New Cars 2022 Part 2: Diversification

New Cars 2022 Part 2
Diversification

After we took care of the electric vehicles in the first part of our preview, it is now the turn of the vehicles with classic combustion engines. The fans of cylinder heads and crankshafts can look forward to some interesting news. Especially south of the Alps, SUVs scratch their wheels. As usual, Ferrari keeps a big secret about the first crossover in the company’s history. With Purosangue (whole blood) the name is already fixed. The scant information that comes out of Maranello suggests a front engine platform with a hybridized V6 engine and the transaxle design. If you go from the Ferrari 296 GTB, which has a system output of 830 hp with V6 power and hybrid technology, the Ferrari crossover should advance into similar regions just from the self-image of the noble car manufacturer. Alone to put the Lamborghini Urus in its place.

Diversification

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In terms of performance, Maserati bakes somewhat smaller bread rolls with the Grecale, which is named after a Mediterranean wind. Technically, the trident is related to the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, but exceeds it by 16 centimeters with a length of 4.85 meters. The drive variety should begin with the four-cylinder MHEV and 221 kW / 300 PS from the Ghibli, a six-cylinder is also set, whether an eight-cylinder will find its way into the Grecale is not yet known. Alfa Romeo makes use of Jeep and uses the technology of the Compass to bring the Crossover Tonale onto the road. So the engines and the hybridization also come from the American brother. The BMW X1, whose third generation is visually more dynamic, is in a similar segment.

That is by no means all that crossovers and SUVs will have in store for us in 2022. The Dacia Jogger is more of a van with the look of a crossover and wants to make the most of its 4.55 meters length. Another clientele appeals to the Mercedes GLC, which will probably only be electrified: starting with mild hybridization to plug-in hybrids. Externally, the changes should be limited. But for the cockpit, the SUV will use the new C-Class sedan and receive a much more modern infotainment system. The Citroën C5 X is more of a crossover than an SUV, but with 4.81 meters of space. Crossover instead of a thoroughbred sedan is also the name of the game at Ford, where the Evos will replace the Mondeo and thus become a direct competitor of the French. The French sister company Peugeot is pursuing a similar concept with the 308, which will also be available in the tall version from autumn.

There will be a lot going on in the next year among the Nobel climbers. The fifth generation of the British SUV icon continues the design of its predecessor in the face. It is different at the rear, where narrow LED elements and the crossbar that is now popular with automobile designers. There are two lengths to choose from: 5.05 meters and 5.25 meters. Interestingly, when it comes to engines, the British rely on units from the BMW shelf. It will probably start in mid-2022 from 121,200 euros. BMW countered with the sporty SUV coupe X8, of which there will also be an electrified M version later. What is striking about the BMW X7 brother is the new front with very narrow headlight slots and very conspicuous framed air inlets. What is okay with BMW, Audi is only cheap. However, due to its dimensions, the Audi Q9 is more aimed at the BMW X7 and the Mercedes GLS. It seems certain that the SUV will get a powerful plug-in hybrid, and the V8 turbo is also considered appropriate in this vehicle class.

The new BMW 7 Series is more of a classic business sedan. The Munich flagship with the internal code G70 has a new architecture and has to come up with some technical innovations in order to be able to keep up with the Mercedes S-Class. At the top of the list should be autonomous driving functions, which BMW originally announced as Level 3 for the SUV iX, but then had to row back. Audi’s new A8 is still a while in coming. Only China gets the A8 Horch, which with a length of 5.45 meters exceeds the A8 L by 13 centimeters and can compete with the Mercedes-Maybach in terms of luxury. The Mercedes S-Class is not resting on its laurels and, with the AMG S 63, goes a long way in terms of performance. The top model will only be available as a PHEV. The combination of V8 petrol engine and powerful electric module should crack the 700 PS mark and thus make it easier to say goodbye to the S 65.

The cut of the Mercedes AMG C 63, which will also only be available as a plug-in hybrid, is even more radical. Instead of eight cylinders, only four are now in service. Thanks to the well-fed electric motor, there should be no loss of performance. However, the weight is likely to skyrocket and whether the AMG fans will accept a C63 with four pots is still in the stars. They do not even allow these discussions to arise at BMW in Munich with the BMW M3 Touring. As is the case with the sedan, the power station wagon will either produce 353 kW / 480 hp or, in the competition version, have 375 kW / 510 hp and all-wheel drive. This is far from satisfying Munich’s hunger for horsepower. We look forward to the puristic BMW M2 with rear-wheel drive and around 309 kW / 420 PS. The Via M4 with the traditional addition CSL (Coupé, Sport, Lightweight Construction) should hit the rear axle with 405 kW / 550 PS.

The Opel Astra will also be available as a sports tourer and sedan. How far the performance journey will go is still in the stars. After all, the Peugeot 508 shows that 265 kW / 360 PS are feasible on the EMP2 platform as a Power PHEV. Then the Astra GSe would be a real alternative to the Golf R. There will also be a dynamic R version of the new Honda Civic, which will probably have around 221 kW / 300 PS. But before that, the civilian versions of the Nippon Golf will roll into dealerships in the fall. The eleventh generation of the Civic comes as a sedan and a hatchback variant.

For the athletes, the Mercedes-AMG One electrified with Formula 1 technology is finally rolling to dealerships with over 735 kW / 1,000 PS. Especially the coordination of the electric motors and the driving dynamics interventions was very complex. The delayed start should not change the fact that the hyper athlete will be a success. Only a few kilometers away, Porsche provides its fans with agile delicacies such as the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS. The top model of the mid-engine sports car series gets the grandiose four-liter six-cylinder from the 911 GT3 with 368 kW / 500 PS and weighs only 1,415 kilograms. This means that after 3.4 seconds from standstill, the 100 km / h mark is cracked and the top Cayman can continue sprinting up to 315 km / h. With a base price of 141,338 euros, this Cayman is anything but cheap, but the Porsche 911 GT3 RS will not only surpass its little brother in terms of price and the huge rear spoiler, but also in terms of engine power. The naturally aspirated six-cylinder will not do below 405 kW / 550 PS. And because we’re currently working on archaic, classic engines, a bitter pill for Ford Mustang fans will follow soon. The world-famous muscle car will have a five-liter eight-cylinder engine (code name Coyote), but due to the strict emissions standards, it will have around ten hp less than before. Whereby 324 kW / 440 PS are still sufficient.

press release