The 8 Wildest Debuts at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is always a wild time but this year, in particular, there has been an onslaught of vehicle debuts. Here, we’ve compiled a list of the coolest stuff to break cover at the annual celebration of high-performance motoring.

Genesis GV60 Magma Concept

Despite being called a “concept,” Genesis fully intends to put the GV60 Magma into production, with sales starting in Korea next year (other markets will follow). First introduced earlier this year in New York, the high-performance EV was shown in action for the first time at Goodwood earlier this week.

The GV60 Magma benefits from improved battery and motor technology, sharpened chassis dynamics (including a widened stance and a lower ride height), as well as new aerodynamic elements to better handle high-speed corners.

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro 4Matic+

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 is no slouch, but the automaker has chosen to make it even more track-focused. To wit, the AMG GT 63 Pro 4Matic+ gets an additional 26 horsepower from the 4.0L V8, for a total of 603 hp. To feed the engine, larger air intakes have been added, and the coupe also gets carbon fibre deflectors, active aero elements that help keep the nose planted, a big rear wings, and the largest standard ceramic brake discs currently available from Mercedes-AMG.

Polestar Concept BST

Not to be outdone, Polestar has unveiled a high-performance vehicle of its own. However, this one is just a “demonstration of how far we can push our performance brand” for now, according to the company’s CEO.

Based on the Polestar 6 Concept, the Concept BST features a custom body with flared wheel arches, 22-inch forged alloy wheels, an aerodynamically optimized hood, an aggressive front splitter, and a massive rear wing. To top it all off, the car gets a motorsport-inspired silver livery with the number six emblazoned on it.

Subaru WRX: Project Midnight

The good news for Subaru fans is that the car the brand decided to show off at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed isn’t a concept. The bad news is that only one will ever be built.

Based on the WRX, Project Midnight is inspired by Airslayer, the car that was used in Subaru’s viral video, Gymkhana 2020. Unlike that car, this one is designed for outright speed, and will tackle timed challenges around the world (though the automaker has yet to specify which ones). It’s powered by a 2.0L, four-cylinder boxer engine that makes 670 hp and 680 lb-ft of torque, and can be revved all the way up to 9,500 rpm.

Tipping the scales at just 2,469 pounds (1,120 kg), Project Midnight weighs 1,000 pounds less than the road-legal WRX. Riding on 18x11-inch magnesium wheels wrapped in slick tires and piloted by former F1 driver and Subaru rallycross champion Scott Speed, the car is sure to break records wherever it goes.

Ford Raptor T1+

Ford brought its own race vehicle to Goodwood, a purpose-built off-roader that is designed to take on the Dakar Rally. Power comes from a 5.0L Coyote V8 that, in the Mustang, makes as much as 500 hp and 418 lb-ft of torque.

The Raptor T1+ also features extreme suspension designed by Fox, a bespoke steel spaceframe, and it rides on 8.5x17 inch aluminum wheels that are wrapped in 37-inch off-road tires. The vehicle will race for outright victory at the Dakar Rally in January 2026.

Audi Auto Union Type 52

Audi also brought a one-off car to Goodwood this year, but this one is unlikely to set any speed records. That’s because its one-off is based on a 90-year-old design that never made it into production.

In the 1930s, Auto Union (the predecessor to Audi as we know it today) was famed for its extremely successful 16-cylinder race cars. What you might not know is that the company’s designers (including Ferdinand Porsche) dreamed of putting a street-legal version into production.

Known internally as the Type 52, the company wanted to call it the Schnellsportwagen, and planned to put a 197 hp, 4.4L supercharged 16-cylinder engine in the middle of it. For the recreation, Audi decided to put the 6.0L supercharged racing engine from the era’s Type C Grand Prix car in the middle, since it makes a more impressive 513 hp on race fuel. The car also gets staggered three-abreast seating with a central driving position, a five-speed manual transmission, and a rather luxurious interior. According to racecar driver Hans-Joachim Stuck, it’s a shame more people didn’t get to experience the Type 52.

“The Schnellsportwagen is simply breathtaking: Its sound is incredibly sonorous – like it came from an orchestra,” said Stuck. “And the design of the Auto Union Type 52 will practically blow you away – it’s genius!”

15 Years of Rimac and the First Pagani Huayra with a Manual Transmission

Naturally, there have also been some updates in the world of hypercars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Pagani unveiled a one-off creation it calls the Epitome, which is based on the Huayra but is unique in that if features a manual transmission.

Meanwhile Rimac, the Croatian electric hypercar manufacturer, is celebrating its 15th year in business with a limited edition version of the Nevera. Just nine will be built and the first is being finished in a new copper-like shade of paint. The cars feature dual-colour wheels, 15th anniversary badging, and copper anodized switch gear inside.