Petrol Cars To Look Out For In 2025
The start of a new year gives us an opportunity to look forward to the year ahead and, in automotive terms, which cars are we looking forward to that are likely to be released during 2025. Whilst the ZEV Mandate and the impending combustion engine ban means that the majority of the motoring industry is looking towards an all-electric, or at least a heavily hybridised future at least, Oracle Car Finance customers are deciding to ignore all that. Last year 94% of all cars we funded were combustion engine driven, whether hybridised or not, but certainly not fully electric at least.
So whilst the rest of the motoring press are likely to be leading with the most exciting and anticipated electric vehicles that are expected to be released this year, we are going with combustion engine cars for 2025 first as that is what you, our customers, are coming to us to fund.
So here is our rundown of combustion engine cars to look forward to in 2025:
Lamborghini Temerario
When Lamborghini announced that their Huracan was not long for this world, may thought it could signal the end of what a Lamborghini is all about and dreaded an early move towards an electric alternative. But Lamborghini tend not to listen to what others are telling them they should be doing and go their own way about things anyway.
Whilst most brands consider a hybrid is the perfect way to offer silent electric running and an increase in fuel efficiency and range, Lamborghini feel that hybrid assistance merely offers an opportunity to squeeze even more power into their cars. What started with the introduction of the 1,000HP Revuelto and continued to the 788hp Urus SE, completing the Lamborghini line up is the 907hp Temerario. Considering the outgoing Huracan produced 640hp from its 5.2-litre V10, a more than 50% increase in power for the ’entry level’ way into the brand seems excessive.
But then again, excess is exactly what a Lamborghini has always been about. The angular styling remains yet is now more aggressive following the Revuelto’s cues, yet it is the power and speed that are obviously the most obvious changes. With a 4.0-litre V8 and a triple motor set up, the 0-62mph time of just 2.7 seconds and top speed of over 210mph ensures there is nothing ‘entry level’ about the Temerario. Especially when it comes to the sheer number of customisation options and ways for customers to order the car exactly the way they want to. With half a dozen of its bigger brother, the Revuelto, being delivered to our customers last year, we can’t wait to see some examples of the Temerario being funded this year too.
Aston Martin Valhalla
The Aston Martin Valhalla is a car that has seemingly taken so long to get from concept to production that many forgot it was even on its way. First unveiled in 2019 and following the understandable hype and excitement of the Valkyrie, Aston had always said they were to make a more comfortable and usable sibling and they have kept their promise. The Valhalla is unashamedly aiming directly at the latest creations from McLaren, Ferrari and Porsche to ensure their place amongst the supercar elite.
The brand’s first ever mid-engined plug-in hybrid supercar, the Valhalla has taken its inspiration from the Valkyrie and their significant Formula 1 knowledge and technology, yet with added Aston Martin luxuriousness and refinement, to create something seriously impressive.
With over 1060hp from a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 and a twin electric motor set up, the Valhalla has more than enough power to compete with the very best. Yet it is the promise of ‘unparalleled performance and a revolution in driver engagement’ that shows that the Aston Martin mean business with this one. Whereas the Valkyrie was always going to be a limited numbers track toy that can occasionally be driven on the road for those brave enough, the Valhalla’s production of 999 examples and ability to purely be used on the road means that it could just be a defining model for the brand. Good things really do come to those who wait.
Audi RS5
With the introduction of EV’s and the continuation of combustion engine cars the Audi line up has had a bit of a shakeup when it comes to their numbers. Previously the A4 and A6 were the executive saloon cars and the A5 and A7 were the coupe versions of those saloons. Now regardless of body style, the even numbers are to be the EV’s and the odd numbers are to have hybrid combustion engines. Sounds confusing but at least they seem to have dropped their even more baffling 35, 40 and 50 power iterations for each model.
With BMW taking the first plunge into a flagship hybrid performance car with their latest M5 (see below), fans of the four rings are eager to see what Audi can do when it comes to the new RS5. So whereas the outgoing RS5 is a svelte luxury coupe, the new RS5 will be an estate, or ‘Avant’, to replace the outgoing RS4. Though there probably will be a new RS4, it will just be an EV. See, confusing. Expected to have a V6 like the S5, the RS5 will use a plug-in hybrid system similar to the one used in the Panamera to offer somewhere in the region of 550hp. The 100hp increase in power may merely be there to offset the increase in weight thanks to the hybrid system, but it should mean the RS5 is going to be notably quicker than ever before.
Powerful estate cars are the thing that Audi do best and since BMW returned to the marketplace with their M3 and M5 Touring models they need to up their game even further than ever before. Without ruining the below section about the M5, Audi may have been given the perfect opportunity to show the rest how it should be done and return to the top of the performance estate car tree. Hopefully 2025 will offer a sense of familiarity in that sense when so much seems to be changing recently.
BMW M5 & M5 Touring
When BMW unveiled their all-new M5 there were two main talking points that seemed to be continuously talked about. The fact that it now comes with a colossal 727hp and that it now weighs almost 600kg than the outgoing car. Yes it now comes with hybrid assistance, hence the dramatic power increase, but 600kg between generations is more than a sizeable increase. For a brand that pride themselves on being ‘the ultimate driving machine’ there were more than a few concerns about how the new model was going to handle all that weight.
Despite the huge power increase, more than 130hp in fact, over the outgoing model, the weight increase has had quite the effect on the performance of the original iconic executive saloon. An icon that incidentally weighed a tonne less than the new one. The 0-62mph sprint is actually slower and despite the amount of engineering and technology they have put into the car to attempt to hide the weight the signs are always there.
Yes it is obviously breathtakingly fast and with adjustable all-wheel drive the grip levels are very impressive, but for those looking for steering and braking feel when you push the car to the limits, early impressions are that you may be a bit disappointed. But how many drivers are actually going to push their M5 to the limit or regularly take it round a track? Probably not very many. The fact remains that if you want a fast, technology laden, spacious estate that impresses you with its performance as much as its ability to cruise around effortlessly and its ease of drive, the latest M5 is a very impressive prospect. It’s perhaps just not what traditionally made an M5.
BMW M2 Competition / CS
What does make an ‘M’ car an ‘M’ car is thankfully still very much alive in the latest M2. Purely combustion engine driven (for now), engaging for the driver, it is even available with a manual gearbox. The M2 has always been one of the cheapest ways to offer a serious performance car, and the previous generation won many fans specifically for that available sports car capability.
The latest generation may have grown considerably in price, but what hasn’t these days. What is also offers is a considerable gain in power, now 476hp from its sublime twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six engine, more than 100 hp more than the previous generation. Yet what hasn’t materialised yet is the sought after follow up model that usually follows an M car, the Competition model.
Rumours and spy shots of a potential CS, the even more extreme performance minded version of an M car, have been doing the rounds amongst automotive journalists, yet nothing has been confirmed just yet. Whether BMW decide to skip the Competition and go straight to the CS remain to be seen but one thing is for sure, the many plaudits of the current M2 will be certainly looking forward to something even more powerful, lighter and testing of the capabilities of the M2’s chassis. As one of the few performance cars coming in 2025 that are purely combustion engine driven and available with a manual transmission, the M2 Competition/CS might be the very last of its kind.
Porsche 911
The long awaited second iteration of the latest generation of Porsche 911 models saw their initial unveiling last year, yet it wasn’t quite what Porsche fans had been used to. The usual timeline for 911 models receiving the mid-life updates starts with the less expensive models before being rolled out to the top of the range GTS before eventually the GT products are updated. This time round Porsche did almost the complete opposite.
The GTS with its e-hybrid technology came first, joined by just the base Carrera from the non-GT products and, even more bizarrely, the updated GT3. Even traditionally the usual last hurrah addition of a Carrera T has been given the 992.2 treatment. Despite it nearing 8 months since that first launch date, up until now there is still no sign of a Carrera S, or a Carrera 4/Carrera 4S, there isn’t even an updated Turbo or Turbo S either.
With the GTS receiving the model’s first ever hybrid technology, the base Carrera remained purely combustion driven. It is expected that the GTS will be the only non-‘Turbo’ named model that will come with hybrid assistance, and that the Turbo models will offer a significant power increase with the technology, yet the remainder of the range will see similar incremental updates to the ones seen in the Carrera. 2025 will surely see the launch of the remainder of the range and Porsche fans are eager to see how it will pan out. As our most popular funded model year after year, so are we.
Audi RS7
Following Audi’s model naming reshuffle mentioned above, the forthcoming RS6 will be purely electrically powered and for the first time in many years, may also be available as a Saloon as well as the Avant estate. The ‘standard’ all-new A6 has received a lot of praise for its looks, technology, range, handling and the fact it shows a very promising future for Audi’s EV saloon line up. combustion engine version of which will be the new RS7.
Sharing technology with sister company Porsche has always worked very well for Audi, look at the E-Tron GT and its flagship RS version for a start. Whilst their future cars are going to borrow even more technology for their hybrid line up, the updated Panamera will ensure that the RS7 will be more than capable at bringing blistering hybrid performance to the masses.
Whether it will borrow the full-fat 4.0-litre V8 hybrid set up from the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid or whether it will be a V6 like the forthcoming RS5 remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, fast Audi models are thankfully here to stay if they are electric or combustion engine driven. For now.
Porsche Mission X
Way back in June 2023 Porsche celebrated 75 years of the company with a present to itself in the form of the Mission X concept car. Now, Porsche have a habit of putting their concept cars into production over recent years so many have been expecting that the Mission X was actually going to be the next hypercar in line after the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder.
At the time it was expected that the Mission X would be a fully electric hypercar designed to show exactly what was possible, much in the way that the Lotus Evija is aiming for too. However, Porsche are surely keen to reclaim their place in the hypercar ‘trinity’ along with McLaren and Ferrari so you would expect them to offer something very similar in specification. With the McLaren W1 and Ferrari F80 hypercars using hybrid technology, surely Porsche would be following suit with a similar powertrain for their latest hypercar.
With car fans revelling in the launches of the Ferrari and McLaren offerings, there has been nothing as yet from Porsche. Maybe the Mission X is a different car entirely and maybe Porsche have something else up their sleeve to take on the other two brands at the hypercar game, or maybe it remains their successor to the 918 Spyder. Whatever they are cooking up behind the scenes in Stuttgart, surely 2025 will give us some clues as to a new flagship performance car from one of the very best in the game.
Financing Your Car In 2025
Looking to purchase a car in 2025? Why not get the ball rolling with a no obligation conversation with your dedicated Account Manager about your funding options. You can get in touch with us either by calling 0800 012 6666 or online by clicking here.
With over 2,600 Trustpilot reviews and counting with an overall rating of 5.0 out of 5.0, and having funded over £2 billion and counting for our customers, you too can find out why thousands of people trust us time and time again to find a smarter, tailored funding solution when looking for your next car.
Make sure you follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook to keep up to date with what’s happening in the market and to see some stunning photos and videos of the amazing cars we fund.
