Body Style Changes

Below is a list of upcoming body style changes as published by Automotive News. This can be very important for both deciding when to buy a particular model, or deciding when to trade one in.

A few important things to note:

This is NOT all inclusive or guaranteed to be accurate. We just included models we sell regularly.

Lingo – “Refresh” or “freshening” is minor changes (ie a new front end) or additional equipment available. “Redesign” is a whole new vehicle.

If you need more info, let us know and we’ll try to research.

Audi

• A4/S4 - A freshening of the A4 is planned for 2020 based on typical planning cycles
• A5/S5 - Redesigned in 2017. Refresh in 2020.
• A7/S7 - Redesign in 2018. The next generation of Audi’s fastback sedan will arrive in mid-2018 for the 2019 model year.
• A8/S8 - Redesign due the second half of 2018.
• Q3 - Redesign in 2018. The next-generation Q3 will move to the MQB platform.
• Q5 - Redesigned in 2017.

BMW

• 3 Series – Redesign in 2018. The 3-series sedan will switch to the CLAR cluster scalable architecture when it is redesigned in 2018.
• 4 Series – Redesign in 2020. The coupe and convertible will be redesigned the coupe in 2020 and the open-air car a year later.
• 5 Series – Redesign in 2017. New features in the 5 series include active cruise control that uses radar to adapt to stop-and-go traffic as standard equipment, active lane-keeping and traffic-jam assist that work semi-autonomously and operate at speeds up to 130 mph, and side collision avoidance that works at speeds between 40 and 130 mph.
• 6 Series – Redesign in 2019. The 6-series coupe, convertible and four-door Gran Coupe with coupe-like styling may be redesigned in 2019.
• 7 Series – Freshen in 2018. The 7-series sedan will be freshened in 2018 and redesigned in 2022.
• X3 - Redesign in 2017. The X3 will be redesigned in 2017, and there’s talk of plug-in hybrid and M high-performance models.
• X4 - Redesign in 2018. The crossover with a coupe-like rear roofline will be redesigned in 2018 with U.S. sales coming in the second half of the year.
• X5 - Redesign in 2017. There are reports that the X5 will be redesigned and switched to the CLAR platform sooner than expected, perhaps as early as late 2017.
• X6 - New in 2019. The full-size crossover goes on sale in 2019. It will be produced at BMW’s factory in Spartanburg, S.C. and will feature 3rd row seating.

Cadillac

• Escalade/ESV – 10 speed transmission added for 2018.

Chevrolet/GMC

• Silverado/Sierra 1500 – Redesign in 2018. GM is shutting down its pickup plants for retooling in the next few months in preparation for launching the next generation of the Silverado as a 2019 model.
• Silverado/Sierra 2500/3500 – Redesign in 2019. Chevrolet’s heavy-duty pickups are on tap for a redesign about a year after their light-duty brethren.
• Suburban/Yukon/Tahoe – The 2018 model year includes a 10-speed transmission.

Ford

• Expedition – Redesign in 2017. Ford redesigned its largest but aged SUV in hopes of boosting sales in one of the industry’s hottest segments.
• Explorer – Redesign in 2019. The Explorer is due for a redesign in 2019. It will move to Ford’s flexible CD6 platform at that time.
• F-150 - Re-engineering in 2017. The profitable pickup is getting re-engineered this fall, with minor changes to its exterior, a new 10-speed transmission and a diesel engine option.
• F250/F350 – Freshen in 2019. Ford last year put the Super Duty on the same aluminum diet as the F-150, slashing 350 pounds compared with the previous version.

Lexus

• ES - Redesign in 2018. The midsize sedan received a light refresh for 2016 along with its Toyota sibling, the Avalon.
• GS - Redesign in 2020. Refreshed for the 2016 model year, the base 200t gets a name change to the GS 300.
• GX - Redesign in 2020. Based on the 4Runner, Lexus’ midsize body-on-frame SUV is getting long in the tooth, with its last refresh in 2014.
• IS - Redesign in 2019. Refreshed for the 2016 model year and not doing great on the sales charts, the compact sedan is likely to remain mostly unchanged until it is redesigned in 2019 or 2020 onto the new global platform.
• LS - Redesign in 2018. The redesigned flagship sedan goes on sale early next year.
• LX - Redesign in 2021. Lexus actually outsells the Toyota version of this body-on-frame Goliath, the Land Cruiser, in the large premium SUV category.

Lincoln

• Navigator – Redesign in 2017. The Navigator has been redesigned for the 2018 model year.

Mercedes Benz

• CLS - Redesign in 2018. The redesigned CLS, a four-door styled like a coupe, is expected to go on sale in the U.S. in the second half of 2018.
• G Class - Redesign in 2018. After years of only modest changes, Mercedes is finally redesigning the iconic G-Wagen.
• GLE - Redesign in 2018. The midsize crossover, which was freshened and renamed last year, will be redesigned in 2018 with an autumn on-sale date in the U.S.
• GLS - Redesign in 2019. It is expected to be redesigned in 2019 and move to the Modular High Architecture for crossovers.
• S Class - Redesigned in 2017. The flagship sedan will be freshened in the fall of 2017, picking up more safety and semiautonomous driving technology and new interior features from the redesigned E-class sedan.
• SL - Redesign in 2020. The large roadster is in line for a redesign in 2020. It also will move to the lighter, more flexible MSA platform.

Porsche

• 911 - Redesign in 2019. 
Cayman – Redesign in 2020. The 718 Cayman gets a redesign in the U.S. in mid-2020.
• Cayenne - Redesign in 2018. Porsche just unveiled the redesigned midsize crossover that will go on sale in the U.S. in mid-2018 as a 2019 model.
• Macan - Freshen in 2018. A freshened Macan will arrive in 2018, four years after the compact crossover went on sale, Porsche says.
• Panamera - Redesigned in 2017. The redesigned Panamera sports sedan — longer, wider, lighter, faster — went on sale in the U.S. this year.

RAM Trucks

• Ram 1500 - Redesign in 2018. Ram engineers are working now on redesigning the half-ton pickup to reduce weight, improve fuel economy and boost safety.
• Ram 2500/3500 - Refresh in 2018. Ram has opted to freshen its heavy-duty lineup in 2018 on its current DS platform for another half product cycle.

Toyota

• 4Runner - Redesign in 2021. Despite its aging body-on-frame platform, Toyota’s midsize SUV is on a hot streak, with double-digit sales gains in the first half of the year on the strength of its chunky good looks and off-road capability.
• Highlander - Redesign in 2020. Freshened for 2017, the large crossover and its hybrid version carry over unchanged for next year.
• Landcruiser - The large premium SUV Land Cruiser soldiers on another year, with minor exterior and interior updates for 2018.
• Sequoia - Redesign in 2020. A redesigned model is likely in 2020, a year after the next Tundra full-size pickup.
• Tundra - Redesign in 2019. Toyota’s full-size pickup gets some minor styling updates for 2018 in addition to the new TRD Sport trim with better on-road handling.

Volvo

• XC60 - Redesign in 2018. The redesigned V60 wagon will come in the first half of 2018.
• XC90 - Freshen in 2019. The popular large crossover likely will be freshened with a mild-hybrid powertrain for the 2020 model year.