Is There a New More Efficient Solar Panel Coming?

According to Wikipedia:

"The total amount of energy received at ground level from the sun at the zenith is 1004 watts per square meter, which is composed of 527 watts of infrared radiation, 445 watts of visible light, and 32 watts of ultraviolet radiation."

And:

"When the direct solar radiation is not blocked by clouds, it is experienced as sunshine, a combination of bright light and radiant heat. When it is blocked by the clouds or reflects off other objects, it is experienced as diffused light. The World Meteorological Organization uses the term "sunshine duration" to mean the cumulative time during which an area receives direct irradiance from the Sun of at least 120 watts per square meter."

Highlight in red is mine. So "sunshine" is not quite 12% of total solar energy reaching earth at Zenith.

I'm no mathematician or physicist but I would think that if "sunshine" is what is powering our solar cells, they are pretty efficient already in converting "sunlight" to electricity. If they could capture All the solar energy reaching the earth we'd have a way to go! It would make my "current" 420 Watt panels supply about 3500 Watts!

I'd need new wire, controller and more batteries! :B

But even if I could covert the entire roof of the motorhome with panels that yielded 1004 Watts per square meter, I'd get about 30 horsepower! Not enough to replace the Cummins though!

Well, a 10 amp 100 watt panel would only put out 10 volts so that would be pretty useless for RV purposes. I suspect whoever told you that or wrote the story doesn't know much about the subject. Unfortunately, most reporters writing stories about solar seem to get totally confused by electrical specifications.
Efficiency in a solar panel is simply about size. The more efficient 100 watt panel will be physically smaller than a lesser efficient one. On an RV with limited roof space that does have merit.
I talk to lots of people who seem to confuse it with fuel efficiency in an automobile or something. When you're paying for the fuel efficiency is very important. When the fuel (sun light) is free who cares how much you use, if you have the room for the collectors that is.