Nine vehicles to get excited about in 2025, from the Ford Mustang Mach-E to the Jeep Recon

Here are some of the more intriguing cars slated to arrive in the Middle East this year

The Jeep Recon's roof and doors will echo previous models and be removable. Photo: Jeep

World car markets will be bombarded with new vehicles once again this year as manufacturers jockey for domination in a mobility sector that is evolving at an increasingly rapid rate.

Unsurprisingly, electric and hybrid options feature heavily among the latest arrivals, but traditional petrol power is still very much in the mix.

Here, we look at some of the more intriguing cars slated to arrive in the Middle East in 2025. Price estimates are included but bear in mind they are just that and there will be regional variations.

Kia EV5

The Kia EV5 will be making its debut in the region. Photo: Kia

Teaser images of the EV5 have been around for a while now and it was first launched in other global markets last year, but the car will be new to the Middle East in 2025.

As a mid-size SUV with family use in mind, it sits as a beefier version of the EV6 and, if reports of its capabilities prove accurate, will be a vehicle worthy of attention.

The car is already a feature on regional dealership websites, and it is expected to make its first physical appearance in showrooms early in 2025. Prices start at Dh160,000.

Volkswagen ID.2

The Volkswagen ID.2 will come in supermini and compact SUV variants. Reuters

Offering accessible electric motoring options continues to be a trend among manufacturers. Volkswagen’s latest foray into this sphere is the ID.2, a vehicle which will come in supermini and compact SUV variants.

The focus is on efficiency in an urban setting so both options are unlikely to be contenders in the off-road stakes, but, evidently, that remains to be seen – Volkswagen is a brand not unknown to surprise.

Exact specifications are still being decided upon for the ID.2, but expect a classy, compact affair with a few perks to lift it above the pack. Commentators are citing a base-level price of around $27,000.

Ford Mustang Mach-E

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is all-electric. Photo: Ford

If you hear the words “new Ford Mustang” you’re probably going to imagine a car that looks very different to what this, the latest incarnation in the decades-old series, is.

Despite a moniker dripping with machismo, the Mach-E looks as much like a roomy, high-performance European fastback as it does a standard US muscle car. This is an all-electric affair that’s looking to barge its way into the flashy and sporty end of the market.

It remains to be seen how successful Ford has been here, but the early signs seem positive. Currently, a base model Mach-E starts at just north of $40,000.

McLaren W1

The McLaren W1 is powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine paired with an electric motor. Photo: W1

McLaren’s output over the past couple of years has been prolific for a manufacturer of such high-end models – notably, we’ve seen the Artura and the 750S – and its big offering next year is the W1.

This sounds like it could be impressive, despite the name being the same as a central London postcode. The car is powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine paired with an electric motor, which, in harmony, will produce 1,275hp and get the car up to the ton in well under three seconds.

Only 399 W1s will be produced, each with a starting price of about $2.1m.

Polestar 5

The Polestar 5 can go from 0 to 100kph in less than three seconds. Photo: Polestar

Polestar continues its ultra-straightforward naming policy by revealing the imminent release of the 5. The 3 and the 4 – a pair of SUVs – came our way this year but the new arrival sits in the sporty sedan sphere.

This car, another all-electric affair, will do battle with the likes of the Porsche Taycan and the Tesla Model S. The brand’s signature Scandinavian minimalism is all there, but the speed of the 5 distances it from its brethren: the dual-motor set-up will produce a combined output of 884hp, allowing drivers to hit 100 kph in less than three seconds.

Starting prices are currently around $100,000.

BYD Yangwang U8

The BYD Yangwang U8 has a range of 1,000km with a range extender. Photo: BYD

The stats around BYD’s Yangwang U8 indicate that this is one of the most powerful SUVs in the world. Its four-motor set-up delivers 1,100hp and 1,280Nm of torque, all of which gives it an impressive 0 to 100 kph time of less than three seconds.

Speed aside, there are some devious elements in this vehicle – each wheel can be controlled independently, allowing it to make tank-style turns, which takes control in both urban and rough environments little short of a game changer. Notably, with a range extender, BYD says this car will have a 1,000km range.

Expect to pay in the region of $160,000 for a base model.

Jeep Recon

The Jeep Recon's roof and doors will echo previous models and be removable. Photo: Jeep

This is another electric SUV, and one that pays homage to its more famous stablemate the Wrangler and, in particular, the plug-in hybrid version.

As such, the Recon, with its boxy, sturdy exterior, is recognisable as one of the Jeep breed right from the off and its all-terrain capabilities (it is, of course, four-wheel drive) are likely to be key to its appeal. The roof and doors will echo previous models and be removable.

Aside from this, details as yet are few and far between, with engine size, range, battery and price yet to be revealed by the brand. Estimates suggest a base-model price of around $60,000.

Zeekr 7X

The Zeekr 7X can go more than 600km on a single charge. Photo: Zeekr

The 7X is a premium five-seat crossover with several features going in its favour, not least its range. Zeekr is citing a figure of more than 600km on a single charge, rising to nearly 800km on the high-end models.

The 7X is also fast, with the zippiest versions boasting a sub-four-second 0 to 100 kph time. Like a lot of recent Chinese electric options, it also comes with a lot of tech in the shape of advanced driver-assistance systems. The vehicle has off-road capabilities as well.

Price-wise, the 7X is expected to be competitive, with estimates suggesting an entry-level model costing around $33,000.

Koenigsegg Gemera

The Koenigsegg Gemera is a four-seater supercar. Photo: Koenigsegg

A lot of supercar manufacturers talk about producing vehicles that can be used on a day-to-day basis, but this is often something those who’ve driven would question. Koenigsegg might just be bucking the trend with the Gemera though.

It’s a four-seater supercar which, while not having the space of an SUV or microbus, does look on the accessible side. That said, it’s still absurdly fast – the car’s combination of three-cylinder engines paired with a trio of electric motors produces 1,700hp, enough grunt to see the car go from 0-100kph in under two seconds.

It's not cheap and it won’t be commonplace, of course – only 300 are being made available and those who opt to invest can expect a price tag in the region of $1.7m.