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2022 is going to be a good year, for sports cars at least. Despite everything else that is going on in the world, we can all sleep easy knowing that the automotive industry is looking out for enthusiasts, track day drivers, and general lovers of performance.

It is easy to get caught up in all of the EV-goodness that is happening this year, but if you happen to care more about power and panache than electrons and efficiency, there are some tasty offerings coming to whet your appetite.

You certainly don’t need any of these performance cars, but you will want them. Here is a quick rundown of 10 sports cars coming in 2022.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie, the billionaire’s track day weapon

An Aston Martin Valkyrie, in profile view, on the Silverstone race circuit.
The new Aston Martin Valkyrie goes for a spin third before practice for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Towcester | David Davies/Getty Images

Let’s go out on a limb and make a bold prediction: 2022 is the year the Aston Martin Valkyrie finally hits the track. 

Red Bull Racing F1 team and design genius Adrian Newey partnered with Aston Martin to design and build this road-going F1 car way back in 2016. Powered by a 1,160 horsepower Cosworth tuned V12 and paired to a Rimac electric motor, the Valkyrie is as bonkers as it is fast. 2022 is the year it lands and promptly breaks every track record.

The Audi RS3, a track day car in the form of a sedan

A bright green 2022 Audi RS3 sedan driving on a mountain road.
2022 Audi RS3 Sedan | Audi Cars North America

Redesigned for 2022, Audi’s RS3 comes in spring with 401 horsepower and suspension tuning for the track. 

Audi is going to bring every bit of technology and engineering know-how they have to bear on the compact sports sedan. That will make it an epic performance machine, but to get the most out of it, you’ll need to spend some time learning the quirks of its trick torque-vectoring Quattro all-wheel drive. Once you learn the techniques, it will reward you with blistering lap times.

The Lotus Emira, light and nimble with a healthy dose of power

A Lotus Emira sports car clipping the apex at the Laguna Seca raceway in California.
Lotus Emira at Laguna Seca Raceway in California | Lotus Cars

The Emira is Lotus’ last hurrah for the internal combustion engine. Big plans from the small British company mean that after this car, all future models will be EV. That is not necessarily a bad thing if the Evija is any indication. 

You will get the choice of either a 360 horsepower turbo-four cylinder or a 400 horsepower supercharged V6. That’s fine, but you don’t buy a Lotus for horsepower, you buy it for the handling. Thanks to added lightness, the Emira should be an absolute sensation when it comes at the end of 2022.

The Corvette C8 Z06, America’s world-class supercar

A bright orange Corvette C8 Z06 sits in front of a red C8 Corvette convertible.
2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 | Photo Courtesy of Chevrolet

This year, America’s sports car is adding the Z06 model to partner with the stellar, normal C8. The standard car is brilliant on its own, but the addition of an all-new 5.5-liter V8 engine will ramp up the spiciness.

Expect in the neighborhood of 670 horsepower and a slew of other performance tweaks that will help keep the mid-engined brute as fast as anything else on the road or track. 

The Ferrari 296 GTB, a new direction with looks to kill

A profile view of a red Ferrari 296 GTB.
Ferrari 296 GTB | Ferrari

The 296 GTB is an entirely new idea for the legendary Italian manufacturer. A turbocharged V6 mated to an electric motor propels the mid-engined supercar. Power is a ridiculous 819 horsepower and delivered only to the rear wheels. 

It is a plug-in hybrid, so I guess the choice is this or a Prius. Pictures of the car reveal that it is “bite the back of your hand” gorgeous and takes a lot of styling cues from the SF90 Stradale. The performance will be insane, and the 296 GTB will begin Ferrari’s trend of shifting toward smaller engines and more electrification.

The Honda Civic Type R, a pocket rocket that packs a punch

Driver's side front angle view of redesigned 2022 Honda Civic Type R wrapped in camouflage
2022 Honda Civic Type R | Honda

When it comes to small sports cars, the Honda Civic Type R is one of the best. Punching way above its class, it earned the reputation of being a giant killer on the track.

The redesigned Civic is already here, which means that the new Type R will follow. While the old model had styling by 46 different 17-year olds who had never met, the new car has a much more cohesive design. 

2.0-liters of displacement, a turbocharger, and all the grip in the world will keep the new Type R at the top of the small sports car pile.

The Mercedes-AMG One, a Formula 1 car for the road

A Mercedes-AMG Project One hypercar prototype testing at the Nurburgring race circuit.
Mercedes-AMG Project ONE spotted at Nordschleife – Nurburgring circuit, in Nurburg, 19 of May, 2021 | Xavier Bonilla/Getty Images

Much like the mythical Aston Martin Valkyrie, Mercedes-AMG’s One hypercar has been delayed more often than a holiday flight home. 

Mercedes’ ambitious goal of bringing F1 technology to the road has been fraught with challenges. Not surprising when you consider that Mercedes is trying to get an engine designed to last seven races to cope with real-world conditions for several years without exploding.

This is another bold prediction, but I would say that 2022 is the year to see this car in person. 

The Nissan 400Z, a rival to the Toyota Supra

A profile view of a blue Nissan 400Z.
Nissan 400Z | Nissan

Let’s all jump aboard the hype train one more time and talk about the Nissan 400Z. Think of it less as entirely new and more like a greatest hits album. There are plenty of new components, and the performance should up the ante from the 370Z, but there is also a lot of carryover from the old car as Nissan attempts to recover from some recent struggles.

The 400Z does look good, and if the performance can match the claims, it will be a great sports car worthy of the “Z” badge.

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS, more schnell and more wing

A 3/4 front view of a blue Porsche GT3 on a race circuit.
Porsche 911 GT3 | Porsche

When you think about it, Porsche’s GT3 RS is a bit confusing. It’s a lightweight, track-focused, stripped-down version of the already lightweight, track-focused, stripped-down version of the standard 911. If the GT3 is the track-focused version of the regular 911, what is the GT3 RS? 

It likely doesn’t matter, as the GT3 RS will be a monster when it debuts in late 2022. This car is all about big horsepower, grip, and a massive rear wing. Expect around 580 horsepower and lap times to tumble.

The Subaru WRX, the sports car for every road type and weather condition

A red 2022 Subaru WRX shot from the front 3/4
The 2022 Subaru WRX is set to be a hot item despite its looks | Subaru

One of the most talked-about cars coming in 2022 is the Subaru WRX. With controversial styling, the photos of Subaru’s rally car for the road make it look similar to the Crosstrek and their other CUVs. That won’t matter much if the performance is on point, and early indications are that the new WRX picks up where the old one left off. 

271 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and a slick manual transmission will ensure that you can live out your Colin McRae fantasies every day on your commute.

2022 will be a good year for sports cars and car enthusiasts everywhere. As more manufacturers ditch sedans and coupes in favor of SUVs and Crossovers, it’s nice to know that sports cars are still getting better.

Related: The Best Sports Cars Under $10,000 on the Market Right Now

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