The Geneva auto show was expected to offer the first head-to-head comparison between the first two all-electric SUVs models from European luxury brands, both starting deliveries later this year. It didn't quite work out that way. The 2019 Jaguar I-Pace did indeed debut last Friday, before media days at the show, but the 2019 Audi e-tron didn't.

Well, not exactly, anyhow. Rather than do a full debut launch event for the 2019 e-tron—that's promised for sometime later this year, we gather—Audi showed a camouflaged version of the e-tron to the media. It only appeared for a few minutes, at the end of a press conference largely devoted to more prosaic models, and after a video showing similarly camouflaged test cars in the desert. The company plans to publish the best and "most spectacular" photos of the camouflaged e-tron from social networks on its promotional for the e-tron.

70,500—Audi's press materials leaned heavily on one first the e-tron seems likely to achieve before any other plug-in electric car. That's the e-tron's ability to fast-charge at up to 150 kilowatts, faster than the 100 kw promised by the I-Pace and the 135-kw maximum now possible for various Tesla models. Audi's parent, the VW Group, is part of a multi-carmaker consortium backing a comprehensive high-speed DC fast-charging network across European highways. Named Ionity, it also has the backing of BMW, Daimler, Ford, and others.

As is customary at the end of a year, Zap-Map takes a look at what the next 12 months has in store. The good news is that 2018 is shaping up to be a great year for plug-in cars, with a number of confirmed models on their way. There are some others that are technically industry rumour-mongering - but they’re plenty sensible enough for our books to feature.

Here we take a quick look at some new plug-in models we can expect to see on sale in the UK in 2018. Zap-Map cast’s our eye over a dozen of the most exciting - one for every month. Setting off alphabetically, we see Audi’s all-electric SUV first revealed back at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. The name might change a little, but the use of the e-tron badge is practically guaranteed. That’s for a premium SUV that looks set to compete with the likes of Jaguar and Tesla in the long-distance EV market.

Expected to have a range of more than 300 miles, the concept produced just shy of 500hp for an EV with supercar-baiting performance. Add in the fact that the e-tron is just the start of a new generation of electric vehicles for the VW Group, and this is a model that should prove a key one next year. The i8 Roadster is set to bring drop-top driving thrills to the plug-in sportscar market.

It’s not going to sell in huge numbers considering the hefty price tag, but it’s always good for a manufacturer such as BMW to have a ‘poster car’. If the i8 Roadster is anything like the coupe - and we have no reason to believe it won’t be - the convertible is likely to be very good indeed. That’s not taking into account the i8 Coupe’s updated systems either, with the supercar set for an improved battery pack for a longer range and improved efficiency over the current model.

A few styling and equipment tweaks complete the package, which is one of the best cars to put a smile on your face you could hope for. The new and updated i3 range will be boosted by a sporter ‘s’ model for the first time from next year. The promise of a more rounded i3 line-up has already won the compact BMW EV the Next Green Car Supermini Award 2017, and we can’t wait to get behind the wheel of one to see what the hot-hatch is like.

The ‘standard’ i3 is plenty fun enough already, so the i3s promises much, and like will be available as both pure-EV and REX too. The rest of the i3 range gets sharper styling and revised equipment too, as the EV market shows no signs of slowing down yet. We’re not certain yet whether the X3 will be available as a PHEV or pure-EV just yet. Expect the car to have an iPerformance badge at a minimum then, but it is hoped that the i Division will get their hands on it properly and make the X3 a pure-EV.



Either way, the X3 is a big seller, and to have an electric version available to buy will only improve BMW’s electric range further. An all-electric version of the Kona is confirmed for production, and has all the attributes to quickly become one of the best selling electric cars in the UK. The compact crossover market is thriving, so for Hyundai to have a pure-EV available in the sector with no direct rivals could see the Kona EV sell like the proverbial gateaux fresh from the oven.