My predictions for the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2025

The Goodwood Festival of Speed, the cathedral where all petrol heads come to worship, is once again upon us. As always, we can expect a display of speed, heritage and the epitome of automotive excellence, but we also expect a range of surprises throughout. Alongside all of the official announcements for the 2025 festival, which are still rolling in, rumours as always are flying in from every direction. As we’re all impatient, especially regarding new automotive news, here are my predictions for what might be revealed on the iconic hill.

Jaguar’s Type 01?

After Jaguar’s… bold decision regarding the design of their new concept car, the Type 00, I believe the car will finally see the light of day, or more specifically, a refined or even new version of this vehicle. If Jaguar is determined to display a physical model of the Type 00, then hopefully it will have undergone some much-needed redesign; however, I actually believe they will instead present a new car based on the Type 00’s design. It’s been speculated that Jaguar has had a four-door GT car in production for some time now, and that it’s set to be the first vehicle of their new generation of cars. This is an obvious deviation from their Type 00 two-door coupe, but I don’t think anyone is complaining about that; however, unfortunately, I think they’ll stick with their angular and overly linear design.

A new Rolls-Royce EV?

Rolls-Royce, the leading definition of luxury, are rumoured to be gearing up to announce its second electric vehicle after the Spectre. Electric cars and Rolls-Royce just seem to make sense to me. The quiet nature of electric vehicles would only add to the level of sophistication and class that comes with a Rolls, alongside removing any interference with your classical music. A natural next step for them would therefore be an all-electric SUV, similar to the Cullinan, but whisper-quiet and a lightning-fast electric powertrain. If these rumours hold true, instead of a new car roaring up the hill, we can expect a near-silent hum from a new electric Rolls.

BMW bringing souls to EV cars?

BMW is also rumoured to be making waves in the EV world, with the potential for a glimpse at its Vision Driving Experience prototype. The company is expected to showcase its ‘Heart of Joy’ control system, a highly advanced super-ECU designed to simultaneously manage the drivetrain, braking, regeneration, steering and charging, all in one system. Rumours suggest that this electric concept is designed to merge high-stakes performance whilst keeping the driver connected and engaged, introducing the idea that electric cars can also have a soul – an idea most petrol heads refuse to accept.

Honda’s place in the EV world?

Several rumours surround Honda as they prepare themselves for Goodwood, with rumours alluding to a hybrid Prelude revival, a new EV Concept city car, or potentially even a new all-electric SUV hosting their advanced ASIMO OS. This could be Honda’s attempt to reintroduce itself to the performance and EV conversations, which they have been left out of recently. Goodwood would therefore be the perfect place to showcase their ability to blend nostalgia with next-generation technology, a theme that always sparks excitement at the Festival of Speed.

Now it’s difficult to predict everything, as Goodwood always surprises, such as when the Lotus Evija X crashed at last year’s Festival. But it’s safe to expect a plethora of unseen hypercars and vintage icons making their way to the hill, alongside tech demos pushing the boundaries of all things automotive. With new startups also likely to join the crowd, it’s difficult to accurately predict what to expect. However, with the sheer amount of recent developments in the EV industry, I believe we’re set to hear the buzz of electric vehicles racing up the hill.

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