Another year means more launches of new cars with manufacturers battling for attention and customers. we take a look at what’s on offer in 2022
2022 brings plenty of new cars, with something for every taste and budget. Here’s our round-up of what’s coming in the first half of the year.
A huge amount of interest persuaded Citroen to bring the cute Ami to the UK, but this tiny urban runabout won’t be for everyone. With room for two passengers, it’s just 2.41 metres long and is powered by a 5.5kWh battery that provides a range of 43 miles and a top speed of 28mph. Recharging takes three hours, and it’s hoped that the price will start from around £6000.
Dacia are known for offering terrific value for money, and the Jogger will be the cheapest seven-seater available in the UK. Prices start from £14,995 for the Essential model which is equipped with air-conditioning, cruise control, DAB radio and rear parking sensors, with better-equipped Comfort trim costing £16,595. The top-spec Extreme SE is £17,395. Power comes from a 108bhp 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine with LPG and Hybrid variants following later.
This is the brand’s last internal combustion car, and it promises to be an absolute cracker. Two engines will be offered – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit developed with AMG and a 3.5-litre V6 – and there’s a choice of manual, automatic or dual-clutch transmissions. The larger unit powers the First Edition that will land in the UK first, the £75,995 price tag including plenty of kit and bespoke colours and trim.
It’s a welcome return for Mercedes’ luxurious convertible, the latest generation featuring a lighter composite aluminium structure and swapping the folding metal roof for a conventional soft-top. It’s the first SL to offer four-wheel drive, the 4MATIC+ system paired with twin-turbocharged V8 engines in the SL55 and SL63 models. The former has 469bhp while the more powerful variant gets 577bhp and 800Nm of torque for 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds.
The electric equivalent of the E-Class, the new EV gets similarly aerodynamic styling to the recently-launched EQS and shares that model’s tech-filled cabin with the impressive MBUX Hyperscreen dashboard. A 90kWh battery provides a range of up to 410 miles with a 10-80% charge taking 35 minutes, and buyers will be able to enhance comfort and driveability with the likes of air suspension and four-wheel steering. 4MATIC four-wheel drive versions will follow later.
The first model to be based on the new CMF-EV platform, the E-Tech promises to be both practical and good to drive. The SUV-like styling is bang up-to-date while the single-motor front-wheel drive powertrain features a 40kWh battery with a 186-mile range or a larger 60kWh item with 215bhp and a 292-mile range. 130kW charging allows for fast top-ups while plenty of on-board tech and a spacious cabin should please passengers.
Subaru’s first electric vehicle shares its powertrain and most of its styling with the Toyota bZ4X, and the company promises it will prove very capable off-road. A twin-motor set-up produces 214bhp for a 0-62mph time of 7.7 seconds with the 71kWh battery expected to provide a range of around 280 miles. Oh yes, and it gets its name from combining the Latin words for sun and earth…
The Aygo city car has long proved popular but the new model has morphed into a compact crossover with chunky looks and a raised ride height. It certainly looks funkier inside and out, although the mechanicals are conventional with a 72bhp 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine paired with a 5-speed manual or CVT transmission. A 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system provides all the connectivity you’ll need, and there’s plenty of driver assistance tech.
If you were a fan of the GT86 its successor is sure to hold plenty of appeal, the new model boasting a stiffer chassis and more power. Beneath the evolutionary styling there’s a larger 2.4-litre four-cylinder motor producing 234bhp and 250Nm of torque, figures that result in a top speed of 140mph and 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds. Alongside improved suspension and brakes an upgraded interior is part of the package.
This stylish SUV coupe is essentially a sportier looking T-Cross and prices will start from £21,960 when it arrives in the UK. It will be offered only with petrol engines – a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder unit with 94 or 109bhp or a four-cylinder 1.5 motor with 148bhp – and a choice of five- or six-speed manual and 7-speed DSG transmissions. VW’s latest infotainment system and digital instruments feature inside the practical cabin.
We’re fans of the new Astra’s styling with its Vauxhall Vizor front end and LED lighting, but this more spacious variant looks no less sharp. Choose a petrol or diesel engine and luggage space ranges from 608 to 1634 litres – models equipped with the PHEV powertrain lose a little cargo capacity – and inside all models boast a 10-inch digital instrument display, 10-inch infotainment touchscreen and plenty of kit.
Sitting between the Model 3 and full-size Model X, Tesla’s new SUV boast the brand’s familiar styling and can be had with five or seven seats. Cargo space is plentiful with up to 854 litres available in the rear and another 117 litres in the ‘frunk’, and opting for the Long Range version means a claimed 315 miles before a recharge is needed. It’s also quick with 0-60mph despatched in 4.8 seconds.
Ferrari has ditched the V8 engine and equipped its new supercar with a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged V6 that manages 819bhp. That impressive figures is courtesy of a plug-in hybrid system that uses a 7.4kWh battery for an electric-only range of up to 16 miles at speeds up to 84mph. Still, you’re probably more interested in performance and the 296 certainly delivers with 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds and a 205mph maximum.
Odd name aside the important thing is that this sharply-styled SUV is Toyota’s first battery electric vehicle. It will be available in front and four-wheel drive forms with single-motor 201bhp or dual-motor 214bhp set-ups, and there’s a claimed range of up to 280 miles with an 80% charge taking 30 minutes from a 150kW supply. A roof-mounted solar panel boosts efficiency, while a spacious, well-equipped cabin will keep driver and passengers happy.
It looks more like the Golf than ever but there’s no doubting the sporting credentials of the newest hot Polo, thanks to a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine making 204bhp. Driving the front wheels through a 7-speed DSG transmission that translates to a 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds. Uprated suspension and brakes feature, along with four driver-selectable modes – Eco, Individual, Normal and Sport – while LED matrix headlights and 17-inch alloys are standard.
Alongside the quirky Ami 2022 brings a new flagship for Citroen, one the company claims blends the attributes of a saloon, estate and SUV. Whatever the case the C5X majors on delivering space and comfort, along with a light, airy cabin and plenty of equipment. It’s powered by PureTech petrol engines with 128 or 178bhp, plus a more powerful plug-in hybrid model that manages up to 31 miles of electric-only running.
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