Launched in 1993, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is now one of the preeminent automotive gatherings in the world. While the festival hosts plenty of famous faces and an incredible variety of automotive machinery to attract all tastes, it typically features plenty of new metal, too – with 2025 promising to be no exception.
This year it all kicks off on 10 July, and we expect to see significant public debuts from Aston Martin, Jaguar and Lamborghini, plus some slightly more accessible metal from MG, Honda and Hyundai. This year will also celebrate Gordon Murray and his 60-year automotive career, focusing on his road car company Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA), complete with a special unveiling.
Here’s our round-up of the 2025 highlights.
Aston Martin Valhalla
It’s been a busy year for the Gaydon car company with plenty of new reveals, and one of the most anticipated was the new Valhalla. First shown off as a prototype way back in 2019, the Valhalla has undergone many challenges and revisions on its way to production. The mid-engined supercar, which features Formula One technology and a 1,064bhp hybrid powertrain, will be limited to just 999 units, and one of those will make its way up the Goodwood hillclimb as part of the model’s dynamic debut.
Aston DBX S
The DBX was a considerable change of tact for Aston Martin, which has built a reputation for elegant two-door sports cars and the odd saloon. Not content with the standard car’s 542bhp, Aston launched the 697bhp DBX707 in 2022 and now there’s an even more potent version called the ‘S’. With 716bhp, the DBX S can launch its 2.2-tonne kerbweight from 0-62mph in a scarcely believable 3.3 seconds and on to a limit of 193mph. There’s also a new exhaust system – which Festival of Speed fans will be able to hear in person for the first time.
Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
While Aston Martin might be bringing supercars and performance SUVs to this year’s event, there’s something for the traditionalists, too, in the beautiful shape of the Vanquish Volante. The drop-top super grand tourer is powered by the same 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 with 823bhp and 1,000Nm of torque, making it the world’s most powerful front-engined convertible.
BMW M2 CS
The previous M2 CS was something BMW M enthusiasts salivated over thanks to its extra power and revised chassis. The new one, revealed a few weeks ago at the Villa d’Este concours event, adopts a similar formula. This time there’s a whopping 530bhp on tap from its twin-turbocharged straight six, plus some exterior tweaks such as that large ducktail rear spoiler. Goodwood will be our first chance to see it in action as it takes to the hill.
