As electric cars carve out their place on the roads, design has emerged as a defining factor that sets one model apart from another. Beyond the evolution of powertrains and chassis technologies, car design is being stretched in bold new directions, each vying for attention in a rapidly transforming market.
The year 2024 has brought forth an extraordinary collection of breathtaking driving machines. Esteemed automotive giants have gone above and beyond, presenting designs that seamlessly blend cutting-edge innovation with a deep respect for their brand’s storied heritage.
Whether your passion leans toward visionary supercars or elegantly crafted luxury sedans, these vehicles are redefining the limits of automotive aesthetics.
This is our curated list of the best new car designs for 2024. You might be surprised to find that many of these head-turners sit comfortably in the more affordable segment.
Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce
Alfa Romeo’s latest compact SUV had a somewhat rocky debut, courtesy of a less-than-flattering leak of a white prototype stashed in an Italian garage. However, the transformation since that initial glimpse is nothing short of spectacular.
Interestingly, this model was originally slated to be named “Milano,” but Italian authorities intervened upon discovering that the car was being manufactured outside Italy.
A law prohibiting the misrepresentation of Italian goods meant Alfa had to go back to the drawing board for the name. Despite the hiccup, what they unveiled is a stunning little SUV that promises to be as exciting to drive as it is to look at.
The Junior’s design marks a pivotal moment for Alfa Romeo, signaling a shift in the brand’s aesthetic language as it moves further into the EV era.
Up to this point, Alfa’s designs, as seen in the Giulia and Stelvio, have been characterized by their sleek, curvaceous forms. With the Junior, however, the brand is embracing a new direction—one defined by taller proportions, compact overhangs, and a stubbier silhouette to suit its upcoming EV platforms.
This bold new look draws inspiration from the iconic Zagato-designed SZ of the 1990s, a design direction confirmed by Alfa’s head of design.
The Junior Veloce embodies this heritage with its high shoulder line, boxy proportions, separated glasshouse, and a contrasting roof color. These features are enhanced in the Junior Veloce trim, which boasts striking 20-inch four-spoke wheels and intricate detailing throughout.
While it may not be the most luxurious Alfa Romeo ever, it confidently stands out among its otherwise uninspiring competitors with a fresh and daring aesthetic.
Land Rover Defender Octa
The Land Rover Defender has been a phenomenal success story for the brand, thanks to its unique blend of rugged capability and modern design. Taking a model as iconic as the Defender and creating an ultra-high-performance version without diluting its essence is no small feat. Yet, with the Octa, Land Rover has managed to strike that perfect balance.
The Octa is a bespoke, high-performance Defender featuring upgraded suspension, a twin-turbocharged V8, and a refined new aesthetic. Land Rover’s design team has seamlessly incorporated performance elements without sacrificing the off-roader’s inherent ruggedness.
Key exterior features, such as extended wheel arches, cleverly integrated front air intakes, and a completely redesigned rear bumper, elevate the Octa’s visual appeal while staying true to the Defender’s core identity.
These additions create a harmonious blend of modern sophistication and functional durability, befitting a price tag that’s more than double that of many other Defender variants.
Inside the Octa, Land Rover’s mastery of materials shines. The cabin combines futuristic pressed fabrics with premium natural materials, creating a space that feels both luxurious and innovative. This attention to detail ensures that the Octa not only justifies its high price but also redefines what it means to be a high-performance luxury SUV.
Fiat Grande Panda
A new Fiat Panda doesn’t come along often, and when it does, there’s always a question of whether it can maintain its signature practicality while still being lovable and charismatic. Thankfully, Fiat appears to have delivered with the new Grande Panda, which is already being hailed as one of the best designs of the year.
The Grande Panda’s proportions are city-friendly and compact, yet its design has a blocky, almost Lego-like charm. True to its Panda heritage, it embraces its upright and narrow stance, but with modern touches like flared arches and strategic use of black plastics, it exudes a more robust and contemporary feel.
What truly sets the Grande Panda apart, though, are its intricate details. Clever design elements abound, such as debossed “FIAT” and “Panda” graphics on the doors and tailgate, three-dimensional LED lighting, and quirky touches like the two-way panels behind the rear doors.
These panels display the modern Fiat script on one side and the retro four-strake Fiat logo on the other, blending nostalgia with innovation.
The Grande Panda is a design triumph, proving that great design can be achieved without a hefty price tag.
Lancia Ypsilon
Another standout Italian entry on this list is the Lancia Ypsilon, an eccentric-looking hatchback that shares its technical underpinnings with Alfa Romeo’s offerings but boasts a completely distinct identity.
Lancia, a brand with a rich history of innovative design, is undergoing a major resurgence. The Ypsilon is a prime example of this reinvention, serving as a modern interpretation of the Pu+Ra concept car unveiled a few years ago. That concept paid homage to iconic Lancia models like the Stratos, setting the tone for the brand’s future aesthetic direction.
Remarkably, the designers have managed to adapt elements of the concept’s bold, angular design into the compact form of a supermini with elegance and subtlety.
Standout features include a striking black bar across the front fascia, unconventional wheel designs, and beautifully balanced body proportions. The Ypsilon manages to differentiate itself not just from other superminis but also from its platform-sharing counterparts, such as the Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa.
This hatchback signals a new era for Lancia, which is set to release two additional models in the coming years. With the Ypsilon as a shining example, the brand is firmly back in the spotlight as a leader in car design.
Mercedes-AMG GT
Design at Mercedes-Benz has sparked debate in recent years, particularly with the EQ range, where traditional proportions have been replaced by more amorphous, unconventional shapes. But when Mercedes opts for a classic approach, as seen in the new AMG GT, the results are nothing short of spectacular.
This all-new model builds upon the previous generation, which experimented heavily with front-mid-engine proportions, often with polarizing results.
In contrast, the latest iteration repositions the cabin slightly forward, creating a more balanced and familiar silhouette. The design is further enhanced by refined surfacing and aggressive yet understated details.
Key highlights include the ultra-low bonnet line that sweeps over the front wheels and the intricate, three-dimensional rear lighting elements, which emerge subtly from the darkened tailgate. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the new AMG GT now offers added practicality, with rear seats and a surprisingly spacious boot.
The AMG GT represents Mercedes at its best, combining elegance and performance in a package that’s both beautiful and functional.
Alpine A290
Rounding out the list is the Alpine A290, a small yet bold electric hot hatchback infused with French flair. As Renault’s high-performance offshoot and F1 brand, Alpine has delivered a striking follow-up to its recent revival, blending retro charm with cutting-edge design.
Based on the new Renault 5, the A290 takes inspiration from the retro themes of its sibling but ramps up the aggression with bespoke features.
The body has been significantly reworked, including unique front and rear bumpers, new side skirts, and a redesigned rear door that nods to the original Renault 5 Turbo with its dynamic lines. The bumpers themselves are dramatic, incorporating oversized splitters, diffusers, and glossy black accents offset by bold pinstriping.
Attention to detail extends to new 19-inch wheel designs and optional tri-color liveries influenced by the A290 Beta concept.
Not only is it a stylish and practical electric hatchback, but it’s also genuinely fun to drive. If the A290 can enhance the R5’s winning design appeal with added dynamic performance, it could emerge as a strong contender—potentially the first mainstream, relatively affordable EV with a true appeal for driving enthusiasts.
The A290 represents a pivotal moment for Alpine, as the Renault sub-brand aims to become a more cost-effective part of the wider Renault Group.
To achieve that, Alpine must shift a higher volume of vehicles compared to the brilliant but niche A110 sports car, which has struggled to reach profitability. The A290 represents its first real attempt at becoming a true volume product.
The A290, on the other hand, is expected to have a starting price of around £33,000 for the entry-level GT trim. Prices are projected to climb above £36,000 for the GT Premium and reach £38,000 for the GTS, the range-topping model that we’ve driven.
The GT and GT Premium trims are powered by a 178-horsepower motor, while the GTS features the same motor but tuned to produce 217 horsepower.
All three versions are front-wheel-drive, as an all-wheel-drive system would likely drive up costs, add unnecessary weight, and shift the character of the car. Every A290 variant is equipped with the same 52kWh battery, ensuring a shared power source across the range.
While retro-inspired hot hatchbacks are not a novel concept—MINI and Abarth have been refining this formula for years—the Alpine A290 stands out as a bold and exciting entry. Its fun, city-friendly design ensures it will turn heads when it hits the streets later this year.