With the auto show season just weeks away from kicking off in Paris - followed by the SEMA aftermarket show and the Los Angeles Auto Show later this year - there is no shortage of future cars worth getting excited about.
Product life cycles vary by automaker and by market segment, where they are driven by everything from consumer demands to development budgets. Some of these replace cars that we've grown to love over the years, which makes our expectations even higher. Others yet represent the potential for a marked improvement over their predecessors - they could seal their automakers' fate in the market whether they succeed or flop.
We've chosen only to include cars that automakers have already unveiled but have kept away from the media - at least for now.
What new cars are you looking forward to driving this year?
10 redesigned cars we're looking forward to driving
Buick Verano Turbo. We already like the Buick Verano, a pleasant 'tweener that bridges what is quickly becoming a great divide between full-feature compacts like the Chevrolet Cruze and compact luxury cars like the BMW 3-Series. But we've said all along that the Verano needs a little more zest - and that's just what the new, smartly-priced Turbo should pack.
What excites us? Easy. Just look at the Verano Turbo's name. But it's also getting a more buttoned-down suspension and a standard six-speed stick. These are good things.
Ferrari F12berlinetta. Headache-inducing nomenclature aside, the F12berlinetta is Ferrari's new flagship, a 730-horsepower (!) performance machine that also checks in at more than 150 lbs. lighter than its predecessor. Add to that styling that is both outlandish and tasteful at the same time and the F12berlinetta is definitely poised to carry on the prancing horse's legacy.
What excites us? The F12berlinetta is Ferrari's most powerful road-going car ever and, despite its luxurious interior, it lapped the company's test track faster than the Enzo.
Ford Fusion. Talk about a stunner! Ford's new Fusion might be a lot more Aston Martin-inspired than the automaker wants to admit, but there's no denying that this sedan will shake up a mostly-staid midsize sedan segment when it goes on sale later this year. It also loses its V6 variants in favor of three four-cylinders, a move that follows rivals from Hyundai, Kia and General Motors.
What excites us? We're anxious to see if the mid-level 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder can combine with the standard six-speed manual to stir our enthusiasm.
Honda Accord. Consistently one of the strongest-selling retail cars on the market - Honda doesn't sell directly to fleet buyers like its rivals - the Accord is huge business for Honda. Its redesign brings with it new engines but a conservative look. Will it be a step back like the Honda Civic? Or has Honda learned its lesson?
What excites us? Honda's new Earth Dreams powertrain lineup has a dumb name, but it promises lots of tech and great mpgs - think somewhere just south of 40 mpg.
Hyundai Santa Fe. Choose your Santa Fe wisely: Hyundai now offers a five-seat, shorter wheelbase model (Santa Fe Sport) and a larger, family-oriented seven-seater (Santa Fe). Either way, these new crossovers look fantastic inside and out and they offer a trio of engines including a terrific turbo four-cylinder and a strong V6.
What excites us? Hyundai's two-prong strategy seems like a great move to us. And we're hoping that the turbocharged Santa Fe Sport 2.0T lives up to its name.
Land Rover Range Rover. New Range Rovers don't come around very often - the 2013 is merely the fourth redesign in the line's 40-plus year history. With looks inspired by the smaller Evoque, plus powertrain upgrades and an even more luxurious interior, we expect that the 2013 Range Rover will continue to set the standard for luxury SUVs.
What excites us? A new eight-speed automatic transmission and a staggering 700 lbs. weight reduction should finally put the Range Rover over 20 mpg on the highway while making it more fun to drive.
Lincoln MKZ. Even if Ford won't say it out loud, we're confident that Lincoln's future lies on the MKZ's success. Based on the 2013 Ford Fusion but finally sporting a (rather polarizing) look of its own, the MKZ appears to be a step in the right direction for Lincoln, which is desperate need of a renaissance.
What excites us? The MKZ could be this storied brand's last hurrah - or it could be the pivotal game-changer the brand really needs. No pressure!
Mazda Mazda6. Mazda had an understated hit with its dynamic and stylish first-generation Mazda6, but the second model that arrived in 2009 was a porky flop. With swoopy looks to kill and a bevy of fuel-efficient powertrains, this new model seems likely to reverse the line's fortunes. Can it do the same for struggling Mazda?
What excites us? Mazda is really good at building fun-to-drive cars and we're optimistic that the new 6 will deliver in ways the outgoing model never could.
Nissan Pathfinder. Bearing one of Nissan's oldest nameplates, the off road-ready Pathfinder kept trudging along even as the market generally abandoned its type. But a new, car-based platform and a more family-friendly front-wheel-drive-oriented demeanor and roomier interior are likely to spell success once again.
What excites us? We're sad to see an off roader go soft, but that's just what the market wants.
SRT Viper. This list is alphabetical, but you might think that we've saved the best for last. Reviving one of the most revered nameplates in the business and launching a new sub-brand, the SRT Viper is hugely important for Chrysler. More comfortable but also more performance-oriented, the Viper is finally the high-tech tour-de-force Chrysler - and its SRT performance brand - needs in a flagship.
What excites us? It would be easier to say what doesn't excite us: Nothing.
