The Wheel Thing: Our motor critic's picks to watch in 2016

Chevy's all-electric Bolt is expected to have a range of some 200 miles and a price tag around $30,000.

The best of 2016 - cool new cars and bikes to look forward to in the new year.

We're closing out a banner year for the auto industry. Car makers sold a record number of vehicles in 2015, and projections are that the next couple of years will be even better.

That's despite VW's emissions scandal, a monstermega recall of cars with potentially exploding airbags, and accusations that GM covered up knowledge of a faulty ignition system that was responsible for scores of deaths.

But with the average car in America clocking in at almost 11 years old, there's a lot of demand for new cars.

Our Wheel Thing guide, motor critic Susan Carpenter, is looking forward to driving — and seeing others drive — a number of new models in 2016, including:

Ford GT: The most expensive production car from Ford Motor Co., the 2017 GT will cost about $400,000 when it goes into production in 2016. Built around extreme aerodynamics, exemplified by its shark nose and adjustable rear wing, the carbon-fiber GT is powered with a 600-plus-horsepower, 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 lifted from Ford’s Daytona Prototype. Just a few thousand will be made, including those built for the GT’s return to LeMans this summer.
Cadillac CT6: Positioned as a cut above its highly regarded CTS midsize sedan, Cadillac’s four-wheel-drive CT6 is 8.5 inches longer than the CTS, allowing for an additional 5 inches of rear set leg room. It will also offer more standard equipment, including a rearview mirror that doubles as the screen for the backup camera and new Super Cruise features that will allow drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel and their foot off the pedals during highway driving.
Lexus SC: Lexus gets sexy with a new luxury sports coupe designed to compete with the BMW 6-Series. The rear-wheel-drive SC will be powered with a version of the 467-horsepower, 5-liter V8 in the Lexus RC F. Due later in 2016,Its expected price is about $80,000.
Jaguar F-Pace: Jaguar will bring its first SUV to market this year with a surprisingly low starting price of $40,990. Designed to fuse the British luxury brand’s sporty design and performance with the utility of a five-seat crossover, the compact F-Pace will be built with an aluminum body, all-wheel drive and three different engines, including a 380-horsepower 3-liter supercharged V-6, a 340-horsepower 2-liter turbocharged four cylinder and a 2-liter diesel.
Maserati Levante: The first SUV from the Italian sports car maker is loosely based on its bestselling Ghibli sedan, with all-wheel drive, a V-6 gasoline engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Chevrolet Bolt: The first long-range all-electric vehicle for the masses, the plug-in Bolt hatchback should be able to travel at least 200 miles per charge and do so for a starting price of about $30,000.
Honda Civic Type R: The first R version of Honda’s bestselling Civic should bring a sportier feel to the perennial commuter car. Powered with a two-liter turbocharged four cylinder that’s expected to make about 300 horsepower, the Type R will be available only as a two-door hatchback.

If two wheels is more your thing, 2016 promises lots of motorcycles aimed squarely at younger buyers. These bikes are leaner and often quite the bargain:

Indian Scout Sixty: A smaller, more affordable version of the Scout Indian Motorcycle introduced in 2014, the new $8,999 Scout Sixty is powered with a 999cc V-twin but otherwise shares the same chassis, suspension and brakes as its more powerful, more expensive brother.
BMW G 310 R: BMW’s smallest offering, the new G 310 R will be powered with a 313cc single-cylinder engine when it comes on the market late this year.
Yamaha XSR900: A nod to the ’70s updated with modern technology and styling cues, the XSR900 shares the same liquid-cooled 850cc inline-three cylinder as the FZ-09 naked bike, nestling it into a lightweight frame anchored with vintage-inspired head and tail lights.
Ducati Scrambler Sixty2: A smaller, more affordable version of the Scrambler Ducati introduced in 2014, the new $7,995 Scrambler Sixty2 is powered with a 399cc engine that sits under a new slimline steel tank. Characterized by wide handlebars and a long seat, its slightly knobby 17-inch wheels are equipped with ABS.
Ducati XDiavel: Designed to combine the low-speed relaxed riding of a road-tripping cruiser with Ducati style and performance, the XDiavel merges the two in a single bike that uses a new twin-cylinder, 1,262cc Testastretta DVT engine to make 165 horsepower and, in a first for Ducati, a belt drive. The XDiavel imports much of the high tech that debuted on its Multistrada, including an IMU that works with the bike’s traction control, cornering ABS, cruise control and power launch.
Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra: Calling it the “ultimate mile-eater,” Harley’s Road Glide Ultra is back in the lineup after a two-year hiatus to upgrade it with the Project Rushmore treatment. Aerodynamics are improved with a frame-mounted shark-nose fairing featuring triple split stream venting to minimize buffeting. There are also LED headlamps and a 100-watt infotainment system with color touchscreen, GPS and Bluetooth.