Awesome cars worth waiting for

Launching in September 2012, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is expected to be a refined and freakishly fast set of wheels that will set the roads blazing with an awesome 6.4-liter Hemi V8 mated to a rumored eight-speed transmission bumping out 500hp. At just shy of 50 grand, this Grand Cherokee is definitely larger than life in every sense of the word.

The 2012 Chevrolet C7 Corvette comes with a burden of expectations on it and we just hope the crown isn’t too heavy for this pretty car. Set to mark a 13-year status quo from the company in terms of design and performance, the C7 will get upgrades all-around with reduced weight, upped fuel economy, and a rumored direct fuel injection engine displacing something in the range of 400-450 ponies. And all that without giving up the superb handling it’s traditionally associated with!

The 2012 Audi A7 Quattro is a sleek four-door sports car that is as uber-stylish as an Audi is expected to be. With frameless windows and spacious seating, the retrolicious A7 comes with all the extra legroom of a luxury sedan. The Quattro all wheel drive is also fitted with a supercharged 3.0-liter TFSI V6 engine that makes it a sporty winner and a true all-rounder in this list.

BMW is all set to make a big splash on the electric auto scene in the coming years with its stunning i3 Electric City Car. Set for a 2013 launch, the EV will come with a rear mounted electric motor juiced by batteries housed under the floor. With 150bhp, the i3 will have a top speed of 100mph and a 99-mile range on a full charge.

Another Chevy to look forward to, the 2012 ZL1 Camaro is a true performance driven car. Running on a 6.2-liter V8 borrowed from the Cadillac CTS-V series, the ZL1 will produce 550hp, making it worth every penny of its sub-$50,000 price tag.

Rumored to be a diesel-electric hybrid, the 2013 Mitsubishi Evo XI looks to be a performance oriented vehicle that delivers all the thrill of a rugged gas burner without leaving the planet as dirty. With a 1.6- liter gasoline engine and an electric motor, the Evo XI would feature an all wheel drive system borrowed from Mitsubishi’s S-AWC and will go from 0-60 miles per hour in under 5 seconds.

Not to be outdone by the bigger cars, the world’s favorite small car brand will make it big with a two door coupe called the Paceman. Set to be a lower hp version of the Countryman, the all wheel drive will get 300hp and hopefully a few hidden tricks up its sleeve thanks to the experience gained by Mini from its WRC stint with the 2011 Countryman.

Packing in 2,600pound curb weight, the 2012 Hyundai Veloster is a surprisingly efficient car that would deliver 40mpg without using any form of hybrid technology. Running on a 1.6-liter four cylinder directly injected engine, the Veloster is a fun, two door with a choice between a dual clutch six speed (which would be Hyundai's first) and a six speed manual transmission.

The Toyota and Subaru joint project sports car would be a very light car running on a 2.0-liter four cylinder powerhouse outputting 250hp in Subaru’s version and 200hp in the rear wheel driven Toyota model.

For $25,000, the 2013 Ford Focus ST is going to be one of the best buys of next year. Fitted with a turbocharged EcoBoost-enabled 2.0-liter engine, the Focus ST will come with meatier tires, bigger brakes, and a perkier suspension to go with the 250hp its six speed, manual fitted powertrain produces.