The Most Anticipated Car Debuts of 2014

The past year has been one of the best 12-month spans in automotive history. There's no questioning that. Speed records were broken, sales records were broken, dash cam usage records were broken, and new innovation and quality standards were set. It was a year that many auto makers, such as Lamborghini, Aston Martin, and McLaren, celebrated enormous milestone birthdays with their best products ever. With all the creativity left on the showroom floors in 2013, you'd think companies would need some time to recharge their lithium ion batteries. Think again.

There's plenty of juice to go, as car companies will continue to use momentum from 2013 to push forward into new territory. Entirely new models are being built to fill out new segments, cars are being recreated and improved, and new technologies are finally coming to fruition. Check out which cars we're most excited about with our Early Picks for the Most Anticipated Car Debuts of 2014.

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Debut: Detroit

Lexus doesn't bother with that "let's put a smaller engine with a turbo on it" business. The RC-F will take on a different version of the IS-F's big ol' 5.0L V8. The RC is already an attractive car, something Lexus has been improving on lately, and with all of its jazzed up sport features like hood scoops and side vents, this thing could be killer.

Debut: Guangzhou Motor Show

Maybach is gone, and hip hop is surely sadder for it. Yes, the Royce Phantom is still there as the go-to choice for freakishly luxurious sedans, but Maybach had a special place. Maybach isn't really dead, however. All that development is getting passed on to a classier luxo-barge that will bear the Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star and will revive the Pullman name (could also be Maybach). We can't wait to see just how great this car will be.

Debut: Geneva

What you're looking at is Hyundai's "Fluidic Sculpture 2.0" design language. The Korean company has already teased this image for a high-set CUV that supposedly takes inspiration from an aircraft. But the thing we're most excited about is the company's continued push with its hydrogen fuel-cell tech. This model is supposed to have a powertrain lighter and small than the one used in today's ix35 fuel cell.

Debut: Unknown

The Dodge Challenger is a fantastic car for road trips, but it can't hold a candle to the Mustang or Camaro on track, which is really a shame. SRT has been on a roll recently, making fantastic cars like the Grand Cherokee SRT8 and the Viper, so we're really hopeful that the 'Cuda will drop, look awesome, and bring the fight to the other neo-muscle cars.

Debut: Detroit

Did you see Kia's concepts last year? The Niro? The GT and the Provo? They all looked pretty bossy. And have you seen the teaser fro the Stinger? As Kia continues to fill in all the gaps people (for some reason) continue to doubt they can fill (whattup, K900!), a 315hp rear-wheel-drive sports car sounds like a logical, and potentially awesome next step.

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Debut: Geneva?

Only recently did we get what looks like solid confirmation that the Shelby GT350 will be happening. When it will debut is a different story.

Debut: Geneva

The VW XL1 was made for fuel economy. In fact, it set out to be the most fuel efficient car in the world, and achieved so by grabbing a European combined fuel consumption rating of 261 mpg. It runs on a two-cylinder TDI engine, a 27hp electric motor, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and a lithium-ion battery, all of which are combined with one of the most aerodynamic shells ever built. But efficiency certainly does not mean speed, and that's where Ducati comes in. If you remember, VW owns Audi, which, as of 2012, owns Ducati. VW has a plan to use a 2-cyclinder engine from 1199 Panigale in a car based on the XL1's body. This thing could be insanity.

Debut: Unknown

The next Z car is set for 2016 (the model year), which means it will go into production in 2015, which means we should be getting a sweet new concept at some point this year. Nissan capped 2013 by leaving us with the IDx siblings and the trophy-like Bladeglider, leaving a thirst in everybody's mouths for what's to come.

Debut: Detroit

Aluminum. Aluminium. Al. Discovered in 1825 by Hans Christian Ørsted, atomic number of 13, melts at 1,221°F, and will completely change the life path of the best selling vehicle in the U.S. for the past 30 years. Ford is restructuring its iconic truck by using 600 lbs of aluminum to replace about 1,000 lbs of steel. It's the first part of a plan to cut around 800 lbs and get fuel economy much closer to 30 mpgs. This is just step one of the 55 mpg average standards that are required by 2025.

Debut: Unknown

The upcoming Miata is supposedly going to weigh less than 2,204 lbs. (1,000 kilos, for those wondering about the 4). That means it will have the best power-to-weight ratio since the first generation. It's also supposed to follow the current design cues from the Shinari Concept, like the 6 and 3 have, so it should be extremely attractive, as well. Mazda's great direction continues.

Debut: Paris

Jaguar is coming for the BMW 3-Series', Audi A4s' and Mercedes-Benz C-Class' necks, and it's not going to be nice about it. With the car now fully formed, the public will see a concept of the baby XF at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, with the production version popping up in Geneva 2015. The car will be using the aluminum monocoque structure, which will provide great rigidity for a performance sedan, shown in the recent C-X17 crossover. As for the engines, it will probably borrow from the XF, which is also set to see a replacement, and the F-Type. Jaguar is planning to produce an absolute stunner with this car, and the potential gives us chills.

Debut: Unknown

The Coupe version of the ATS, the car's first variant since its highly regarded release, is set to debut this month in Detroit, so it only makes sense that driving lovers will also get a high-powered version of the baby CTS this year, as well. Rumors say the car will get a twin-turbo V6 to help differentiate from the supercharged V8 that is headed for the CTS-V. We can't wait to play with both.

Debut: Unknown

We've seen the new WRX, and have been thouroughly underwhelmed, but as fans of the rex in general, we're really hoping the STi will knock this one out of the park. More power should fix the sad fact that this WRX is slower than the last one, and more precision will no doubt be a good thing. We still love you Subaru, but you mess this up and we might have a problem.

Debut: Detroit

"The most track-capable Corvette ever." The complaints about previous Corvettes were never about the car's ability to show out on the road. It's always been a fantastic performer, so the idea of something even better excites just about anybody who likes cars. Chances are the Z06 will have a supercharged 6.2L V8 with rumored 600-plus horsepower. It'll also have a revised chassis, as well as additional air cooling add-ons (yes, even more vents and scoops!).

Debut: Unknown

We've personally heard confirmations that Toyota is working on a new Supra multiple times from people who work in the company, but when we try to ask questions not over drinks, we're told that the Supra doesn't exist. Rumor has it that this car will show up at an auto show this year, and potentially even Detroit, but only time will tell.