2016 was a fine year for new car launches but waiting on the horizon are umpteen more. Here, then, are 40 of the most thrilling motors that the bods over at Motoring Research can’t wait to drive in 2017.

A new SUV is to a carmaker what a defibrillator is to a dying person. As such, there’s a great deal resting on the shoulders of the first SUV to wear the Alfa Romeo badge. “OMG, an SUV from Italy, 500hp, princess, red dress, hell yes,” says the promotional video for the Stelvio. The Quadrifoglio model, pictured at the LA Auto Show, will be the range flagship and will be powered by a Ferrari-derived 2.9-litre V6 engine producing some 505hp. Combined with 443lb ft of torque, this range-topper cou

If you like the look of the Vision Concept, pictured here, we bring good news: the production version is likely to stay faithful to the concept car. We understand the Alpine – likely to be called the A120 – will cost upwards of £50,000 when it goes on sale in the summer. Still want that Porsche Boxster?

No need to adjust your set, you are indeed looking at a photo of an Aston Martin DB11. It’s just that the forthcoming V8 Vantage will be based on the DB11’s platform, but will be powered by a Mercedes-AMG twin-turbocharged V8 engine. Aston Martin’s entry-level model is set to arrive in the autumn.

There’s a new Audi A8 on the way and – if the spy shots are anything to go by – it looks a little like the Audi Prologue concept of 2014. It follows the launch of the new BMW 7 Series and is likely to offer a new range of autonomous driving options and more high-end tech than a gamer’s bedroom.

Remember the Audi A1 Clubsport quattro concept (pictured) of 2011? While the much-rumoured Audi RS1 won’t pack anything like the 500hp produced by the one-off Wörthersee concept, it is likely to be a fitting swansong for Audi’s baby car. Expect around 280hp from its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. Unlike the left-hand drive only A1 quattro of 2012, the RS1 is expected to be offered as a right-hooker.

Right now, the Audi A4 is arguably the best compact executive car you can buy, which means hot versions are starting from a strong position. The RS4 has become something of a cult hero, but in keeping with the modern trend towards fewer cylinders and the use of turbochargers, we’re expecting the new car to ditch the V8 in favour of a twin-turbocharged V6.

The Bentley Bentayga Diesel is the fastest SUV in the world. It shares its 4.0-litre 32-valve V8 diesel engine with the Audi SQ7 and can hit 62mph in 4.8 seconds. With a price tag some £30,000 lower than the W12, it’s the bargain basement Bentayga you were dreaming of. Probably.

Looking every inch the scaled down BMW 7 Series, the new 5 Series will be the most advanced 5 ever when it arrives in February. Expect the usual wide range of engine and trim options – including a high-performance M5 – along with an ability to partly drive itself. As BMW’s most profitable car, this is a hugely significant launch for the firm.

Back in July, we attended the UK unveiling of the Bristol Bullet at Coworth Park, near Ascot. We had a very brief passenger ride in the £250,000 speedster, of which a total of 70 units will be made. The first cars are likely to reach customers in January 2017, marking 70 years since the first Bristol left the factory.

Proof that we’re just as likely to get excited about a new supermini as we are a supercar, here’s the funky Citroen C3. It’s not perfect, but our first drive in Barcelona left us in little doubt that the C3 has what it takes to reverse Citroen’s recent slump. Prices start at £10,795 or £159 a month.

From one car you can afford, to one car you can’t buy. Even before the Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, all 209 units had been spoken for. There is some good news if you’re not one of the 200 customers who have signed on the dotted line for this topless LaFerrari: the remaining nine units will tour the world to help Ferrari celebrate its 70th anniversary.

Don’t be too downhearted about missing out on the LaFerrari Aperta, you could always put your name down for a new GTC4 Lusso T. This rear-wheel drive version of the GTC4 Lusso is powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine and is designed to appeal to a new breed of younger drivers. Young drivers with £200,000 burning a hole in their pockets, that is.

It’s not new, but a refreshed Fiat Panda is a reason to be cheerful. The current generation Panda has been on sale since 2011, so a facelift is long overdue. Expect a subtle new look, a range of more efficient engines and improvements to the on-board tech.

It’s all change for Britain’s most popular car, with the Ford Fiesta pushing further upmarket. Along with the ST-Line and Titanium models, stay tuned for a Fiesta Active crossover and – wait for it – a Fiesta Vignale. Oh, and don’t worry, a hot Fiesta ST will follow later in the year. Could we finally see a Fiesta RS?

Speaking of RS, there’s a very good chance Ford will launch a Focus RS500 in 2017. Precise details are unknown, but we’d expect the RS500 to be more hardcore than the standard model, with even more power and all but the essentials stripped away in the name of fun.

Ford will build 250 GTs a year for the next four years, but good luck getting your hands on one if you weren’t one of the chosen few selected to take delivery of the first batch. Precise details are thin on the ground, but we do know the GT will be powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine and you can expect it to reach speeds in excess of 200mph. As for the price: bank on something in the region of £400,000.

The current Honda Civic Type R is still licking its wounds following a damn good thrashing at the hands of the Ford Focus RS, but there’s already a new version waiting in the wings. And what a mighty wing it is, perched on the back of the Civic Type R Prototype, first seen at the Paris Motor Show. If Batman drove a hot hatch…

Another Paris Motor Show star car: this time in the form of the Hyundai RN30 concept. It previews Hyundai’s first ‘N’ car, heralding the arrival of a new performance subdivision for the Korean giant. Details are unknown, but you can expect the i30 N to be more hardcore than the lukewarm i30 Turbo.

Looks good, doesn’t it? In the Q60, Infiniti might have a car to make you think twice about ordering an Audi A5 or BMW 4 Series. You could spec your Q60 with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, but you probably shouldn’t. Instead, why not opt for the full-fat 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 with the small matter of 405hp on tap? On the flip side, the 2.0-litre version offers rear-wheel drive, rather than the flagship’s all-wheel drive.

The pick-up sector is in the midst of a revolution, with Toyota, Mitsubishi and Nissan unveiling new models, and the likes of Renault, Fiat and even Mercedes-Benz joining the party. The Isuzu D-Max is the next to go under the knife, with a new 1.9-litre diesel engine at the heart of the transformation.

Topping the list of reasons to be cheerful is the news that the rise and rise of the SUV doesn’t mean the end for the estate car. The F-Pace might be the darling of Jaguar’s range, but the XF Sportbrake is proof that there’s life in the old wagon yet. Expect it to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, before hitting showrooms before the end of 2017.

The all-new Jeep Compass will be sold in more than 100 countries around the world, making it a truly global car. Judging by what we saw at the LA Auto Show, the new Compass should be streets ahead of the old model, which is, to be frank, not too difficult.

Kia has been hinting at some kind of high-performance saloon car for a while. Heck, the GT concept (pictured) was unveiled way back in 2011. Finally, a production version is set to be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January 2017, before arriving in showrooms later in the year.

As we prepare this feature, our man is in Scotland, putting the new Land Rover Discovery through its paces. You won’t have long to wait to get your hands on the fifth-generation Disco, with deliveries expected to commence in the spring.

Is this the best looking Lexus ever built? It’s certainly the most exciting since the LFA. Two versions of the LC will be available: a 3.5-litre V6 500h hybrid and a 5.0-litre V8 producing 473hp. But this isn’t the time to study the spec sheets and discuss technical data. Instead, spend a few minutes admiring the majesty of the LC. Marvellous.

Looking forward to the launch of yet another SUV – have we lost our marbles? Perhaps, but then this isn’t your average SUV – it’s the Mazda CX-5. This second generation model is likely to build on the strengths of the outgoing model, namely: styling, dynamics and technology. Looks great, doesn’t it?

The RF in Mazda MX-5 RF stands for ‘Retractable Fastback’, which provides a huge clue as to what makes this stand out from the regular MX-5. Cleverly, Mazda has designed the hardtop to take up no boot space when retracted. Prices start from £22,195, although a Launch Edition could be yours for £28,995. Only 500 of these limited edition models will be available.

“The most powerful E-Class of all time.” Right, now we’ve got your attention, allow us to furnish you with some stats. In maximum attack E63 S guise, the 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged engine produces 612hp and 627lb ft of torque. The 0-62mph time flashes by in just 3.4 seconds, before the hot E-Class hits a top speed of 186mph when equipped with the optional AMG Driver’s package. It goes on sale in January, before deliveries commence in May.

It promises to be a vintage year for Mercedes-Benz, not least because the firm is launching two AMG Roadsters. The entry-level GT is priced at £110,145, while the more expensive GT C is just shy of £140,000. For your additional £30,000, you can help yourself to an extra 81hp, with the GT C offering a mighty 557hp. At 3.7 seconds, it also shaves 0.3 seconds off the 0-62mph time.

Finally, Mercedes-Benz joins the jacked-up premium off-road estate sector with the launch of the E-Class All Terrain. The recipe is quite simple: 29mm of extra ride height, body cladding, revised wheels and tyres and a 4Matic four-wheel drive system and, hey presto, you’ve got yourself an E-Class wagon that will venture a little further off road. Come next summer, the All Terrain should give Audi Allroad customers something to think about.

The MINI Countryman just keeps on getting bigger. The 2017 model is “the biggest and most versatile” MINI ever built and will feature the option of the first ever plug-in hybrid version. Prices for the hybrid model are to be announced, but the Countryman range starts at £22,465. Deliveries start in February 2017.

Wait, are we really looking forward to driving a new Nissan Micra? Ah, but this is the all-new, sharper Micra. No longer the preserve of driving schools and folk who like to stick to a steady 42mph, regardless of the speed limit or conditions, the new Micra promises to be a cracker. Prices start from £11,995 and you can pre-order your Micra in mid-December.

If you find the BMW X6 a little distasteful, Land Rover might have the answer. A Range Rover Sport Coupe is expected to arrive in 2017 and will be the most driver-focused model in the range. Expect a range of engines, a luxurious interior and styling that will divide opinion.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, the Skoda Kodiaq is a car you’ll be able to buy with your head and your heart. Not to mention the small matter of some form of payment. We’ve driven Skoda’s first seven-seat SUV and we’re pleased to report it’s every bit as good as we’d hoped. Prices start from £21,495 and deliveries will commence in early 2017.

We’ve also driven the new Suzuki Ignis, which is likely to be one of the lightest cars to arrive in 2017. Weighing in at 810kg, the Ignis is a feature-packed tiny crossover available with Suzuki’s mild hybrid system and four-wheel drive. Prices start from £9,999 for the entry-level SZ3 model, but you’ll spend more for desirable SZ-T and SZ5 trim levels.

The Suzuki Baleno was one of our favourite new cars of 2016, but it’s hardly dripping in emotional appeal. That’s where the new Suzuki Swift comes in, which promises to be more fun to drive and a car you’d buy with your heart. You can expect it to be larger and lighter than the current model, with an improved interior. A Swift Sport should arrive in 2018.

This really is the new Vauxhall Insignia. The Insignia Grand Sport – to give it its full and slightly pompous name – will receive its world premiere at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, before appearing in an office car park near you before the end of the year. We’re looking forward to driving this one.

It’s a bit of a stretch to say we’re looking forward to driving the new Volkswagen Golf, because it’s unlikely to deliver any major surprises. That said, the new Discover Pro infotainment system looks interesting, while the more powerful Golf GTI models will certainly appeal.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class All Terrain won’t have everything its own way in 2017, not least because the Volvo V90 Cross Country will arrive before this winter is out. As you’d expect, the Cross Country is like a standard V90, only with an increased ride height and a chassis optimised for comfort and control in all weathers.

Finally, we’re also looking forward to driving the new Volvo XC60. The current model has been a tremendous success for the brand, but – thanks in part to the new XC90 – it’s beginning to show its age. It’s too simplistic to say it’ll be little more than a smaller XC90, as we think Volvo will offer something more than that.