What does the year ahead have in store for motorists, and how can we all make the most of it? Autocar’s writers rack their brains for the answers…

Words: James Attwood, Rachel Burgess, Steve Cropley, James Disdale, John Evans, Nick Gibbs, Jim Holder, Hilton Holloway, Tom Morgan-Freelander, Felix Page, Damien Smith, Piers Ward

THE LAST FEW CAR FIRMS YET TO DO SO WILL SET ALL- ELECTRIFIED DEADLINES

Just eight years until you can no longer go out and buy a new car that does the whole ‘suck, squeeze, bang, blow’ thing – and many car firms have already pledged to stop building them. But we’re still waiting to hear when some industry giants, including BMW, Toyota, Nissan and Land Rover, will make the switch to all-electric line-ups, so 2022 could bring a flurry of announcements.

ELECTRIC CAR SALES WILL GROW ANOTHER 50%

The calculators are still being hammered, but it looks like electric cars will account for just over 10% of all new car registrations in 2021, representing a rise of nearly 60% year on year.

That’s both impressive and ahead of expectations, driven by a greater choice of vehicles and a greater focus on switching to EVs since the 2030 ban on new combustionengined car sales sharpened minds.

Analysts predict similar growth next year, crucially taking EVs to around 14% of the market as diesel shrinks to 12%. That will be a hugely symbolic moment, and all the more remarkable for the fact that supply constraints are throttling the electric car market. Add in plug-in hybrids – this year about 7% of the market, next year around 8% – and you swiftly reach a point where more than one in five registrations will be electrified.

If this growth is maintained, the 2030 cut-off could be a non-event.

THE EMIRA WILL KICK-START A RESURGENCE FOR LOTUS

How many times have we heard that before? Just how many false dawns have there been for Lotus? On how many occasions have we predicted that this time it will be different?

For decades the future of Hethel’s answer to Maranello has hung in the balance, each new model launched, or each fresh boss installed at the helm being the one that will steer the brand away from the last-chance saloon. And yet this time the shoots of recovery really do look permanent – and for proof you need only look to the new Emira.

Yes, the all-electric, 2000bhp Evija has been stealing the headlines, but that’s a £2 million plaything that’ll be built in button numbers. The Emira, on the other hand, is the real deal. It looks the part for a start, while the mechanical specification – aluminium construction, doublewishbone suspension all-round and the option of a howling V6 engine – and the price (slated to start at a Porsche Cayman-baiting £59,995) all point to it being the finest Norfolk newbie since the Elise stole our hearts in 1996.

Yes, at 1405kg it weighs more than you’d expect from a Lotus, but it should be light enough to deliver the delicately honed dynamics we demand, yet with enough heft to tempt buyers more used to hewnfrom-solid Porsches. Plus it’s packed with the user-friendly features and tech that will make for a machine you will drive every day, not just high days and holidays. Coupled with cash from parent firm Geely, the future is looking bright.

How bright? Well, for years we’ve all uttered that time-honoured Lotus acronym: Lots of Trouble, Usually Serious. But now, thanks to the Emira and Geely, let’s hope it can be changed to Lots of Thrills, Usually Sensational.

I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO…

…driving the Emira, more than I am any other sports car in 2022. It will indicate how a Geely-backed Lotus wants its cars to develop. Will it have the sorted ergonomics and usability the Evora lacked? I can’t wait to find out.

MATT SAUNDERS

TRY THE EV EQUIVALENT OF YOUR OWN CAR

The diversity of the EV pool is now such that you can probably buy near enough a like-for-like replacement for your current ICE car. Got a Golf? Try an ID 3. Audi Q5? That’ll be an E-tron. Mini Cooper? You’re in luck…

There are exceptions, of course, and you’ll still pay a chunky premium for the privilege of a plug. But transitioning into a car with the same load capacity, infotainment and general characteristics as your current fuel-burner will make the switch a lot more palatable.

We’re not yet at the point where you can feasibly compare a petrol stop with charging an EV, but there’s more obvious parity between fuel tank and battery capacities these days, so you’ll probably not notice a huge drop in usability.

CHINESE CAR FIRMS WILL MAKE MAJOR GROUND IN EUROPE

Geneva 2019 was full of Chinese brands with eyes on Europe, yet in 2021 only Lynk&Co’s 01 is available (but not in the UK) while Nio and BYD are selling in Norway. But things are set to change, with Great Wall’s Wey Coffee 01 SUV going on European sale in 2022.

FIND THE TIME TO ENJOY DRIVING MORE

The roads are packed, there are roadworks everywhere, smart motorways are dangerous and petrol – and even electricity – prices are ever-rising. Where did the joy of the open road go? Nowhere, actually. In the right circumstances, on the right road at the right time, driving is a relaxing, brilliant experience. So go on an enjoyable drive. It will help the next time you’re stuck in traffic.

LEARN HOW YOU REALLY USE YOUR CAR DAY TO DAY

Many studies and surveys suggest most people could easily switch to an EV. In 2020, Department for Transport data showed the average car journey was just 8.4 miles. But range anxiety is still a thing, perhaps because people tend to think they drive more miles than they really do. So as the EV transition accelerates, be honest with yourself. Note how you use your car, how many miles a day, how long you’re parked for, how often you go on long trips. You might know much of this, but if nothing else, plotting it out will give you the information to know if a PHEV or EV really is right for you.