New cars. The stars of the second half of 2021

The Munich Motor Show 2021 is already over, but many new products will still be presented by the end of the year or available to order before their launch in the first quarter of 2022. Between the new generation of the Mercedes SL roadster or the Range Rover, the Ford Focus restyling and the new Maserati Grecale, we’re not going to be bored. Furthermore, some recently unveiled models will arrive in dealerships before the end of the year (VW Polo GTI, Mercedes EQB, etc.).

City dwellers

Despite the rise of small SUVs, city classics are not yet dead. As proof, Volkswagen is giving colors to its recently restyled Polo by once again offering the GTI version. A sporting orientation that should keep the Fiesta during its restyling which is fast approaching. Among the French, it is the C3 Indian version that is expected. The European version in 2023 will differ in its presentation, but also from a technical point of view. In the radius of mini-city cars, Toyota will present the final version of its Aygo, the third of the name, which will offer a more SUV look than ever.

• Cit roën C3 CC21 (presentation: September 2021)
• Ford Fiesta restyled (launch: early 2022)
• Opel Rocks-e (unconfirmed launch in France)
• Toyota Aygo (presentation: late 2021 / launch: early 2022)
• Polo GTI (the start: end of 2021)

Compact sedans

Difficult to speak of the new compacts without mentioning the Opel Astra, Peugeot 308 SW, absent from the Munich Motor Show. They are expected to hit the market early next year, but they should join the dealerships of their respective brands in the coming months. Ford will respond with its restyled Focus which should show a new face. In the electric model category, Cupra will officially launch its Born, the equivalent of the VW ID.3, on the market.

• Cu pra Born (launch: November 2021)
• Ford Focus restyled (launch: early 2022)
• Opel Astra (launch early 2022)
• Opel Astra Sports Tourer (presentation November 2021)
• Peugeot 308 SW (launch: January 2022)
• Volkswagen Golf SW R (launch end of 2021)

SUVs and crossovers

This is not a surprise, it is clearly the most important category of this panel of novelties. It incorporates models from different segments: urban (VW Taigo), compact (Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric), family (Kia Sportage), high-end (Range Rover), sporting (Maserati Grecale) and even electric (Mercedes EQB). You have something for everyone, including the Chinese model with the MG Marvel R.

• B MW iX (launch: November 2021)
• Dacia Jogger (launch: early 2022)
• Fiat 500X convertible (currently launching)
• Honda HR-V (launch: January 2022)
• Kia Sportage (launch: early 2022)
• Land Rover Defender 130 (launch: early 2022)
• Land Rover Range Rover (presentation: October 26)
• Maserati Grecale (presentation nov 2021 / marketing 2022)
• Mercedes EQB (launch: end of 2021)
• MG Motor Marvel R (launch: fall 2021)
• Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric (launch: March 2022)
• Skoda Enyaq Coupé iV (presentation: late 2021 / launch: early 2022)
• Skoda Karoq restyled (presentation: end of 2021)
• Volkswagen Taigo (launch late 2021 / early 2022)
• Volkswagen ID.5 (presentation: November 2021 / launch early 2022)
• Volvo C40 Rechar ge (launch: end of 2021)

Family and road sedans

Alongside SUVs, the sedan category appears less extensive. Note the arrival in Europe of the Citroën C5 X at 1^er quarter 2022 but the French is already available to order. With its original design, will it make you forget the classic and attractive C5? Mercedes is playing both an offbeat classic card with the very first All-Terrain version of the C-Class station wagon, and that of the electric one with the EQE, a shortened version of the EQS limousine. Audi will present, in November, an updated version of its A8, inspired by the Grandsphere concept.

• At di A8 (presentation: November 2021)
• Citroën C5 X (launch: end of 2021)
• Mercedes EQE (launch: spring 2022)
• Mercedes C-Class All-Terrain (launch: fall 2021)
• Subaru W RX (presentation: sept. / Launch: not in France)

Coupes and convertibles

Only one true coupe in this list: the 2 Series. The model adopts, moreover, all the guns so much appreciated by “behem” fans: long engine cover, propulsion, 6 cylinders in line … In the other proposals, we find the 4 Series Gran Coupé and its 100% electric version, i4, as well as the Porsche Taycan which receives technical developments for this fall. Let’s not forget THE convertible of the end of the year: the SL. It will return to the canvas top and will have a plug-in hybrid offer.

• BM W 4 Series Gran Coupé (launch: end of 2021)
• BMW 2 Series Coupé (launch: Q1 2022)
• BMW i4 (launch (early 2022)
• Mercedes SL (presentation fall 2021 / launch early 2022)
• Porsche Taycan (launch: September)

Sporting

Obviously in this category, it sends heavy! With its 5-cylinder 2.5 TFSI of 400 hp, it is difficult to place the new Audi RS3 with simple compact cars. As are the AMG versions of the EQS and GT 4-door showing 761 and 843 hp respectively. For the other protagonists, the question does not arise. A Ferrari remains a holy grail in terms of sportiness: the 296 GTB with its plug-in hybrid engine is no exception to this rule. The Emira will be the swansong of the thermal versions for Lotus: after her, the electric will take precedence over everything else. Finally the One developed by Mercedes-AMG, the final version of this hybrid hypercar of 1000 hp is still desired, yet the 275 copies have all already found a taker.

• At di RS3 (launch: fall 2021)
• Ferrari 296 GTB (launch early 2022)
• Lotus Emira (launch: summer 2022)
• Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 (launch late 2021)
• Mercedes-AMG One (sold out)
• Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door 63 SE Performance (Fall 2021 launch)

People carriers and vans

To be frank, it is not the minivans that will flourish in this category, but rather the large vans that can be converted into a motorhome, like the Ford Nugget (in its Trail and Active versions) and Renault Trafic SpaceNomad, presented recently and soon on the market. In this category, MPVs are not afraid to go electric, this is the case with the Citroën ë-Berlingo Van or its colleague, the Peugeot e-Partner. For its part, to continue to be present in this segment at a lower cost, Mercedes is continuing its partnership with Renault and renewing its Citan, the technical cousin of the Kangoo. Notable difference, the door “Open Sesame” is reserved for the French model.

• This troën ë-Berlingo Van (launch: fall)
• Ford Transit Nugget Trail and Active (launch: early 2022)
• Mercedes Citan (launch: first half of 2022)
• Nissan NV250 (presentation: end of Sep / launch: 1^er quarter 2022)
• Renault T SpaceNomad rafic (launch: early 2022)
• Renault Trafic SUV restyled (launch end of 2021)