivering 285 miles of WLTP-certified range. Two versions will be offered from launch: the Premier Edition will cost £61,900, and the Premier Edition Pro will cost £3,000 more.

Lotus Evija

Although it was hoped that production could begin in time for the first deliveries to be completed in 2020, the Lotus Evija has now been pushed back until the middle of 2021. Even so, the Evija has already sold out its first year allocation, despite costing £2.04 million each and build slots requiring a £250,000 deposit.

While Lotus has yet to confirm performance details, it is reportedly targeting a 0-62mph time of under three seconds, a top speed of over 200mph, and a 0-186mph sprint of less than nine seconds. Multiple electric motors will deliver all-wheel drive and a peak 1973bhp output, making it more powerful than both the 1479bhp Bugatti Chiron and 1888bhp Pininfarina Battista.

Nissan Ariya

The Leaf may have helped Nissan get an early lead in the electric car class, but it is hoping the Ariya will have an even bigger impact. Set to go on sale in the latter half of 2021 as a rival to the Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID 4, the SUV will make its debut with up to 310 miles of range.

Five different versions have been confirmed for the UK, with single-motor, front-wheel-drive and twin-motor, four-wheel-drive powertrains offered, as well as a choice of 63kWh and 87kWh batteries. A range-topping e-4orce Performance model will produce 389bhp and cover 0-62mph in 5.1sec.

September 2021

BMW i4

Based on the 4 Series Gran Coupe, which is also due this year, the electric BMW saloon will rival the Tesla Model 3 with 373 miles of range from an 80kWh battery and 523bhp electric motor - giving it more power than the upcoming M4. BMW is accelerating its electric vehicle plans, and so production of the i4 has been brought forward to the autumn of this year.

Technology will be a major focus of the car, with BMW’s eighth-generation iDrive operating system enabling over-the-air updates.

Autumn 2021

BMW iX

The technology flagship for BMW’s growing range of EVs made its debut at the tail end of 2020 but isn’t set to go into production until next year. Deliveries are expected in late 2021. The family SUV caused plenty of controversy at launch with its radical styling and it remains to be seen whether BMW will tone things down before it goes on sale.

In terms of performance, up to 500bhp is expected from two electric motors driving all four wheels. It should manage 0-62mph in less than five seconds and deliver up to 373 miles of range.

Cupra el-Born

The second non-VW model to launch on the MEB platform, the el-Born has a very similar powertrain and engineering to the ID hatchback, but opts for sportier styling and a more engaging driving experience. Set to launch at the end of 2021, it will be powered by a 77kWh (82kWh gross) battery pack and promises 310 miles of range per charge, although Cupra has yet to confirm exact performance figures. 

However, when the Cupra el-Born finally does arrive in showrooms, it is expected to pack around 201bhp for a 0-31mph time of 2.9sec.

Kia EV6

Kia is set to launch 11 new electric vehicles by 2025, and the EV6 crossover is the first bespoke EV the South Korean company has ever made. Set to be revealed in full soon, the EV6 will be a sister car to Hyundai’s Ioniq 5, sitting atop an all-new platform and initially offering around 310 miles of electric range from a 72.6kWh battery. The company is reportedly aiming for 500 miles later down the line, while high-speed 800V charging should provide a full battery in under 20 minutes.

The first official pictures have shown that the EV6 takes its design influence from the Imagine by Kia concept revealed at the 2019 Geneva motor show. There’s some substance to the looks as well, with 0-62mph taking around 5.0sec.

Mercedes-Benz EQB

When it arrives, the EQB will be an electric version of Mercedes' GLB SUV. UK sales aren't due to begin until 2022 and there's very little information about what kind of performance customers can expect. A 60kWh battery is rumoured, with a potential range of around 310 miles.

It's also unclear whether the EQB will retain the seven-seat option seen in the GLB.

Mercedes-Benz EQS

The S-Class of electric cars, as Mercedes-Benz is pitching it, won’t arrive until the latter stages of 2021, but it promises to be a tech-laden limousine capable of keeping pace with the Porsche Taycan when it does. Production will take place alongside the S-Class at the company’s Sindelfingen factory in Germany. As such, it should come as no surprise that the EQS will feature the same 11.9in touchscreen and 12.3in digital instrument display as the S-Class.

An AMG performance version is also expected to arrive the following year with as much as 600bhp. A range of 435 miles is also being targeted, putting it on collision course with the Tesla Model S as well as the Taycan.

Tesla Model S Plaid

Long promised by Tesla boss Elon Musk, the Model S Plaid will go into production in the latter half of 2021 and challenge Porsche's Taycan Turbo S for the electric performance saloon crown. It will use three motors to produce around 1100bhp and is capable of 0-60mph in less than 2.0sec. Top speed is expected to be 200mph, with Tesla claiming it will be the most powerful and quickest-accelerating production car in the world.

The Plaid (named as a nod to Mel Brooks' comedy classic Spaceballs) will also gain a larger battery, allowing for as much as 520 miles of driving range on a single charge. Pre-orders are being accepted now, with UK prices starting from £130,980, and deliveries expected before the end of 2021.

Tesla Model Y

Deliveries of Tesla's compact SUV began in North America in mid-2020, but it isn't expected to arrive in the UK until the tail end of 2021 at the earliest. The much-in-demand SUV will arrive with the option to add a third row - which could make it the go-to EV for large families. It shares a platform and powertrain with the Model 3 saloon, which will hopefully speed up Tesla's ability to deliver cars on time.

A more advanced version of the company’s ‘supercomputer’ semi-autonomous driving system is also predicted, as is a more potent Performance variant. Long Range versions of the car are purported to hit 315 miles on the EPA test cycle, although it may fall slightly short of this figure when run under WLTP regulations in Europe.

Winter 2021

GMC Hummer EV

Set to go into production in the final months of 2021, with customer deliveries to follow next year, GMC’s bold electric pick-up truck is set to resurrect the Hummer brand in the US. Although it's unlikely to make its way to Europe in any official capacity, the extreme EV looks set to make a big impact on the other side of the Atlantic, with an estimated 986bhp and 11,500lb ft of torque, a 0-60mph time of around three seconds and up to 350 miles of range on a full charge.

Hyundai Ioniq 5

The first car to fall under Hyundai’s new Ioniq sub-brand, the Ioniq 5 will make its on-road debut towards the end of the year.

It will be the company’s first bespoke EV (the Kona Electric shared its platform with the hybrid and petrol-engined versions), and sticks closely to the radical 45 Concept, which was revealed to the public at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show. That makes it a big departure from the company's current model range.

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Likely to debut this year, but not appear in showrooms until mid-2022, the Ioniq 6 will be Hyundai's flagship EV, a saloon that will share design elements with the Ioniq 5 but be radically different from the brand's current model line-up. A high performance variant is likely, with the E-GMP platform it will be based on able to use dual motors for a 0-62mph sprint time of less than 3.5sec. Range will vary depending on specification, but up to 310 miles should be possible between charges.