Just when you thought the internal combustion engine was being led to the execution chamber by a mob of electricity-wielding environmentalists, the performance car industry has decided to go out with one final, magnificent bang. 2025 is shaping up to be the automotive equivalent of the last day of school - everyone's breaking the rules, throwing paper airplanes, and generally causing absolute mayhem before the teachers (or in this case, legislators) can restore order.

Yes, there are some electric offerings on this list. Some of them are even quite good.

But what makes 2025 so exciting is the fact that it represents the last hurrah of gas-guzzling insanity before the world goes fully electrified. It's like watching the dinosaurs having one final, glorious party before the asteroid hits.

So, let's count down the 16 most exciting performance cars coming in 2025, ranked from "I might glance at it if I see one at a car show" to "I would sell vital organs to own one."

16. DeLorean Alpha5

The DeLorean name returns with this swoopy electric four-seater that bears approximately zero resemblance to the stainless steel wedge we all know from Back to the Future. It's got gullwing doors, which is nice, but so did the Mercedes SLS, and that had a proper engine with pistons and explosions.

The Alpha5 promises 300 miles of range and a 0-60 time of 3.4 seconds, which sounds impressive until you realize that's what a Tesla Model 3 Performance can do, and those are as common as pigeons in London. I'd love to be excited about this, but if history has taught us anything, it's that automotive startups promising the moon tend to deliver a handful of dust at best. If this actually makes it to production in 2025, I'll eat my flux capacitor.

15. Dodge Charger Sixpack

After witnessing the collective disappointment that greeted the electric Charger's reveal, Dodge has decided to throw a bone to those who still believe engines should make noise. The Sixpack uses a twin-turbocharged inline-six with either 420 or 550 horsepower, which sounds promising until you learn it's only available with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

It's like ordering a double whiskey and being served a wine cooler instead. Yes, there's alcohol in it, but it's missing the entire point. A Charger should be rear-wheel drive, have a manual option, and be capable of turning its rear tires into smoke at the merest suggestion of throttle. Still, a compromised Charger is better than no Charger at all, I suppose.

Test-Driving The 671 HP Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Super Sedan

14. Mercedes-AMG Super Sedan

Mercedes-AMG is replacing its GT 4-Door with an all-electric super sedan packing around 1,000 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of torque. On paper, that's impressive. In reality, it's yet another electric sedan that will accelerate like it's been fired out of a railgun but have all the character and excitement of a washing machine on spin cycle.

These electric performance cars all follow the same formula: massive power, instant acceleration, and about as much personality as a corporate PowerPoint presentation. Will it be fast? Undoubtedly. Will it make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up when you start it? Not a chance.

Ferrari: All Four New Models You'll See in 2025

13. Ferrari Electric Supercar

Ferrari making an electric car is like Gordon Ramsay opening a vegan restaurant. It goes against everything we thought they stood for. Yet here we are, with the prancing horse about to gallop into the electric future with what appears to be a four-seat coupe or possibly a low-slung SUV. Will it be fast? Of course. Will it be exquisitely built? Certainly. Will it make you weak at the knees like a naturally aspirated V12 Ferrari? I have my doubts. Still, if anyone can inject some soul into an electric drivetrain, it's probably the wizards at Maranello. I'm skeptical but willing to be proved wrong.

12. Honda Prelude

The return of the Prelude should be a cause for celebration among enthusiasts, especially given Honda's recent track record with the sublime Civic Type R. Unfortunately, it's coming back as a hybrid with simulated gear changes, which is a bit like returning to your favorite childhood restaurant only to find they've replaced your favorite dish with a plant-based alternative.

It looks fantastic, I'll give them that. But the Prelude name carries certain expectations – namely, that it should be a sharp, engaging driver's car. I'm not convinced a Civic hybrid with a coupe body will fulfill that promise. Still, any new coupe in today's market deserves some recognition, so it slots in here at number 12.

New 2025 BMW M2 CS – 523 HP, Carbon Fiber Upgrades & Limited Production

11. BMW M2 CS

The standard M2 is already the best car BMW makes – a compact, muscular coupe with a proper straight-six up front, power going to the rear wheels, and a chassis that encourages hooliganism. The CS version will take this winning formula and dial it up to 11 with more power (over 500 horses), better brakes, revised suspension, and more aggressive aerodynamics.

It should be incredible, and in any normal year, it would rank much higher. But 2025 is not a normal year. When you're competing against hypercars and revived icons, even something as magnificent as an M2 CS can't crack the top 10. BMW's decision to make it automatic-only also costs it a few places in the rankings.

10. Hyundai Ioniq 6 N

The Ioniq 5 N has proven that electric performance cars don't have to be soulless appliances. Its simulated gear shifts, drift mode, and soundtrack generator create an experience that's actually engaging, rather than just brutally fast. The Ioniq 6 N will take this same powertrain – 641 horsepower from two electric motors – and place it in a more aerodynamic, lighter sedan body.

The result should be even quicker and more focused, with a longer range to boot. It still won't replace the experience of a proper internal combustion engine, but it's the closest an EV has come to delivering driving thrills beyond just straight-line acceleration. This is the future of performance, whether we like it or not, and Hyundai deserves credit for making it palatable.

Porsche's electric 718 Cayman and Boxster: the CAR dossier

9. Porsche 718 Boxster/Cayman EV

The Boxster and Cayman have long been the thinking person's sports cars – perfectly balanced, sublime to drive, and more engaging than cars costing three times as much. The next generation will be fully electric, which feels like a bit of a tragedy given how masterfully these cars translated engine power into pure driving pleasure.

However, if any company can make an electric sports car that doesn't feel like a video game, it's Porsche. They've had more success than most at making their EVs feel connected and engaging, and the compact dimensions of the 718 platform should help mask the inevitable weight gain that comes with battery packs. I'm cautiously optimistic, but still mourning the loss of that flat-four (and the flat-six that preceded it).

2026 Shelby GT500 Mustang Convertible Spied w/ Revised Grille, Carbon Fiber Wheels & Larger Global Market Side Mirrors | Mustang7G - 2024+ S650 Mustang Forum (Dark Horse, GT, EcoBoost, GT500, GT350, Mach 1)

8. Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

We don't know much about the next GT500 yet, but if history is any guide, it will be an absolute monster. The previous generation made 760 horsepower from a supercharged V8, and the new version will need to up the ante even further to stay competitive in the horsepower wars.

What we do know is that it will be based on the current S650 Mustang platform, which is already an improvement over its predecessor. With the limited-production GTD showing what Ford is capable of when it really tries, the GT500 should be nothing short of spectacular. A proper American muscle car with more power than sense and a soundtrack that would make Metallica sound like a lullaby.

7. Bentley Continental GT High Performance Hybrid

The Continental GT has always been a magnificent grand tourer – effortlessly fast, impeccably luxurious, and capable of crossing continents without breaking a sweat. The new High Performance Hybrid version combines a twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor for a total of 671 horsepower, which is slightly less than the W12-powered Speed but still plenty.

What makes this special is that it represents the perfect halfway house between the present and the future. You get the instantaneous torque of an electric motor combined with the character and sound of a proper V8. It's like having your cake and eating it too, but the cake costs a quarter of a million pounds and comes with a built-in massage function. Lovely.

6. Lexus LFR

Toyota hasn't built a proper supercar since the legendary LFA, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest cars ever made. The LFR (or whatever they end up calling it) has impossibly big shoes to fill, but early signs are promising. Test mules have been spotted at the Nürburgring sporting proportions similar to the GR GT3 concept from 2022.

The rumor mill suggests it will use a V8 engine, possibly with hybrid assistance, which breaks from the V10 tradition of the LFA but should still deliver the goods. If it captures even half the magic of its predecessor – particularly that ear-shattering engine note – we could be looking at something truly special. The fact that it exists at all in today's market is cause for celebration.

5. Rezvani Beast

Subtlety has never been Rezvani's strong suit, and the new Beast continues that tradition in spectacular fashion. Based on the C8 Corvette – already a formidable performance car – the Beast cranks the madness up to 11 with a tuned 6.2-liter V8 making 1,000 horsepower and 878 pound-feet of torque.

It looks like something Batman would drive if he decided the Tumbler was too subtle, and comes with an array of James Bond-worthy features including night vision, electromagnetic pulse protection, electrified door handles, and even a pepper spray dispenser. It's completely absurd, totally unnecessary, and absolutely magnificent. The fact that it's actually in production puts it ahead of some of the more speculative entries on this list.

4. Aston Martin Valhalla

After six years of teasing, the Valhalla is finally reaching production. It's a proper mid-engine supercar with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 producing 817 horsepower, supplemented by three electric motors to deliver a combined 1,065 horsepower. If you're keeping score, that's enough to rearrange your internal organs under full acceleration.

The Valhalla represents Aston Martin's most serious attempt yet at challenging the established supercar hierarchy, with technology derived from their Formula 1 program. It looks spectacular, will be limited to just 999 examples, and costs around $1 million. It's the kind of car that would have adorned bedroom walls in the 90s, if bedroom walls still existed in today's digital world.

2026 Tesla Roadster: What We Know So Far

3. Tesla Roadster

I can almost hear the angry keyboard mashing from here. "How can you rank a Tesla above an Aston Martin?!" Simple: if – and it's a massive if – the Roadster delivers on its promises, it will rewrite the performance car rulebook. Elon Musk claims a 0-60 time of 1.9 seconds, a top speed of 250 mph, and a range of 620 miles. Oh, and it has small rocket thrusters. Because of course it does.

The problem is that Musk has been promising this car since 2017, and it's been delayed more times than a British train during a light drizzle. If it actually materializes in 2025 with anything close to the claimed performance, it will be nothing short of revolutionary. But that's a bigger if than whether I'll be invited to dinner at Buckingham Palace.

2. Bugatti-Rimac Track Hypercar

When the two most technologically advanced hypercar manufacturers in the world join forces, the result is bound to be spectacular. CEO Mate Rimac has described this upcoming track car as "faster than Formula 1, faster than Le Mans" for most circuits, which is the kind of claim that would normally be dismissed as marketing hyperbole.

But coming from the man who created the Nevera, the fastest accelerating production car in the world, it carries some weight. The car will feature a canopy-style cockpit with a centralized driving position, similar to the McLaren F1, and will likely combine Rimac's battery technology with Bugatti's aerodynamic expertise. It's the hypercar equivalent of the Avengers assembling, and the results should be nothing short of earth-shattering.

Porsche Mission X: yet another dream takes shape - Porsche Newsroom

1. Porsche Electric Hypercar

At the top of the list sits Porsche's successor to the 918 Spyder, which looks set to redefine what we expect from electric hypercars. Based on the stunning Mission X concept, it will feature a unique battery layout with cells positioned behind the driver to mimic the weight distribution of a mid-engine car. This alone shows that Porsche is thinking beyond the usual "skateboard platform with lots of power" approach.

The car will draw design inspiration from Porsche's IMSA race cars, feature a racing cockpit with bucket seats and carbon fiber throughout, and will almost certainly set new benchmarks for electric performance. What puts it at number one is Porsche's unmatched ability to create cars that are not just fast in a straight line, but genuinely engaging to drive at any speed. If anyone can make an electric hypercar that delivers on the emotional front as well as the statistical one, it's Porsche.

The Final Word

The class of 2025 represents a fascinating moment in automotive history – the point where the old world of internal combustion and the new world of electrification collide in spectacular fashion. It's like watching the dinosaurs and mammals battling for supremacy, except the dinosaurs have twin turbos and the mammals have battery packs.

Whether your preference is for the earth-shaking roar of a V8 or the silent but violent acceleration of an electric motor, there's something coming that will blow your mind and empty your bank account. These are the cars that engineers create when they're given free rein to push the boundaries of what's possible, and we should celebrate them while we can.

Because in a decade's time, when we're all driving electric crossovers with the personality of a dishwasher, we'll look back at 2025 as the year the performance car went out not with a whimper, but with an almighty, glorious, earth-shattering bang. And on that bombshell, it's time to start saving up.