The 16 New Models We Want to Drive in 2022 - The Detroit Bureau

2021-12-29 06:55:27 By : Ms. Winnie Lin

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home > news > Automobiles > The 16 New Models We Want to Drive in 2022

We’ve seen plenty of changes in the automotive industry, but 2022 could put in motion the biggest transition in more than a century. Be prepared for a market flooded with new electrified vehicles, particularly all-electric models like the BMW i4, Cadillac Lyriq and Lucid Air.

That doesn’t mean that conventional gas models will vanish entirely. The coming Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is proof enough. Nor will sedans, coupes and hatchbacks, even though market has chosen SUVs and crossovers as its preferred vehicle type.

Thinking about the vehicles we’re most anxious to drive is to witness the change. It’s one that is recalling the past, updating past favorites, venturing further into electric power while producing the finest ICE-powered cars the industry has seen — a final farewell before their drive into oblivion. Given the mix, we’re excited to see the following cars that are planned to be released in the coming 12 months.

The latest brand to come to its senses and eliminate alphanumeric names, Acura does it in style by bringing back an old friend: the Integra. Teaser pics show a four-door model favoring the coupe-like styling so many luxury makers are using to great effect. Officials say it’s returning with “the same fun-to-drive spirit and DNA of the original, fulfilling our commitment to Precision Crafted Performance in every way — design, performance and the overall driving experience.” We. Can’t. Wait. (Michael Strong)

With so many choices in the midsize SUV segment, it’s easy to ignore the famously reliable Acura MDX. It’s new-for-2022 redo features a crisp and clean exterior, while the inside is simple and technology focused. It almost sounds like an appliance. But there’s something impressive about the MDX and how it’s just so … good — all the time. Every time. Now, with the Type S in the line-up, good gets some sizzle and we’re about it. (Michael Strong)

BMW’s newest EV is a breath of fresh air after the quirky oddball i3. Wearing BMW’s four-door “Gran Coupe” design, its sheer normalcy should help win buyers who are otherwise averse to trying an EV. And check out the numbers: the i4 eDrive40 has 335 horsepower, 301 miles of range and reaches 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The i4 M50 is even quicker, with 536 horsepower, a 3.7-seconds 0-60 mph time, and 270 miles of range. (Larry Printz)

There was a time when Caddy had a commanding lead in the luxury market. Today, it’s little more than an also-ran, despite some reasonably good offerings. But the brand is betting it can restore its luster as it shifts to an all-electric line-up that starts with the 2022 debut of the Cadillac Lyriq. The battery-electric SUV features a distinctive exterior design that takes familiar features, like vertical lighting, to a new level. Lyriq will make use of GM’s new Ultium batteries and architecture to provide a much bigger — and decidedly high-tech — interior. Look for a variety of performance and range variants. (Paul A. Eisenstein)

Since its debut as a mid-engine sports car in July 2019, the Corvette’s mechanical transformation has led a reputational transformation as well, finally being seen for the serious contender it is. The prospect of new Corvette variants promise to make an already-stellar performance car bargain even more so. Enter the Z06, sporting a naturally aspirated 32-valve DOHC flat plane 5.5-liter V-8 promises to give that prancing horse a run for its money.  (Larry Printz)

The Dodge brand has built a reputation for high-powered muscle cars like the 797-horsepower Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye. But that and other Hellcat models are soon to be phased out as Dodge shifts to electric propulsion. An all-electric muscle car will debut in 2024. But the brand takes a half-step this coming year with the launch of a plug-in hybrid expected to be badged the 2023 Dodge Hornet. It will share the underlying platform of the Alfa Romeo Tonale crossover. Look for two- and all-wheel-drive versions and, possibly, a gas-only model. (Paul A. Eisenstein)

When the Great Recession settled over the auto industry like a perpetual gray cloud, Henrik Fisker brought some bold new shapes into the business with the Fisker Karma. Now he is promising to do it again with an advanced re-interpretation of a sport-utility vehicle with a new EV, the Fisker Ocean, with its solar roof, a refined suspension and an array of recycled materials that is certain to attract attention. (Joseph Szczesny)

Who doesn’t love a truck? Nobody. Now, make it sports-car fast — 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds — with easy-to-access closed storage (i.e. a frunk), the ability to power not just a few items, but your entire home, and the biggest pickup seller in the country builds it — we’ve got a winner. Welcome to the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. Yeah, we need some time behind the wheel and, with 200K reservations, apparently, we’re not the only ones. (Michael Strong)

Reimaging the gas-hog Hummer as a brazen EV brand is a stroke of marketing genius, and we’re anxious to see if the vehicle’s character truly lives up to its new persona. Of course, having 1,000 horsepower on tap will help retain its anti-social reputation even as it attempts to recapture its former cache. (Larry Printz)

For the iconoclast who insists that the previous Land Rover Defender was the final word in body-on-frame SUVs, start-up automaker Ineos has your ride. Owing much to the Defender, the Grenadier is a vehicle that’s built for a 30-year-plus lifespan rather than the 10-year lifespan of most other SUVs. Its interior is dominated by buttons and switches, not a large touchscreen. Equipped for venturing far off the grid, its BMW driveline ensures ease of service once you return. (Larry Printz)

EVs aren’t just “build them and they will come” commodities. There is a slew of biases to maneuver past and the Kia EV6 does just that. It’s stylish without being outlandish, and it offers up to 310 miles on a charge. The EV6 recharges quickly, capable of using 800-volt chargers currently used by much pricier EVs. Plus, you get options: fast or “sit down, buckle up and shut up” fast in GT form. GT means Gotta Try, in this case. (Michael Strong)

One in every five Land Rover vehicles sold in the U.S. is a Range Rover, makings its redesigned model’s success especially crucial. The 2023 Range Rover’s minimalist style comes with a 395-hp mild hybrid in standard and long-wheelbase seven-seat models, or with a 523-hp twin-turbocharged V-8 on the short wheelbase. Every detail is exceptionally modern, yet extravagant. Off-roading hedonists will especially appreciate its power-assisted doors. Expect it to set the standard in luxury SUVs. (Larry Printz)

Ultra luxury cars with all-electric drivetrains will flood into the top end of the market in 2022. But one vehicle that appears certain to stand out from the competitive congestion is the Lucid Air. It has an electric drive that delivers three times the power of a Tesla and a top speed of 200 miles per hour. The exterior design is slippery, and the car comes with futuristic appointments that could redefine the meaning of luxury in the coming EV era. (Joseph Szczesny)

The German automaker will roll out a broad array of battery-electric vehicles. For the U.S., however, it started with the big EQS, essentially an all-electric alternative to the flagship S-Class. Coming in 2022, the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4Matic+ adds more power, improved handling and even more highline features when compared to the initial Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ and EQS 580 4Matic models. Range for the AMG model dips from 350 to 277 miles, but it makes 751 hp and 752 lb-ft, when you’re in Race Start mode, enough to hit 60 in 3.4 seconds. (Paul A. Eisenstein)

After nearly seven decades, Mercedes isn’t walking away from the sleek SL. But the all-new version coming in 2022 undergoes some major changes. To start with, it’s now part of the automaker’s high-performance AMG family. So, look for plenty of power from a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, which, for the first time, will be directed to all four wheels. It undergoes an extensive design makeover, growing longer, adding 2+2 seating and migrating back to a cloth, rather than metal, top. The three-layer canvas top operates quickly and seals out most road noise. (Paul A. Eisenstein)

The Z has been the centerpiece of dreams by many automotive enthusiasts for almost 50 years and now Nissan is promising to bring on a new vehicle, which both reinvents and respects its heritage. The shape is sleek, but it also incorporates the latest advances in construction, safety and technology. The effort to debut the 21st century version of the Nissan Z could be one of the more notable events of 2022 for the enthusiasts everywhere. (Joseph Szczesny)

I’m rather surprised the Nissan Ariya and Toyota bZ4X didn’t displace the rather mundane Acuras on your list, not to mention the Lotus Emira.

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