From concept cars that failed to appear, Nissan’s Z the most notable example, to a few late surprises, it’s been a good year for gearheads. Supercars, despite growing environmental issues, have been the biggest surprise of the year. Ferrari, Lamborghini, and others continue to wow gearheads with ever-faster exotica.
Standout examples of cars we didn’t see coming arrived from every direction. Is it the game-changing hot Toyota Corolla that is a serious contender for the best hot hatch ever? Or how about a monster EV resurrection that if you believe its maker’s claim boats 11,500 ft-lbs of torque? The surprises are still coming thick and fast.
Coming back down to earth, SUVs are where the biggest movers and shakers are. Mercedes, BMW, and Land Rover had this niche sewn up a few years back, but not anymore. We’ve seen all manner of fast SUVs boasting supercar speed and limo levels of ride comfort. As for trucks… yep, you guessed it, the Ford F-Series is still king of the hill.
10/10 Aston Martin DBR22
Planned for production this year, Aston Martin’s DB3S-inspired DBR22 is stunning. Presented to the public in August, this doesn’t leave the UK marque much time and room for development, leading us to suspect beneath those gorgeous curves there is a lot of shared technology.
Making use of 3D-printed carbon fiber and aluminum, the DBR22 weighs in at 3900 lbs and should reach 198 mph. Power comes from Aston’s 5.2-liter turbocharged V12 kicking out 705 hp. The downside? It’s not cheap, listing at $1.8 million for each of the 10 planned cars.
9/10 Pagani Utopia
It seems like forever since Pagani treated us to anything new. The Zonda and Huarya have been mainstays for over a decade. Finally, the wait is over with the Utopia breaking cover in September limited to 99 units. So far, Pagani has only shown the Utopia coupe, but has alluded to the possibility of open and track specials.
The design is a familiar one, at least under the skin, where you find another iteration of Mercedes-AMG’s V12. This time around, sporting twin-turbos sending 864 hp to the rear axle promising a top speed of more than 230 mph.
8/10 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
Updating the iconic VW camper is sure to please nostalgic gearheads with memories of the ’60s. Yet, the makeover is more extensive than a facelift and goes much deeper. The only real connection is a vague Type 2-esque profile. Even so, the ID. Buzz production is set to reach 200 vehicles per day.
With space for 5 occupants or in the cargo variant two-euro pallets, the Buzz uses the VW MEB platform. Under the skin, ID. Buzz is less user definable with a sole electric motor sending 198 hp to the rear wheels. Whether VW has plans to bolster the options list remains unknown. Unfortunately, U.S. gearheads will have to wait until 2024.
7/10 Lotus Emira/GT4
Lotus is back in a big way. First, in 2019 teasing gearheads with the Eviija, followed by the 2021 unveiling of the Emira. Ever since, the buzz surrounding Lotus’ latest sports car has been a media frenzy. Back with a bang or two, the Emira has two engine options with up to 400 hp available.
But, this is Lotus. Famed for its racing pedigree, inevitably, there is going to be a hotter version. Waiting a few months longer, and Lotus has another temptation in the hardcore GT4.
6/10 Morgan Super 3
You’d have to be insane to contemplate using a Morgan Super 3 on a daily basis. On a weekend, it’s a different matter. Days when the back-to-basics trike makes for entertaining country road blasts.
Weatherproofing? Err, there’s none, save for two tiny windshields ahead of the two-seater cockpit. At least the instruments gain some protection with IP64 weatherproofing. Smaller and quirky as it might be, but the Super 3 still packs a 1.5-liter Ford engine cranking out 118 hp.
5/10 Toyota GR Corolla
From 1968 to 2022, the Corolla sold 50 million cars making it the best-selling nameplate of all time. Yet, despite huge sales numbers, the Corolla isn’t exactly exciting to drive or own. Enter Gazoo Racing, throwing its expertise behind the hatch, adding muscle aplenty.
Launched and tweaked a second time. The GR Corolla should hit dealers before the year is out, good news for U.S. gearheads. Under the hood, a three-cylinder 1.6-liter engine punches out 300 hp powering the Corolla to 60 mph in 4.9-seconds.
4/10 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580
Subtle, restrained, or dull? Gearheads shouldn’t write off the EQS SUV’s understated exterior. This seven-seat SUV packs enough tech to keep even the most avid gadget fans entertained. At the core of Mercedes’ interior is a full-width 56-inch hyper screen that puts all other displays to shame. Button pushers should look elsewhere.
The EQS is more than a mobile entertainment center with an emphasis on comfort. Digging under the hood reveals a brace of electric motors dishing up 536 hp across both axles. Yet, it’s the bits you don’t see that make the EQS so capable. Air suspension, rear steering, and Mercedes off-road driving mode handle every terrain with ease.
3/10 Range Rover P530
Land Rover can produce all the off-road imagery it likes, rarely do you see one off-tarmac surface. Why would you, when the Range Rover is the king of the luxury 4x4s with limo-rivaling interiors. Revised for 2022, the L460 sports a modernized front and rear end. But, beware, Land Rover produces two 2022 models, a crossover between generations. New for the L460 fifth generation is the addition of a BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 punching out 562 hp. A smoother and more refined BMW unit is the one we’d choose.
2/10 GMC Hummer EV
If we’re honest the original Hummer was a bit OTT, massive, lethargic, and small inside. GMC recognized the 4×4 shortcomings and started afresh. New for 2021/22, the Hummer EV is like nothing you’ve seen before, still imposing in size, but silent.
Concerns about size and weight are a distant memory. It’s here the Hummer amazes the most, hitting 60 mph in 3.3-seconds. Impressive by any measure, let alone a leviathan weighing 9460 lbs. Under the body, three-electric motors serve up 1000 hp backed up by 11,500 ft-lbs of torque at the wheels.
1/10 Gordon Murray T.50
It would be impossible to overlook Gordon Murray’s T.50 hypercar. Announced in 2020 with lengthy development and testing phase, production is now underway. A successor to the McLaren F1? The T.50 shares a common three-abreast seating arrangement ahead of a mid-mounted V12.
The use of lightweight materials keeps weight to 2187 lbs aiding grip and speed. But, it’s the rear end that draws the most attention with its unusual rear-facing fan. Designed to suck air from under the car adding downforce. For gearheads though, the wow factor comes from a 654 hp 4.0-liter V12 screaming to 11,500 RPM.