Another year, another swelteringly hot Goodwood Festival of Speed, as the 11th Duke of Richmond’s garden becomes one of the busiest — and noisiest — moving motor shows on the automotive calendar.
While it is an excuse to thrash all manner of new supercars and historical racing machines up 1.16 miles of haystack-lined driveway, it is also a destination for fans to get a glimpse at upcoming vehicles from the world’s most recognized automakers.
In recent years, legacy brands have largely been pushed aside to make room for new players in town, with the likes of BYD and MG sporting some of the largest and most impressive stands at this year’s event.
It wasn’t exactly a bumper year for new reveals and dazzling concept cars, but there were several EVs and electric concepts to get excited about. These are my picks from the show.
1. Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+
Ignore the ridiculously long name, as Mercedes’ impressively efficient CLA has been given the AMG treatment. The figures are nothing short of astonishing: 671 bhp from the tweaked electric powertrain, a 0-62 mph sprint time of just 2.7 seconds and a 177 mph top speed with the AMG Driver’s Package option selected.
All of this performance comes courtesy of three high-performance axial-flux e-motors, with one on the front axle and two on the rear providing the monumental shove. Interestingly, there’s also simulated engine noise and the option to play around with virtual gear changes.
Naturally, it comes packing more aggressive bodywork and distinctive AMG badging throughout, with prices expected to start at around £65,000 in the UK — or around $87,000/AU$125,000.
2. MG GO Concept
We have been waiting a long time to see what British brand MG, which is now owned by Chinese automotive giant SAIC, will do with its all-electric supermini, which is destined to do battle with the Renault 5, Kia EV2 and an ever-growing number of quirky small cars.
The MG GO Concept gives us our best look yet, although the overly aggressive body kit, diffusers and trunk-lid spoilers likely won’t make it into final production. Still, it looks like it could be a lot of fun, doesn’t it?
What’s more, the MG4 X Power caught most people by surprise when it first hit the market in 2023, offering hot hatch thrills and a supercar-baiting 0-62 mph sprint time of just 3.8 seconds at bargain prices — proof that the revitalized MG is capable of embracing its silly side when it wants to.
3. BYD Shark
BYD’s stand was, once again, extremely impressive this year, taking up one of the largest footprints of all exhibitors. Outside, showgoers could register to take a passenger ride as the company’s latest pickup tackled a purpose-built off-road course.
The hulking truck, which comes to Europe for the first time this year, delivers a total of 430 bhp from its ‘Super Hybrid’ drivetrain, while the massive 32.2 kWh battery pack is good for a claimed 56 miles of pure EV range.
The Chinese automaker says it offers an impressive WLTP combined fuel efficiency of 81 mpg, can tow up to 2,500 kg, and features the latest technology, such as vehicle-to-load capabilities, so owners can power everything from tools to camping essentials.
In the UK, the BYD Shark will start at £47,290, which is roughly the same as the Ford Ranger PHEV — its only real plug-in pickup rival for the time being.
4. Alpine A110 Future
Since Porsche has placed its all-electric sports car dreams on hold, it is now up to French manufacturer Alpine to pick up the mantle.
Packing an all-new Alpine Performance Platform, this pure-EV version is low, wide, and suitably punchy in the performance department, with two electric motors on its rear axle that will make it ‘even better’ than the petrol version, according to Alpine boss Philippe Krief.
Further details are being kept tightly under wraps, but it looked menacing as it silently wafted up the famous Goodwood hillclimb. Electric sports cars clearly aren’t dead and if you want proof, check out the…
5. Denza Z
BYD’s upmarket offshoot wants to take the fight to Porsche, McLaren and Bentley with its swooping performance EV.
The Denza Z offers an eye-watering 1,604 hp from three powerful electric motors, priced at just under £143,000 (around $192,000/AU$276,000) for the standard Coupe version. There will also be a more expensive droptop convertible and a potent Racing version that gets masses of aero kit.
That car manages the 0-62 mph sprint in a mind-bending 1.96 seconds and a top speed of 217 mph. It can be used every day, too, with second-generation 76 kWh Blade battery tech delivering around 245 miles of range and 1,500 kW Flash charging compatibility for ten-minute top-ups.
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