The 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard had been the venue for a host of launches for the world’s latest and greatest cars. This years event was the biggest ever, with some hugely anticipated models being seen out in public for the first time, although rain and stormy wind had been a real challenge.
From the world’s most exclusive supercars to exciting new electric sportscars, and some of the automotive industry’s most established names, the Festival of Speed is always the best place to get up close and personal with the very latest car reveals.
These had been the highlights of the weekend.
AIM EV Sport 01
This could yet be one of the more interesting new cars we see at this years’ Festival of Speed. It’s designed by Shiro Nakamura, the man behind the Nissan GT-R among other things, who had supposedly retired in 2017. And yet here he is, unveiling an all-new electric sportscar that we think looks absolutely fantastic. The AIM EV Sport 01 be on the Hill throughout the weekend, showcasing its sleek design and what we expect to be some alarming performance.
Alpine A110 R
Alongside its exciting new EV hot hatch, Alpine is also working hard to make the absolute most of its sublime A110 sportscar. We’re huge fans of this small, light and incredibly nimble machine, and so we’re very intrigued by the most extreme version we’ve seen of it yet. The A110 R will be on the Hill on all four days of the Festival of Speed, showcasing exactly what the A110 can do when it’s honed for the track.
Alpine A290_β
Alpine is in the process of redefining itself. With some ambitious intentions to develop a seven-model range of EVs by the end of 2026, it’s going to be a busy few years for the brand. The first of its forays into electrification is the A290_β, a development version of Alpine’s hot hatch due to go on sale in 2024. It’s a fired-up version of the Renault 5 EV, which incidentally will be on display in Electric Avenue at the Festival of Speed this year.
Bentley Batur
In a year when Bentley is saying goodbye to its coveted W12 engine, we’re going to be treated to a showcase of some of the greatest cars to bear the load of that wonderous piece of engineering. One of the final cars ever to be built with that W12 in situ is the Bentley Batur, of which only 18 will be made by Bentley’s bespoke Mulliner division, and we’ll be able to see it in motion for the first time when it takes to the Hill at the Festival of Speed.
Bentley Speed Six Continuation
Alongside Bentley’s most recent creations, we’ll also be treated to a first look at Mulliner’s Speed Six Continuation Series. There will be 12 cars built in all, each to the specification of the Speed Six that raced at Le Mans in 1930. One of the pre-development models, designated Speed Six Car Zero, will be making its world debut on display at the Bentley stand throughout the event.
BMW 5 Series
BMW recently unveiled its new 5 Series which is set to arrive on sale in 2024, but anyone interested in seeing what’s next for the brand’s ever-popular saloon will get their first look when it takes to the Hill in what will be its global dynamic debut. Thursday at the Festival of Speed will be the first chance you’ll get to see it in the metal.
Caterham Electric Seven
Try and withhold your exclamation for just a second. Yes, this is indeed an electric Caterham Seven, which could well be a form of blasphemy, we haven’t checked, but this is an interesting experiment all the same. This will be a very blatant mix of classic 1960s styling with modern 2020s electrification, but if Caterham can stick to its promise of keeping it lightweight, it could be a very potent one indeed. We can’t wait to see how quickly this gets up the Hill.
Caterham Project V
Two in one day. If you thought a single electric Caterham was shocking, two of them is positively world-ending. The exciting thing here is that the Project V concept is going to take an even more alarming turn, steering away from the classic Seven semi-open-wheel look. This is expected to be a closed-wheel, closed-cockpit sportscar of a style we haven’t seen from Caterham since the ill-fated 21.
Eccentrica Diablo
For all of the forward thinking we’re doing at the 2023 Festival of Speed, there is of course still plenty of room for a little bit of revelling in the past. In this case, you’ll have the opportunity to relive the glory days of the Lamborghini Diablo, which has been the subject of restomod at the hands of Eccentrica. It takes that classic, inimitable style of the original Diablo and brings it neatly into the present day with a few twists – particularly on the inside. You’ll have the opportunity to judge for yourself whether this is a worthy recreation.
Ferrari KC23
This is going to be very special. A brand-new one-off Ferrari that’s never been seen before? Paint us intrigued. It’s called the KC23, and it’s been designed according to a brief from a Ferrari collector. It’s based on the hugely successful 488 GT3 Evo 2020, and it’s bound to be dramatic. This debut appearance at the 2023 Festival of Speed is likely to be an extremely rare opportunity to see this car in the metal, before it’s shipped off to the Ferrari Museum in Maranello where it will sit on display until early October. If ever there was a photo opportunity at Goodwood, this is it.
Genesis GV80 Coupe Concept
Genesis has had an eventful and exciting start to life. We’ve seen a vast array of models arrive in rapid succession, which is impressive considering it only debuted here in the UK in 2021. And while there are no more new cars from Genesis expected to arrive on the market in 2023, we do at least have two rather interesting concepts to show you at the Festival of Speed. The first is this GV80 Coupe, which will be on display in the First Glance paddock. It’s a sleek looking SUV showcasing some striking design ideas and an alarmingly racy interior decked out with bucket seats.
Genesis X Convertible
The second is this, the rather stunning X Convertible, which looks absolutely glorious in the photos we’ve seen, so we can only hope it’s going to look equally stunning while it’s on display inside the Genesis lounge. This concept is a tool for Genesis to experiment with ideas for its future EVs, but we can’t help but hope this makes it to production in some form or another, because it’s absolutely gorgeous.
HiPhi Z
HiPhi is a brand you’ve probably not heard much of, if anything, before, but it’s going to be arriving in force over the course of the 2023 Festival of Speed. The Hiphi Z is the first of two new cars you can expect to see from this Chinese manufacturer, it’s a striking-looking shooting brake packed with cutting-edge tech and luxurious materials that promises to revolutionise the way we look at brands like this. It’ll be on display in the First Glance paddock.
HiPhi Y
Alongside the X, will be this smaller and probably more affordable Y. Set to join the market alongside the likes of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, this electric SUV is touted to deliver a 500-mile range, and will be showing off one potentially unique feature when it goes on display at Electric Avenue. Split gullwing rear doors – which give you the option to open all or some of the door – are bound to provide some intrigue, and you can take a look for yourself.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
So far, we’ve had a very brief peak at what Hyundai is planning with the Ioniq 5 N, a super-hot version of the family hatchback that ought to arrive in a similar vein to the Kia EV6 GT from a year ago. We know it’s expected to deliver the same amount of power as its close relative – that’s 577PS (430kW), but we’re assured there’s going to be more to come from Hyundai’s impending reveal.
Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster
Having burst onto the scene at the 2021 Festival of Speed with the Grenadier, Ineos returns in 2023 with a new version of its rugged off-roader. It’s called the Grenadier Quartermaster, based on the original car, but in a new pick-up configuration. Now if it’s anything like the Grenadier that we’ve driven, this is bound to be a thoroughly capable off-roading machine. You’ll have the chance to see it on the Hill in the First Glance batch throughout the event.
Kia EV9
There’s been a lot of bustle around the new Kia EV9, the brand’s upcoming flagship seven-seat electric SUV that promises to continue Kia’s venture into new markets. Now you’ll have the chance to see what all the fuss is about at the 2023 Festival of Speed. Not only will it be running up the Hill on all four days of the event, it’ll also be on static display in Electric Avenue if you’d rather get a closer look at what this new luxury SUV has to offer.
Lamborghini Revuelto
In terms of paradigm shifts, the Lamborghini Revuelto represents one of the more substantial ones we’re going to see at the 2023 Festival of Speed. It’s the first hybrid car to wear the Raging Bull badge, but that doesn’t mean all is lost for traditionalist Lamborghini fans, because the batteries and motors are still accompanied by a 9,000rpm 6.5-litre V12 engine. You’ll get to see all 1,015PS (747kW) in use as this massive next step for Lamborghini makes its dynamic debut on the Hill.
Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato
Alongside the new Revuelto, there will be another similarly spectacular Lamborghini flying up the Hill in the form of the off-road spec Huracan Sterrato, which from everything we’ve seen so far promises to be utterly dramatic when it screams away from the Start Line. Powered by the 5.2-litre V10 found in the standard Huracan, it produces 610PS (449kW) meaning a 0-62mph time of 3.4 seconds. This raised-up supercar is sure to be a whole lot of fun.
McLaren 750S
It’s not just the Solus GT that McLaren’s bringing either. The Festival of Speed will also be playing host to a dynamic debut for the 750S. Powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, you’ll be able to watch it accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds when it takes to the Hill for the first time on Thursday.
McLaren Solus GT
You’ll want a good view of the Hill for the moment that this McLaren Solus GT pulls up to the start line. Not only does it look like something out of Gran Turismo, we’re expecting this car to absolutely scream past the House with its 5.2-litre V10 producing 840PS (618kW). It’s not such a problem if you can’t see it either, because that engine can rev to more than 10,000rpm.
McMurtry Spéirling Pure
The McMurtry Spéirling will be forever written into Goodwood Festival of Speed lore. Its record-smashing run up the Hill to win the Timed Shootout in 2022 was unforgettable. We’ve never seen anything come close to the speed that this car can carry through corners, with its fan system developing up to two tonnes of downforce at all times. This year, McMurtry is introducing the first prototype of its road-legal version – the Spéirling Pure – and while it won’t be setting any records this year, this is a car that you will actually be able to buy if you can afford the £820,000 asking price.
Mini Aceman
It’s a year now since we first got a glimpse of the Mini Concept Aceman, but at the 2023 Festival of Speed we’re going to get far more than just a peak. It’s due to make its dynamic debut on the Hill, showcasing what the future might hold for Mini, in terms of styling, interior design and electric performance.
MG4 XPower
We knew this was a possibility since the initial launch of the MG4 EV, but it’s becoming a reality, and you’ll be able to see it for the first time at the Festival of Speed. The MG4 XPower is a 435PS (320KW) EV hot hatch that’s touted to accelerate from 0-62mph almost as quickly as a Porsche Carrera GT. Electric cars are getting exciting all of a sudden, and we can’t wait to see it in action.
MG Cyberster
Now for something that the world is so far yet to see – a convertible EV. The MG Cyberster is due to make its dynamic debut on Thursday at the Festival of Speed, and we’re very excited to find out how this sleek new sportscar stacks up. Is this the beginning of a new era of exciting electric cars?
Nio ET5
This is a name you might remember if you were at the Festival of Speed in 2018, when the electric Nio EP9 caused some shockwaves as it flew up the Hill. This year things have cooled down a touch, because the ET5 won’t be setting any road car records from its stand in Electric Avenue, but you will still be able to find out a great deal about Nio’s plans for its electric cars. This svelte fastback will feature battery swapping capability, where you simply replace an empty battery with a fully charged one, rather than waiting for a charge. Interesting stuff, and if this intrigues you, you can find out more at the Festival of Speed.
Porsche 718 Spyder RS
In the year when Porsche celebrates its 75th anniversary, and stars as our chosen focus for this year’s Central Feature, you can be sure it will be bringing plenty of exciting cars to the Festival of Speed this year. Among them will be the recently revealed Spyder RS, the hottest Boxster ever, powered by a 500PS (368kW) flat-six taken from the 911 GT3. It’s essentially a convertible version of the Cayman GT4 RS and we can’t wait to see, and hear, this thing fly up the Hill for the first time on Thursday.
Porsche Cayenne
At the other end of the Porsche spectrum, we wouldn’t have any of these spectacular performance cars without the commercial success of the Cayenne, and there’s a new one for this year with a host of new features which you can explore at the 2023 Festival of Speed.
Porsche Mission X
In what was one of the most acclaimed car reveals of 2023 so far, the Porsche Mission X caused quite a stir. It’s our first look at what Porsche might be cooking up for its next hypercar, and by all accounts you should be very excited. With four electric motors producing somewhere in the region of 1,500PS, it’ll be exceptional, of that we have no doubt. This is one you’ll definitely want to take the time to have a closer look at over on the Porsche Experience stand at Molecomb corner.
Renault R5 Turbo 3E
Among a list of cars that features a number of exciting-sounding EVs, this one possibly takes the crown as the most spectacular. It’s difficult to imagine an electric drift car, but their makeup is pretty well suited to coercing a bit of slip in the rear wheels. With a pair of electric motors sending 380PS (280kW) and 700Nm (516lb ft) to the rears, it’s unlikely R5 Turbo 3E is going to spend much time moving in a straight line.
Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer DLS Turbo Project
Last year, we were treated to the presence of the exquisite Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer – Turbo Study. This year we’ll have something a little more raucous to look at. It’s Singer’s reimagined DLS Turbo, which takes an alternative look at the legendary Porsche 935, and we think it looks spectacular. In a year that we’re celebrating the centenary anniversary of the Le Mans 24 Hours, this is the perfect moment for Singer to showcase its latest reimagining of a car with a glittering history in endurance racing. Do not miss this opportunity to get a closer look at veritable automotive artistry.
The 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from 13th-16th July. Be sure to check at Goodwood Road & Racing to keep up to date with all of the latest news and announcements.
Report by Simon Ostler
