The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a bit like your grandfather’s toolbox—full of polished old legends, curious oddities, and the occasional new-fangled electric screwdriver trying to prove it’s just as good. Only, this one’s set in Lord March’s estate, and the tools are worth crores.
Held from 10 to 13 July this year, the Festival has become something of an automotive Glastonbury. Manufacturers use it not only to show off but to shout. From V12 shrieks to EV whirrs, here’s what to keep your eyes, ears, and cameras trained on.
Aston Martin: Hybrid Thunder
While there’s no world debut from Aston Martin, this year marks the public dynamic debut of two heavy hitters. First, the Valhalla hybrid supercar—a 998bhp plug-in V8 with over 1,000Nm of torque—will be seen in motion. That alone is worth a hilltop picnic.
Alongside it is the beefed-up DBX707 S, Aston’s answer to anyone who thought a performance SUV needed less subtlety. And yes, the Valkyrie returns, along with its Le Mans-bred cousin. V12 noise? Tick.
BMW: Celebrating the three and Charging into the Future
BMW’s not launching anything entirely new, but it is throwing everything it’s got up the hill. First is the M2 CS, a 500bhp rear-drive purist coupe expected to cost around ₹1 crore when it lands in India.
Also attending: the Speedtop concept and the Vision Driving Experience—a lab on wheels shaping BMW’s next-gen EVs. Don’t miss the Brabham BT52 F1 car either, a turbocharged monster from 1983 and part of Formula 1’s 75th birthday party.
Formula 1: 75 Years of Noise and Nerve
Speaking of which, Formula 1 is going all out this year. Cars from every era—pre-1950 to 2025—will scream up the hill, driven by legends like Nigel Mansell, Mario Andretti, Jackie Stewart, and Alain Prost. Even current racers like Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman will be in attendance.
Add in design gods like Adrian Newey and Gordon Murray, and it’s essentially the automotive equivalent of Abbey Road Studios.
Gordon Murray Automotive: Sculpture and Speed
The massive central sculpture this year honours Gordon Murray, the man responsible for the McLaren F1 and the GMA T.50. Several of his creations will run up the hill, but don’t expect a new model.
The launch of the T.33 hardcore variant has been pushed. Instead, GMA is focusing on celebrating Murray’s 60 years of design. Given his CV, that’s still quite the party.
Honda: A Goodbye and a Prelude
Two new Honda cars are being manufactured. The Civic Type R Ultimate Edition, likely the final send-off for this generation, is debuting alongside the returning Prelude coupe, which is expected to feature a hybrid powertrain and a sleek new design.
Also on display: a cheerful little Super EV city car concept. Honda promises it’ll be fun to drive. Let’s hope they mean in corners, not car parks.
Hyundai: Amped Up Expectations
Hyundai’s big moment is the global debut of the Ioniq 6 N. It follows the 5 N, a car that proves electric doesn’t have to mean dull. Expect around 650bhp, sub-4-second sprints to 100kmph, and the kind of handling that makes a GTI nervous.
Lanzante: F1 Meets Le Mans, Again
Specialists in McLaren magic, Lanzante is unveiling the 95-59—a three-seater hypercar inspired by the McLaren F1’s 1995 Le Mans victory. Underneath, it’s based on McLaren’s platform, and the name? That’s 1995, car number 59. Simple. Effective. Like the F1 itself.
MG: Big Numbers, Bigger Hopes
MG’s IM6 electric crossover is ready to take on the Tesla Model 3. Rumour has it that the top-spec version will pack up to 767bhp and feature dual motors. If true, it could quietly outrun everything from traffic lights to Teslas.
There’s also a Cyberster Black variant coming, which, from what we gather, is the same Cyberster as before, just dressed for a black-tie event.
Mini: Hair Today…
Nothing much from Mini on the car front, but they’re offering free haircuts at the stand. Make of that what you will.
Toyota: Rally Royalty Returns
Toyota’s giving us a taste of gravel glory. On the hill will be the GR Yaris Rally1, Rally2, and a Group A ST185 Celica GT-Four. Also worth seeing is the Hilux Dakar truck and a GR Yaris with an Aero Performance Package, which could soon be available in showrooms outside Japan.
Final Thoughts
Goodwood this year isn’t just a festival. It’s a reunion, a farewell, a coming-of-age, and a swift family gathering. From hyper-EVs to hybrid icons and 1,000Nm hill climb heroes, there’s plenty to keep your pulse up and your camera battery down.
If you’re headed there, bring earplugs and running shoes. If you’re not, well, we’ll keep watching from the paddock.
