2022 brought more EVs than ever before, as well as a few old-school traditionalists clinging on to the power and prestige of fossil-fuelled luxury. What were once far-future concepts can now be found on every corner, as electrification alters our preconception of what personal transportation looks like. Here’s our pick of Wallpaper’s top 10 transport stories of the year.
TOP 10 TRANSPORT STORIES OF 2022
1. Porsche 911 Dakar is rugged, rally-inspired and raring to go off-road
Kicking off with a classic case of mission creep, Porsche’s 911 Dakar is a rugged rally machine born out decades of competition experience.
2. The Genesis GV60 marks a new era for electrified luxury
Of all the electric cars that passed through the Wallpaper* office in 2022, the best was probably the latest Genesis, an elegant luxury EV that fulfils the promise of the brand and feels suitably next generation.
3. Volkswagen’s iconic 'camper' gets an electric update. Meet ID. Buzz
Eagerly awaited as the modern manifestation of the cult VW van, the ID.Buzz is a highly desirable machine that offers up many different models, from camper to load lugger.
4. Mercedes-Maybach: behold the majesty of the ultimate limousine
Mercedes-Maybach, the Virgil Abloh edition
It might sound like hyperbole, but the Mercedes-Maybach S580 ticked so many boxes when we tested it back in October that it was hard to fault in any particular way, unless you’re especially averse to acres and acres of flatscreen technology.
5. Morgan’s ultimate driving machine is a minimalist three-wheeler for maximum thrills
At the other end of the combustion-engined scale is the minnow-like Morgan Super 3, a three-wheeled supercar that weighs in at just 635kg (compare that to the Maybach’s 2264kg). First cars should be delivered in 2023.
6. Caravans and travel trailers enjoy a welcome design renaissance
Bruder EXP6-GT
For a genre that used to be a byword for banal, the travel trailer has undergone a remarkable transformation. The very best models are effectively micro-architecture for the permanently mobile.
7. New BMW iX is a bold statement for the future of EV design, inside and out
BMW iX xDrive50 M Sport
BMW’s iX might be out on an aesthetic limb, but the German company knows how to build an EV with soul. The interior is also a cut above the rest.
8. Dacia’s new Manifesto concept is a true outdoor utility vehicle
Dacia Manifesto Concept Car
Dacia makes a virtue of cheap and cheerful, but ensures its low-cost cars are solidly designed and built. The Manifesto will never make it to market, but it was a convincing way of conveying the brand’s innate core qualities.
9. Going up: new players get eVTOL air taxis closer to reality
Eve Air Taxi
2022 saw precisely zero air taxi services take to the skies; will 2023 be any different? The major players are still deep in testing and trials, all looking for the big break that’ll make short hop electric aviation a convincing proposition. Writer: Guy Bird
10. Layer's Pendler urban e-bike concept makes a virtue of practicality
Pendler e-bike concept by Layer Design
The conceptual Pendler e-bike intrigued us with its mix of no-nonsense, practical styling, useful integrated function and handy performance. Here’s hoping a manufacturer steps up to turn it into reality.
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Maserati unveils the Fuoriserie By Hiroshi Fujiwara MC20 Cielo modelHiroshi Fujiwara, the so-called Godfather of Streetwear, lends his talents to Maserati’s in-house bespoke division, creating a stylish take on the company’s open-topped supercar
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Diffar is a new Japanese hair brand making perfume oil at the foot of Mount FujiDiffar, a newly founded Japanese beauty brand, creates perfume oils for hair in its Mount Fuji laboratory that are set to travel the world
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‘Architecture for Dogs is about exploring the joy and meaning behind design’: ADI’s latest exhibition celebrates the human-canine bondAs a showcase of designs for dogs opens in Milan, we find out why inviting our four-legged friends into exhibitions benefits everybody.
