New York Auto Show 2022

Following a seemingly large gap in the auto show calendar, several carmakers are pulling out the stops at New York 2022 with a collection of new production models, concepts and updates on display. CDN picks the highlights.

Deus Vayanne

Deus, Italdesign and Williams Advanced Engineering have collaborated to create a striking electric hypercar called the Deus Vayanne. The aim was to set a new “benchmark of driving emotion” and “combine exquisite design and functionality with cutting-edge technology,” according to Adrian-Filip Butuca, head of design at Deus.

With its low stance, carefully refined proportions and curvaceous body work, the Vayanne draws an aggressive silhouette. There is no front fascia. Instead, a long hood falls far beyond the simple oval headlamps before meeting the large grille area. Shaped like a bow to “represent the infinity loop”, the grille dominates the bumper area and stretches the width of the car. The same bow shape is featured on the rear of the car in the form of an enormous air outlet, outlined by an uninterrupted tail light LED strip. This emphasises the curves of the body, particularly the protruding rear wheels and the resulting dip on the boot lid.

The inside appears to be far more busy than the exterior. It is crammed full of buttons and switches, with a layered IP and a mishmash of shapes for the air vents, speaker surrounds, door handles and screens. The soft cream leather finish of the seats, which are treated and produced using “sustainable solutions”, is also used on the centre of the steering wheel and lower part of the IP, while the upper is cladded in a black material, as is the top of the centre console and most of the doors. Strips of chrome are thrown in to accent the large central section of the IP, the shape of which is accented by a layer of horizontal light strips that surround a large embedded screen.

The Vayanne comes as quite the surprise. Little has been made public in regards to the collaboration between Deus, Italdesign and Williams Advanced Engineering, but the model reportedly started to take shape back in 2020, soon after Deus Automobiles was founded in Vienna, Austria.

Chrysler Airflow Graphite Concept

Described by Chrysler as a “alter-ego version” of its Airflow Concept that was shown at 2022 CES, the Airflow Graphite Concept made its debut at the New York Auto Show 2022. It aims to show another potential avenue of exploration for future models to come, demonstrating the carmaker’s multifaceted vision for its future portfolio.

On the outside, the Graphite looks to be almost identical to the original Airflow Concept, apart from the new ‘Galaxy Black’ paint job, some copper accents on the roof, and the 22-inch wheels. It appears to be the same size and all the main elements, such as the thin lightbars and the patterned bumper, are unchanged.

A similar story takes place on the inside. All of the main components of the interior are the same, but a new colour scheme includes a darker upper section of the cabin, with the focus on lighting elements to bring an injection of colour and life. Hundreds of small illuminated circles rise up from the central section of the doors to follow the curve of the upper IP line, while strips of golden LEDs accent the creases in the leather. It is a far cry from the light, breezy interior of the previous Airflow Concept.

The Airflow Graphite Concept was one of several early expressions penned by the design team when briefed to create an all-electric concept for 2025, with the previously unveiled Airflow Concept marking another iteration of ideas.

Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica

Following a record year for Lamborghini in terms of sales, turnover and profitability in 2021, the Italian marque has decided to launch its latest addition to the Huracán family at the 2022 New York Auto Show. Called Tecnica, the model features the same engine as the Huracán STO but, with some fine tuning and clever engineering, boasts an increase in power that allows for 0-100khp to be covered in 3.2 seconds.

In terms of design, a new front bumper area features revised air intakes and splitter, with less luminous green body work. It has been lifted directly from the Terzo Millennio’s black Ypsilon design. Flanking either headlamps are large, boomerang-shaped vertical air intakes with glossy black slats running from top to bottom like a ladder. The sides are kept clean and unadorned, with sculpted panels pushing air behind the wheels and beyond the body.

The most obvious design change takes place at the rear, with the body work making way for a large open section at the centre of the car that proudly shows off the engine at its heart. A honeycomb grille runs between the two large LED tail lights, and two huge hexagonal exhausts sit either side of the number plate. There is a new chunky diffuser too, pushing up towards the exhausts, as well as a new razor-thin spoiler and a new vertical rear window to improve driver visibility.

The interior of the Tecnica benefits from the inclusion of some new materials and a redesigned HMI interface that is exclusive to the model. The driver display aims to make readability as easy as possible with its new “arc” design, displaying information in large graphics. The IP is made a little less busy, and Alcantara extends from the headliner and is now also used to clad the upper section of the dash, removing most of the hard black plastics.

Hyundai Palisade

Hyundai has given the Palisade SUV a refresh with various new design elements alongside a host of improved infotainment and driver assistance systems.

At the front, the new grille is wider and features a parametric design that resembles scales. It is framed on the sides and bottom by a chunky metallic strip, which seperates it from the lower air intake area. Newly designed vertical LED lights run behind pieces of body work to frame the main lamps and finish high up on the wheel arches. It is an aggressive and bold front end, and although it feels a little cluttered in comparison to the former iteration of the Palisade, it is also undeniably sharper and more modern. The sides and rear of the SUV are kept the same apart from new 20-inch alloy wheels and a new rear bumper that features horizontal lines to accent its width. There is also a new paint option titled ‘Robust Emerald’.

A few minor changes have taken place on the inside too. A new horizontal air vent section has been added to the IP, resulting in slimmer vents and a more concise dash, with new ambient light themes. A digital rearview mirror includes a camera to enhance safety, and the inclusion of the ‘Ergo’ driving seat, which was formerly exclusive to Genesis models, marks a first for Hyundai and aims to reduce fatigue during long journeys.

Subaru Outback

Another updated model, the 2023 Subaru Outback, makes its debut at the New York show. It comes with a variety of changes both inside and out, and leverages similar design elements that were first shown on the recently launched Solterra electric SUV.

A new front fascia features a much larger grille, wider and deeper than the one on the previous Outback and including a new fishbone pattern. It pushes outwards to meet the headlamps, which have also been redesigned along with the fog lights. The former are more angular and sharp, with the C-shaped signature slicing into the body work. The fog lamps, on the other hand, are round and simple, sitting inside a matt-black bumper plate that extends upwards at either side to house the vertical air intakes before folding into the body work below the headlamps. The same matt-black finish is also used to clad the new wheel arches, which Subaru says help to “improve functionality”.

The interior of the Outback includes a revised IP, with lines stemming from the centre of the windscreen sill and wrapping around the top of the door panels, creating a cocoon-like cockpit feel. There is a new 11.6-inch portrait screen unit, with dual 7.0-inch displays inside to deliver all multimedia features and information. The trim-topping ‘Touring’ variant includes black Nappa leather with contrasting tan stitching, as well as a glossy black finish for the pillars, chrome plating on the door handles, and satin plated side mirrors.

Kia Telluride

Some small but notable tweaks have been made to Kia’s updated Telluride. There is a new 3D rectangular pattern on the grille, subtle in its form but more sophisticated and modern than the old honeycomb structure. The headlamps have been redesigned, with two cases sitting side-by-side to create a vertical element that better suits the shape of the front end. The tail lights have also been revised, and while the shape is the same, there are one fewer LED strips to ensure they are slimmer and more elegant. The bumpers on the front and back have been updated to include rectangular metallic strips, and on the front, four circular fog lamps sit in a square formation. Along the sides of the car, the lower door trims and sills have been revised with a slimmer metallic strip. There are also new wheel designs for every trim, and three new exterior colours to choose from: ‘Midnight Lake Blue’, ‘Dawning Red’, and ‘Jungle Wood Green.’

On the inside, the Telluride gets a welcome injection of modern elements. The new 12.3-inch dual screen curved display dominates the centre console and alleviates the need for two separate units, thereby reducing clutter. With this large new addition, Kia’s interior team has redesigned the whole IP, with new trim panels and a narrow air vent section that runs under the wooden veneer. Kia also says the steering wheel has been redesigned, but it’s hard to see the difference from the old version. There are also new interior colour palettes to choose from, one of which features a brown leather cladding the lower sections of the doors and IP, the seats, and parts of the centre console.

US debuts

A collection of models have also debuted in the US at the show, nearly all of which are electric. Ford’s F-150 Lightning, which was first shown during a digital event nearly a year ago, is present, as is the Chevrolet Silverado EV. The new 2023 Kia Niro was on show after having been unveiled at the 2021 Seoul Motor Show, and the production version of the Nissan Ariya made its first North America appearance after being shown as a concept at CES 2020. Finally, Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz was on the stand to make its US debut following hot on the heels of its official unveiling in Germany.