New cars 2022: what's coming and when
We take a look at some of the best metal that will hit the streets over the next year and beyond
You might still be waiting impatiently for your next car, but the shortage of computer chips isn't stopping this year's new model launches.
From supercars to superminis, hybrids to hot hatchbacks, we've compiled a comprehensive list of all the models coming out over the next 12 months.
*New cars arriving in November*
*Ferrari SP3 Daytona:* Latest addition to Maranello’s Icona series a mid-mounted 829bhp V12, stylistic nods to hallowed historic racers and not an electric motor in sight - what’s not to like? Well, the £1.7m price, for one, but then it’s sold out anyway.
*Honda Civic Type R:* The least civil Civic returns, and Honda looks to have done just what we hoped it would: leave it well alone. Few cars have a higher bar to clear, but careful upgrades should let it keep its crown (and, we’d imagine, give the searing-hot Renault Mégane RS a run for its money at the Nürburgring).
*Kia EV6 GT: *If you hadn’t already adjusted your perception of Kia in recent years, it’s time to now, because this 577bhp electric crossover will outpace the Porsche Taycan 4S. First impressions of the EV6 suggest it’s more than potent enough in range-topping GT-Line S guise already, but who’s complaining about a new addition to the sports EV fray?
*Mercedes-EQS SUV*: Set to become Mercedes' all-new flagship, the EQS SUV will rival the Audi E-tron and BMW iX when it arrives towards the tail end of this year. The EQS SUV is based on the same electric vehicle architecture as the EQE and EQS, which supports both single-motor, rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor, four-wheel-drive layouts. There will be a total of two models with three powertrains available in the UK, including a 107.8kWh battery - the same used by the EQS saloon.
*Smart #1*: Smart is in the process of being entirely reinvented since becoming a joint venture between Mercedes and Geely. The next step in that partnership will be its first bespoke EV - a compact crossover with premium aspirations. Measuring 4290mm long, 1910mm wide and 1698mm tall, it’s a close match in size terms for parent company Mercedes-Benz’s EQA electric crossover.
*Toyota GR Corolla: *What do you get when you cross the Corolla with the GR Yaris? Another hot hatch with Toyota’s excellent 1.6-litre turbo unit and the potential to be a star. It won't come to the UK for the time being, but hopefully strong sales of the VW Golf R and Mercedes-AMG A45 serve as proof that it would do well here.
*December*
*Aston Martin Vantage, Aston Martin DB11 and DBS:* Aston’s three coupés remain highly competitive, but there’s no escaping the limitations of their infotainment systems, based on Mercedes tech from two generations ago, so that will be the headline change. But we’re also expecting a styling refresh and an interior overhaul.
*BMW i7:* There’s no doubting the technical prowess or the luxury credentials of BMW’s new iX electric SUV, but there are many people who simply can’t stomach its outlandish styling. Step forward, then, the BMW i7. A familiar, low-slung take on the traditional luxury saloon, with (as you will have inferred from the lowercase letter in its name) an all-electric powertrain.
To be sold alongside internal-combustion versions of the next-generation 7 Series, the fifth addition to Munich’s EV family has its targets locked on the Mercedes-Benz EQS, which hitherto has had no true direct rivals. As with the electric versions of the X3 and 4 Series Gran Coupé, the i7 will be differentiated visually from the standard 7 Series by a blanked-off front grille (the shape of which has yet to be confirmed but is sure to be a hot topic of discussion), bespoke wheel designs and smatterings of EV-specific trim.
Otherwise, though, BMW will no doubt seek to make the EV switch as appealing and familiar as it can to loyal 7 Series buyers. They are buyers with busy and lavish lifestyles, no doubt, who want to get where they’re going quickly, quietly and in comfort. And the i7 will tick all of those boxes, with around 600bhp in its most potent, twin-motor form, nearly 400 miles of range from a 105.2kWh battery and an advanced infotainment system lifted from the iX.
*BMW M2 Coupé: *The old M2 was among our favourite sports coupés. The next one should be even better, with more power, more torque and closer M3 and M4 ties. And vitally, BMW hasn’t lost sight of what we love best: its puristic driving experience.
*BMW Z4:* Four years from launch, this low-volume roadster is due an update, but it won’t be extensive. It'll get light styling tweaks at the front and rear, and some new colours and wheel designs. The 40i has also been dropped from the range, so the range now consists of the 30i and performance M40i. That'll be just enough to take the Porsche 718 Boxster rival through the second half of its lifecycle.
*Ford Ranger: *Britain’s best-selling pick-up keeps on truckin’ with a Bronco-aping front, a new diesel V6 and the promise of hybrid power. It’s all change inside, too, where a Mach-E-style vertical touchscreen dominates the dashboard, housing most of the off-road function controls, and a standard digital display gives different displays for each of the six driving modes.
*Honda CR-V:* Strong-selling hybrid SUV gets cleaner-cut styling and bulks up for its sixth era in an effort to win out over the indefatigable Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Qashqai. But the crossover is already only available as a hybrid, in line with Honda’s electrification plans, so expect changes to be focused on the design and equipment.
*Lamborghini V12 Hybrid:* Do you know what’s strange? You can’t actually buy a V12-powered, road-going Lamborghini at the moment, and when the Aventador’s successor does eventually reintroduce that fabled engine to the ranks, it will be with the added oomph of an electric motor.
*Land Rover Defender 130: *With short, long, commercial and V8 variants of the L663 Defender now on sale, it’s time for a stretched 130 model with eight seats and a focus on luxury. Slated to arrive next year, it will command a premium over the current 110 range-topper, and likely only be available in the plushest trim levels.
*Ferrari Purosangue: *It’s time for Ferrari to enter the SUV pool. It’s not timidly dipping its toes in, though: with underpinnings supplied by the Roma, V12 and hybrid V8 engine options and genuinely supercar-inspired styling, the Purosangue (‘purebred’) is a full-on cannonball.
*Mazda MX-30 REx:* Short-legged electric crossover calls on a new rotary petrol engine to act as a range extender, increasing the distance possible between charges – which could make the MX-30 a much more competitive proposition in light of similarly priced but longer-range rivals.
*Seat Tarraco: *Planned model updates for Spanish firm’s largest model are likely to include the introduction of the long-awaited PHEV version, which was revealed in 2019. Otherwise the changes will likely focus on styling tweaks and updated infotainment, following a facelift for its Volkswagen Tiguan sibling in 2020.
*Ssangyong Korando E-Motion: *Ssangyong has carved out a niche in the UK as a rugged SUV specialist, and it’s aiming to carry that into the electric era. The Korean firm’s first EV is a battery-powered reworking of the existing Korando that will rival the bargain-basement MG ZS EV.
*Toyota Prius: *The massive growth in hybrid sales has threatened the Prius’s place as king of the private hire cars. This new version – expected in 2022 based on previous Prius timelines – won’t be able to rely on its tax benefits to rack up sales, so expect Toyota to push further with new technology.
*Volkswagen Amarok: *Volkswagen’s ‘premium’ pick-up truck is essentially a reworked version of the new Ford Ranger and is to be built by Ford, but it will be styled to match other VW models.
*Cars coming in 2023*
If this year’s new offerings aren’t exciting enough, there’s plenty more in store for 2023.
*Aston Martin Valhalla:* Confused by all these new Formula 1- inspired, mid-engined Aston Martin supercars? If so, think of the Valhalla as being the more practical, accessible daily version of the hardcore Valkyrie, which is centred on extreme, trackbred aerodynamics. Although in this case, ‘more practical and accessible’ means the Valhalla makes do with only 937bhp and a 217mph top speed…
The Valhalla has been changed substantially since it was first shown as a concept in 2019. It’s now powered by a Mercedes-Benz-sourced 740bhp twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, which is paired with two electric motors (one on each axle) offering a combined 201bhp. Despite that, it weighs just 1550kg. While the Valkyrie is a limitedrun, ultra-expensive beast that few will ever experience, the sub-£700,000 target price of the Valhalla means it could have far more of an impact on Gaydon’s growth.
*BMW XM: *The XM is just the second entirely bespoke M car in BMW’s history, but it couldn’t contrast more with the first. The M1 was a supercar co-developed with Lamborghini, whereas the XM is a massive SUV with a 740bhp PHEV powertrain built around a 4.4-litre V8 that will kick-start M’s electrification. Still, it will probably sell far better.
*Fisker Ocean:* Given Fisker’s tainted history, it would be easy to dismiss the prospects of this bold new car. But we believe it’s time to start taking Fisker seriously, because the Ocean looks a credible contender in the electric SUV ranks and has some very credible firms involved in its manufacturing and distribution.
Revealed in production form late last year, the Ocean will rival the Audi Q4 E-tron and Tesla Model Y with a spacious, touchscreen-heavy interior and range of more than 350 miles. European versions are set to be produced by Magna Steyr in Austria, with prices likely to range from £30,000 to £50,000.
*Ford Electric SUV:* Ford will launch a new electric SUV next year, and while we don’t know what it will be called, what size it will be, what it will look like or what it will cost, we do know just about everything on the technical side.
That’s because this is the first car that will come from a deal Ford struck to develop EVs on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, as used by the Audi Q4 E-tron, Volkswagen ID 4 et al.
So expect a variety of single-motor rear-drive and dual-motor four-wheel-drive powertrains and a range in the high-200-mile region. The intrigue really surrounds how Ford will make the car feel like a Ford, rather than a rebadged Volkswagen.
*Ford Transit E-Custom: *the successor to the UK's best-selling vehicle, the Transit E-Custom is set to introduced an all-electric range of up to 236 miles in 2023. It will be the second of five all-electric commercial vehicles that will launch in Europe by 2024. It will be built alongside an electric version of the next-generation Volkswagen Transporter.
*Hyundai Ioniq 5 N:* Nearly 600bhp from the hottest version of Hyundai’s retro EV? Sign us up. Chances are the Ioniq 5 N will share its highly strung twin-motor powertrain with the Kia EV6 GT (below), which will see it get from 0-62mph in well under 4.0 seconds, which will make it the fastest Hyundai model yet built.
*Maserati Granturismo:* While the MC20 supercar is a fine halo product, the next-generation Granturismo is key to Maserati’s revival as a true Italian luxury brand. The super-GT will gain sleek new styling and be offered with a range of petrol engines – likely to include V6 and V8 options – as well as in battery-electric form.
*MG electric hatchback: *Set to be revealed in the next few months, MG’s rumoured electric hatchback will arrive with five doors and will join the ZS EV and 5 EV in a three-strong line-up of electric models. Chinese reports suggest the hatchback could replace the second-generation MG 3, offering both electric and combustion powertrains. Autocar understands MG is planning to preview the new model as a concept at the Beijing motor show in April, before unveiling the final model in the second half of the year.
*Mini Hatchbacks and Countryman:* The Mini brand is about to undergo arguably its biggest transformation since BMW reinvented the flagship way back in 2001. Starting next year, Oxford will transition to electrified power and create an expanded line-up of models.
It’s only fitting that it will all start with a next-generation version of the model that remains at the heart of its range: the three-door hatchback. It will be offered with both ICE and fully electric powertrains – although expect the latter to be more versatile and capable than the adapted electric version of the current three-door.
The focus is on refining the design, with engineers promising that it will retain and improve the classic positive handling and fun driving characteristics that the car is known for. But it will also serve as a hero car for a rapidly expanding model range.
The next-generation Countryman compact SUV will arrive soon after and is set to grow in size to more closely match its BMW X1 sibling, with a range of petrol, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains.
Making it bigger is part of a plan to literally stretch the Mini range, making room for a new small SUV and a Chinese-built city car that’s tipped to revive the Minor name.
*Polestar 3:* Electric SUV will share a US production line and a platform with Volvo’s XC90 successor. Its styling will be influenced by the acclaimed Precept concept, while materials used throughout will emphasise a similar focus on sustainability.
With 510bhp and a range of up to 379 miles, the Polestar 3 will kick off from £85,500 in the UK, and it has the BMW iX and Jaguar I-Pace firmly in its sights.
*Porsche Macan EV and Audi Q6 E-Tron:* Porsche nailed electrification at its first attempt, but its second is an arguably tougher challenge, because it’s not an all-new proposition but a reinvention of the hugely popular Macan SUV.
Make no mistake, though: the Macan EV will be an entirely new car built on an entirely new EV platform. Co-developed by Porsche and Audi, the PPE allows for ultra-rapid charging and performance motors. In the Macan, we expect a four-wheel-drive dual-motor set-up to offer 700bhp and 750lb ft of torque.
Audi won’t be far behind its sibling brand in using the PPE platform, with its all-new Q6 E-tron due shortly after the Macan EV. While Audi already has a burgeoning range of SUVs, these use either an adapted ICE platform or the more mainstream MQB EV platform.
Complementing the petrol-engined Q5, the Q6 will offer 800V charging, a range of more than 300 miles and eventually a sporting RS version.
*Renault Austral:* Replacement for the large Kadjar SUV gets a total restyle and a new name that “conjures up the vibrancy and heat of the south”, apparently. The bold new look brings it into line with the all-electric Mégane E-tech, while a wide array of improved powertrains and upgraded infotainment platform will boost the popularity of Renault's Toyota RAV4 rival.
*Rolls-Royce Spectre:* The first electric Rolls-Royce is an all-new model that is expected to occupy a similar market segment to the old petrol-engined Wraith coupé. It will use Goodwood’s new Architecture of Luxury platform and is likely to employ a dual-motor powertrain offering more than 600bhp.
*Volkswagen Aero-B*: This is effectively Volkswagen’s electric Passat, a new executive electric saloon designed to rival the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2. It was first seen in 2019 as the ID Vizzion concept, is known within Wolfsburg as the Aero-B (due to its focus on aerodynamic efficiency) and at one point was expected to take the ID 6 name, before that was slapped on a Chinese SUV. Using the largest version of Volkswagen’s MEB EV platform, it will be offered with front- and rear-wheel drive and a 77kWh battery that could offer a range of up to 431 miles. Expect a GTX performance version, too.
*Felix Page and James Attwood*
