Cars for 2022

Electric cars are coming in a big way, but there are still some exciting combustion-engined models in the pipeline for 2022, too. Darren Cassey reports.

It’s been a turbulent time for the new car industry, with first the pandemic closing dealerships and then a semiconductor chip crisis stalling production.

However, with the world slowly returning to normality and hopes for an end to the chip crisis this year, car manufacturers have been pressing ahead with new model launches.

Here are the most exciting cars we’re expecting to see on sale in 2022. If we’re being honest, bZ4X is a terrible name for a car. But if you can look past that, it’s a very interesting model as it’s Toyota’s first production electric vehicle.

Yes, despite the firm forging ahead with electrification through Prius hybrids, it hasn’t actually sold an EV yet. That’s changing in a big way, though, with 15 arriving over the next three years and seven of them getting bZ badging.

The bZ4X is the first of this onslaught and is about the same size as the current Rav4 SUV.

BMW M2

BMW M cars are some of the most revered performance vehicles on the market, so it’s a highly anticipated moment any time a new one comes along. With the new BMW 2 Series being released in 2021, we’re getting an M2 this year.

The standard car’s slightly odd proportions are clearly designed with the wider M car in mind, so expect very aggressive styling. Meanwhile, power will come from a detuned version of the M3’s 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine, likely making around 400bhp.

BMW M240i

Range Rover

In the luxury car market, the Range Rover has long been top of the class.

In 2021, Land Rover revealed a new model, bringing sleek, minimalist styling and bundles of new technology.

It has new plug-in hybrid technology as well as a performance V8 engine – and an electric model will be launched in 2024.

Mercedes-Benz EQE

The mid-sized executive car market has proved hugely lucrative for Mercedes-Benz and its fellow premium car makers, so seeing it evolve for an EV market is very interesting indeed.

The EQE is essentially an electric version of the hugely popular E-Class.

Targeted at those who do lots of miles, it’s said to be capable of more than 400 miles between charges.

Dacia Jogger

Dacia has found a niche for itself by making the most affordable cars possible in any given segment while still offering sound build quality and decent specifications.

Its newest model is the Jogger, which will be the least expensive seven-seater on sale.

When it comes to large family cars, the Jogger might just be the best-value option on the market. Cupra is the electric/performance offshoot of Seat, itself a division of the Volkswagen Group.

As a result of the latter, the firm gets access to VW’s latest MEB electric vehicle platform, which currently underpins the VW ID.3.

Cupra’s version is called Born and has a very stylish, modern exterior.

Its range of up to 263 miles isn’t the longest around, but it should be more than enough for most.

Ineos Grenadier

When Land Rover took the old Defender off sale after what felt like hundreds of years, its new one was met with mixed feelings from offroad enthusiasts and farmers who needed a more utilitarian model.

The Ineos Grenadier is a response to this, with a more back-to-basics, robust interior and bundles of offroad capability.

Toyota GR86

The GR86 is the successor to the much-loved GT86.

While car enthusiasts loved its affordable sports car ethos, it never quite reached cult status because its engine, in particular, lacked excitement.

To combat this, Toyota has made the engine bigger and brought more power to the table.

Will a little more performance make this a world-beater?

Time will tell, but in the meantime we’re extremely excited by the prospect.

Ferrari Purosangue

A Ferrari SUV is something even the Prancing Horse itself never thought would happen, but in 2022 the Italian supercar maker will follow every other luxury brand into the SUV market.

Despite resisting long and hard, seeing the success of the Lamborghini Urus forced Ferrari’s hand. We still don’t know a great deal about the Purosangue (which means ‘thoroughbred’ in Italian), but spy shots show a long, low bonnet and a sleek, coupe-like roofline.

Renault Megane E-Tech Electric

Like every car company, Renault is shifting its range towards EVs and the Megane E-Tech Electric is the first.

It will have a range of almost 300 miles, a stylish exterior and a hugely spacious cabin with an infotainment system based on Google’s Android system. These credentials made it a finalist in the 2022 Car of the Year awards, with the winner to be announced in February.

Lotus Emira

Lotus is a real UK car industry success story.

Despite changing demands from buyers, the Norfolk-based company has continued to excel in its niche – lightweight sports cars.

A major evolution is coming from the brand, with electrification on the horizon. But first there’s Emira. It’s developed on a new aluminium chassis and has an engine from AMG. An intoxicating combination…