In the last five days, 15 new U.S.-bound vehicles have made their debut. The influx of new models is ahead of major events where many of the vehicles will be showcased, and as production on new model year versions kicks off.
"Summer is an optimal time for automakers to generate buzz and media attention with new product reveals. It can boost sales in the short term, helping automakers unload current model inventory while building anticipation for when the new models go on sale. Summer also aligns with consumer purchasing habits for big-ticket items influenced by bonuses, tax refunds, and seasonal buying trends, lending to consistent and robust auto sales typically tallied in summer," Paul Waatti, director of industry analysis at AutoPacific told Newsweek.
New models that debuted in the last week include: Bentley Continental GT Speed, Volkswagen Jetta and Jetta GLI, Lexus ES Black Line Special Edition, BMW X5 Silver Anniversary Edition, five limited edition Land Rover Range Rover Sport SV models, Aston Martin Valiant, Audi RS Q8 and RS Q8 Performance, BMW M5 and Bugatti Tourbillon.
Here is a quick look at those new vehicles.
Bentley Continental GT Speed
The Continental GT Speed debuts as the most powerful road-going Bentley ever created. It offers up 771 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque to the driver via a 4.0-liter V8 engine that works in tandem with an electric motor.
Continental GT can go up to 50 miles on battery power alone, and reach 60 miles per hour (mph) from a standstill in just 3.1 seconds. Its top speed is 208 mph.
Features include new single headlamps, which break with Bentley tradition and signal a new era of design that heralds a design revolution for Bentley. It also offers in-cabin the niceties that come over from Bentayga and focus on passenger wellness during the journey.
Buyers can get the car as a coupé or convertible.
The Continental GT Speed is hand-built at Bentley's Dream Factory in Crewe, England and can be customized. Pricing will be announced at a later date.
2025 Volkswagen Jetta and Jetta GLI
Volkswagen's small sedans aren't all-new for the 2025 model year, but they have received significant enhancements, including new front and rear styling treatments.
The German automaker will offer Jetta SE with new 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels. Eighteen-inch wheels come standard on the Jetta SEL and GLI. Or, buyers can opt for a black-wheel package on those two grades.
Jetta and Jetta GLI will be offered in two new exterior paint colors for 2025, Monterey Blue Pearl and Monument Gray.
New in-cabin materials and a redesigned dashboard complete the look, with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen now part of the deal.
The cars remain some of the most affordable on the market, and its new MSRP is lower than the 2024 automatic Jetta model year price, $21,995.
2025 Lexus ES Black Line Special Edition
Lexus will offer the Black Line Special Edition package on the ES for the first time in four years, later this summer.
The package is exclusively for the Lexus ES 350 F Sport Handling model. It includes Obsidian black-painted mirrors, a black rear lip spoiler and a black lower rocker panel.
Lexus says that the 2025 ES is expected to arrive in dealerships in Summer 2024.
2025 BMW X5 Silver Anniversary Edition
A limited-edition BMW X5 will come to market later this year. The Silver Anniversary Edition celebrates 25 years of BMW making the model.
It wears a Lime Rock Grey metallic exterior paint color and comes equipped with the brand's Offroad Package, which includes a two-axle air suspension system, underbody protection plates and four drive modes.
The Silver Anniversary Edition also wears 20-inch M Star-spoke wheels, Extended Shadowline trim, carbon fiber interior trim and special badging indicating the model's unqiue position in the BMW lineup.
The automaker equips every model with a roof rack system, BMW luggage compartment mat and BMW all-weather floor mats as standard equipment.
BMW will sell just 1,000 of the units. They have a starting MSRP of $79,900, plus a $1,175 destination fee.
2025 Audi RS Q8
Audi has given the Q8 SUV a big performance boost in the form of two new variants, RS Q8 and RS Q8 Performance. The Performance version is the most powerful series-produced combustion model in this history of Audi Sport.
The RS Q8 delivers 591 hp and the RS Q8 Performance offers up 631.
Both models wear the new face of the Q8, with enhanced looks that add visual sportiness. Buyers can specify their model with equipment packages for added personalization.
Pricing for models sold in the European Union starts at 141,900 euros for the RS Q8 and 155,700 euros for the RS Q8 Performance.
Audi has confirmed to Newsweek that the model is coming to the U.S. Pricing has not been announced.
2025 Aston Martin Valiant
Formula One driver Fernando Alonso sparked the inspiration for this track-focused, road-legal car. Developed by Q by Aston Martin, the automaker's bespoke division, the Valiant is a special edition model full of power with brash looks.
Under the hood is a twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V12 engine that delivers 734 hp. It's paired with a six-speed manual transmission.
A unique chassis specification with Multimatic ASV dampers and recalibrated electronics pair with carbon fiber bodywork that increased downforce and reduces weight, to up the car's on-track capability.
Just 38 of the models will be built and sold. Deliveries begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
The car will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.
2025 BMW M5
The new BMW is a high-performance sedan that has added electrification to its roster for its new generation. Its twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive to deliver invigorating performance.
The hybrid car offers up 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque to drivers, helping it move from zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. It has a top speed of 190 mph.
BMW's new plug-in hybrid can run about 25 miles on battery-electric power.
The German automaker expects the vehicle to be on sale globally in the fourth quarter of this year. The model will start at $119,500 for U.S. customers, not including the $1,175 destination and delivery charge.
2025 Range Rover Sport SV Celestial Collection
A limited run of specialized Range Rover Sports, inspired by Greek Mythology, have been revealed with exclusive design touches. There are five exclusive versions of the model: Gaea, Theia, Io, Vega and Sol.
The Gaea Creation model's exterior is painted Green Terra Matte and is complemented by a satin forged carbon fiber tailpipe, Carbon Bronze ceramic calipers, a Narvik Black roof and mirrors, and two-tone scripted badging.
Buyers can get their interior in either Caraway Windsor leather with Kvadrat steelcut backboards, Natural Brown Silver Birch wooden finishers and a tonal stitch, or a leather-free Ebony and Cinder Grey color scheme with a matching steering wheel and Natural Black-Silver Birch wooden finishers.
Theia Creation is finished in Ilmenite Grey Satin paint that features metallic flake, inspired by the moon. It wears 23-inch forged wheels finished in Champagne Gold that are complemented by black carbon ceramic brake calipers.
Its interior features Grand Black gloss finishers on the headrests and consoles. Ebony and Ecru Windsor leather with a Kvadrat steelcut backboard contrasts with Pimento contrast carpet binding. A satin forged carbon fiber finisher gleams on the center console.
Range Rover Sport Io Creation takes its name from the most volcanically active body in the Solar System. The SUV's Cyllene Gloss exterior paint job changes in the light. Other exterior features include gloss twill carbon fibre tailpipes, carbon script badging, 23-inch Twill carbon fibre gloss wheels and bespoke silver carbon ceramic brake calipers.
Its interior comes in either Ebony and Lunar Windsor leather with 3D knit seats, Satin Twill carbon fibre seat backboards and seat collar bezels, or Ebony and Rosewood leather with a Satin Twill carbon fiber finisher.
Vega Creation is inspired by the stars. Its exterior is Verrier Blue, a tribute to French astronomer Urban La Verrier, who mathematically predicted the location of Neptune. It has a Carbon Fibre Twill Gloss contrast bonnet with matching script badging, tailpipes and 23-inch wheels. Nano Yello carbon ceramic brake calipers complete the look.
The model's cabin comes in the buyer's choice of either Ebony and Perlino lather seats with Natural Cream Ash Burr finisher on the cupholders, or leather-free Raven Blue and Ebony with a tonal stitch, Raven Blue binding on the carpet mats and a darker Natural Black Birch finisher. Both vAriana's have Ebony Kvadrat Steelcut backboards on the seats.
Range Rover's Sol Creation takes its inspiration from Aurora Borealis. It wears an Aurora Yellow gloss paint job, Narvik Gloss black contrast roof and mirrors, satin forged carbon fiber exterior finishers and tailpipes, 23-inch forged black wheels and Blue Nebula carbon ceramic brake calipers.
Interior colorway options include either a Navy Windsor leather with Light Cloud stitching, with matching carpet mats, or a leather-free Ebony interior with Nano-Yellow stitching and satin forged carbon fibre seat backboards and finisher.
Bugatti Tourbillon
Bugatti has revealed the successor to its Chiron, a high-powered hybrid that takes its inspiration from finely crafted watches. You can read more about it here.
This week, Kia also released pricing for its new version of the Carnival minivan, which includes a hybrid version for the first time.
2025 Kia Carnival
Kia's refreshed Carnival minivan debuted this week combining updated design language with enhanced technology, and a hybrid powertrain option.
The vehicle's new grille has cube-like headlights, with the brand's signature by Star Map lighting at the front and rear. New geometric wheel designs are available in 17- to 19-inch sizes.
A 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen comes standard, as do wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Upgrading to a higher trim level will pair that screen with a twin digital instrument cluster, an improvement on the standard 4.2-inch TFT screen that comes in the base model.
An 11-inch head-up display and Digital Key technology are available. Buyers can also choose to add dual 14.6-inch entertainment screens to the second-row.
Carnival has also been improved to now contain six standard USB-C charging ports while Carnival SX and SX-P models also get two power outlets and two 115-volt inverters.
A sliding second-row seat comes standard in eight-passenger configurations as do hands-free sliding doors is. Carnival EX and above models also get an in-cabin intercom as standard equipment.
The Carnival will be available with either 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 287 horsepower (hp) and 260 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque or a turbocharged 1.6-liter hybrid powerplant that is paired with a 54-kilowatt (kW) electric motor to yield 242 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque.
The gas engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission while the hybrid version has a six-speed.
Kia has also updated the car's driver assistance and safety technology to the latest versions.
The new Carnival goes on sale later this year. Pricing starts at $36,500 for the gas version and $40,500 for the hybrid, before destination and delivery charges are factored in.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull leads the Autos team at Newsweek. She has written extensively about the auto industry for U.S. News & ... Read more
