Goodwood Festival of Speed 2022: review and new cars
This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed was another great celebration of the automotive world
The Goodwood Festival of Speed proved to be as spectacular as ever last year despite its Covid-enduced hiatus in 2020. This year we again saw an incredible breadth of machinery, featuring plenty of fascinating cars from the past, present and future.
2022’s theme for Goodwood FoS was ‘The innovators – masterminds of motorsport. The theme majors on technical innovation in motorsport, from disc brakes to turbocharging, hybridisation and much more.
Making a return was ‘Electric Avenue’, a showcase of electrified vehicles and zero-emission transport that proved a hit last time out. Everything electric, from the Lotus Evija hypercar to our 2021 Car of the Year, the Ioniq 5, was in attendance but the star of the show was arguably the McMurtry Speirling electric ‘fan car’ that set a new record for the Goodwood FoS Hillclimb of 39.08s with former Marussia F1 driver Max Chilton at the wheel.
Goodwood festival of speed 2022: new cars
As ever, the Goodwood Festival of Speed played host to some of the world's most exciting automotive debuts and we’ve totted up the most eye-catching ones during the four-day event below.
Alfa Romeo Tonale
Back in 2019, Alfa Romeo showcased a concept version of the Tonale and three years later we'll be able to see the real, road-going version. Design-wise there’s little to tell the two apart.
Making its public dynamic debut, the Tonale showcased its mild-hybrid power up the hill on Saturday the 25th. Later this year Alfa Romeo will launch a more potent, range-topping 275bhp plug-in hybrid with all-wheel drive.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Estrema
Despite getting on a bit, the Giulia remains one of the best driving saloons you can buy.
The twin-turbocharged V6-powered Quadrifoglio is obviously the one you want, but even lower-rung models like the new 276bhp Estrema are still bundles of fun.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Estrema
The Italian firm’s other Estrema model, the Stelvio, takes much of the excellent driving dynamics of the Giulia and puts them into an SUV package.
The Estrema model aims to distil much of the Quadrifoglio’s sportiness into a cheaper offering.
Alpine A110 Sport Corse 75
In honour of the legendary Alpine A110 that competed at the Tour de Corse in 1975, Alpine has created the A110 Sport Corse 75.
The yellow and black colour scheme should have been instantly recognisable to fans of the original rally car, and the Sabelt bucket seats, 296bhp turbocharged four-cylinder and lightweight body meant this homage did the original justice.
Aston Martin Bulldog concept
A one-off concept car from 1980, the Bulldog (appropriately nicknamed K9) has received a nut-and-bolt restoration over the past year in the hope it will reach a maximum top speed of 200mph.
The wedge-shaped styling and turbine wheels are a real throwback to the concept cars of the Seventies and Eighties. The interior perhaps even more so, with a bizarre mix of wood, leather and retro digital readouts.
It didn’t engage in high-speed driving at FoS, however, instead it was confined to the static display at Aston Martin’s stand.
Aston Martin Valkyrie
It seems like the Valkyrie’s development phase has been going on forever, but given its incredible level of complex engineering, the wait is understandable.
A Cosworth-built, naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 sits beneath the bodywork and spectators got the chance to listen to the raucous soundtrack as the Valkyrie took part in the hillclimb event.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage
This is the last time we’ll see Aston Martin stuff a V12 engine into a Vantage, so predictably all 333 units were sold out ahead of its release.
The 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed marked the first time the public saw the new 690bhp, 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 Vantage move and it put on quite a show up the famous hill.
Aston Martin DBX707
A large, luxury SUV that accelerates faster than a Porsche 911 GT3 sounds impossible, unless you’re an engineer at Aston Martin.
The DBX707 has some ridiculous stats - 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds, a top speed of almost 200mph and a 697bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. The performance is all the more incredible when you factor in the DBX707’s still rather portly 2205kg kerb weight, it certainly hustled its way up the hill.
Bentley Continental GT S
Bentley has given its Continental GT a sporty makeover with the new S model.
Showcasing its speed on the hill climb, it also paraded up the hill with lots of other turbocharged Bentleys celebrating 40 years of turbo Bentleys.
This new hot Continental doesn’t actually offer any more straight-line performance than the standard V8 model. Its 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 still pumps out 542bhp and 770Nm of torque, though, with some added noise from a new sports exhaust.
Bentley Flying Spur S
Unlike the Continental GT S, the Flying Spur S is available with a choice of two powertrains, along with chassis revisions and sporty styling touches. There’s a 542bhp 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine and a 2.9-litre hybrid V6 petrol engine with 536bhp and 750Nm of torque.
BMW M3 Touring
Celebrating 50 years of the fabled M division, BMW was the guest of honour this year, with a fireworks display and some lairy doughnuts on the Wednesday night before the festival’s start.
What has always been a notable omission from BMW’s M line-up is a Touring version of its M3. That won’t be the case from this year with the new M3 Touring model. It receives the tried and tested 503bhp, twin-turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine so it should drive just as sweetly as the regular M3 Competition.
The practicality of the Touring’s estate body was on show with a BMW M3 Touring MotoGP Safety Car as well.
BMW XM
While showgoers didn’t see the upcoming XM super-SUV, the Concept XM was in attendance. We’ve driven a prototype model and seen it in concept form, sporting almost cartoonishly large kidney grilles and some wacky design details, but under the bonnet lies a serious powerplant.
The Concept XM will pave the way for the XM - which will be only available as an M car. That’s the first time that’s happened since the M1 – and it’ll get a turbocharged, V8 hybrid powertrain producing 739bhp and 1,000Nm of torque. There have been murmurs that this set-up will find itself in the next M5 supersaloon, which is set to be launched in 2024.
BMW M4 CSL
For only the third time in its history, BMW has stuck a CSL badge on one of its road cars - creating the new M4 CSL. Just like the M3 CSL of 2003, it features plenty of weight-saving measures (it’s 100kg lighter than a regular M4) and a bump in power.
With 542bhp on tap, the M4 CSL will go from 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds and hit a top speed of 190mph. Goodwood attendees saw the new aggressive bodykit and decals on a static display.
BMW i Vision Circular concept
Car makers, like plenty of other companies, are investing heavily in sustainability. BMW’s i Vision Circular concept showcases what we can expect from the German brand come 2040.
The i Vision Circular concept is an all-electric, family hatchback made entirely from recycled and recyclable materials and visitors had the opportunity to view it in the Stable Yard – an area dedicated to BMW’s latest range of all-electric and electrified models.
BMW i7
A more contemporary view on BMW’s commitment to sustainability is the new i7. It was also on display at the Stable Yard.
If showgoers happened to pass the i7 while its doors were open then they got a chance to see the gargantuan 31.3-inch 8K BMW Theatre Screen for the rear passengers.
BMW 7 Series
Alongside the i7 was the new 7 Series. Utilising the same platform as its all-electric sibling, it was on display in BMW M760e form, powered by a plug-in hybrid with 563bhp.
BMW iX1
The BMW iX1 enters a huge small premium all-electric SUV segment, and design-wise it won’t differ too much from the new third-generation X1.
Due to go on sale in the summer, the xDrive30e was on display, sporting its dual-electric motor powertrain with 308bhp and 494Nm of torque - giving the iX1 a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds.
BMW iX M60
The BMW iX was also at Goodwood this year in all of its polarising glory. The design may not be for all but the new range-topping M60’s powertrain should be powerful enough to convince some doubters.
The two electric motors provide 611bhp and 1100Nm of torque, which gives the 2.5 tonne iX M60 a sprightly 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds and a 155mph top speed.
Czinger 21C
Czinger isn’t a household hypercar name, but the 21C’s Goodwood appearance surely gave it a profile boost.
No less than 1,233bhp is offered up by its 2.9-litre V8 engine joined by two electric motors. A super light kerb weight of 1,250kg means the 21C has a power-to-weight ratio of 1:1.
The mind-boggling figures continue with a 0-62mph time of 1.9 seconds and a top speed of 281mph. What’s more, the 21C now holds the production lap record of both Laguna Seca and Circuit of the Americas.
Fisker Ocean
American car company Fisker looked dead and buried after the Karma of 2011, but it’s back with a new SUV, called the Ocean.
It’ll be on sale in the UK next year, rivalling the likes of the Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq in the pure-electric family SUV segment.
Ford Ranger Raptor
We might not love pick up trucks as much as Americans do, but thanks to a chunky bodykit, added off-road prowess and more power, it was impossible not to enjoy Ford’s Ranger Raptor when it was launched fairly late in the previous generation’s lifecycle back in 2019.
The second-generation Ranger is now out and a hot new Raptor version will make an appearance at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed. Like on the old Raptor there’s an aggressive bodykit, but now there’s a new 3.0-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost petrol V6 producing 284bhp, an increase of 74bhp over the old model.
Genesis Electrified GV70
Genesis has already given us the Electrified G80 saloon, the GV60 coupe-SUV and now it’s time for the third all-electric model in the premium car-maker’s lineup - the Electrified GV70.
Based on the GV70, the EV model will boast a dual-motor four-wheel drive setup producing 483bhp, and offers 350kW rapid charging capability. This should make it a competitor to the Audi e-tron, BMW iX3 and Mercedes EQC. Genesis also claims the Electrified GV70 will offer over 310 miles of range. None other than Lord March was on hand to take the covers off the car on the display stage.
Gordon Murray Automotive T.50
Granted, the T.50 made its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Revival back in October last year, but any chance to hear this hypercar’s raucous V12 should be taken.
The combination of a Cosworth-developed 650bhp 3.9-litre V12 and a six-speed manual transmission makes the T.50 one of the most exciting cars in recent years and with the original debut stunted somewhat by bad weather, Festival of Speed showgoers finally had a chance to listen to the T.50 reach its 12,100rpm redline.
Gordon Murray Automotive T.33
Gordon Murray has developed a slightly tamer hypercar to accompany the new T.50 - called the T.33. Tame might be underselling the T.33 a bit because it uses a version of the T.50’s 3.9-litre V12. It does, however, get a new chassis that’s still made from a mix of carbon fibre and aluminium.
GMA says it’s more practical than the T.50, ditching the three-abreast seating to open up more luggage room. It’s half the price of the T.50, at £1.37 million, and all 100 units have already been sold ahead of expected deliveries in 2024.
Hispano Suiza Carmen
Barcelona-based firm Hispano Suiza brought its Carmen hypercar to Goodwood, showcasing its ‘hyperluxury’ take on the genre.
Two electric motors, mounted on the rear axle produce 1,005bhp, giving the Carmen a 0-62mph time of less than three seconds. Showgoers were probably even more amazed by the Carmen’s design; it’s apparently inspired by the Hispano Suiza’s Dubonnet Xenia from the 1930s and even features removable rear-wheel spats.
Jaguar F-Pace SVR Edition 1988
Jaguar won Le Mans in 1988 and as a slightly belated celebration, it's building 394 Edition 1988s. Based on the F-Pace SVR super-SUV, the Edition 1988 gains a few cosmetic tweaks but crucially retains the 542bhp 5.0-litre supercharged V8.
Kia EV6 GT
Beneath the EV6 GT’s fairly unassuming, family-friendly body lies two electric motors that combine to give 577bhp and 740Nm of torque. A 0-62mph time of 3.5 seconds is the result - quick enough to give even the world’s fastest supercars a scare.
Spectators saw this new range-topping version of the EV6 at both the ‘First Glance’ paddock as well as on the slightly damp hill climb on Thursday.
Land Rover Defender 130
The new Defender is already a pretty practical SUV in five-seat 110 guise, but Land Rover has just added an even bigger, eight-seat 130 to the range.
The new 130 is 10cm longer than the seven-seat version of the new Range Rover and it made quite the spectacle as it undertook its dynamic debut up the hill.
Lexus EV sport concept
Lexus showcased three new fully-electric concepts late last year and this sports car concept was one of them. The brand says the concept has been inspired by the LFA supercar and the new car should offer plenty of performance.
Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda outlined that the model has a target 0-62mph time “in the low two-second range” and added, “with both proportions and low ride height essential to a sports car, it will showcase the unique driving performance of a Lexus”. A range of more than 435 miles has also been targeted.
There should be plenty of electric sports coupes for it to compete against when it launches in the next few years, including the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore, Piech GT and Tesla Roadster.
Mercedes-AMG ONE
First shown in 2017 as the Mercedes-AMG Project One, the long-awaited hypercar was recently unveiled in production form and now we’ve seen it in metal for the first time.
Utilising plenty of tech from the Mercedes-AMG Formula One car of 2016, the One features a 1,048bhp, turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 that drives the rear axle through a seven-speed automated manual gearbox. It's combined with an 8.4kWh battery, feeding no fewer than four electric motors. These motors deliver four-wheel drive and a 0-62mph time of 2.9 seconds. A top speed of 218mph has been claimed as well.
Despite the incredible performance of the One, it’ll still have tough rivals in the shape of the Aston Martin Valkyrie and Gordon Murray T.50.
Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door 63 S E-Performance
As Mercedes-AMG looks to ditch its renowned V8s for hybridised four-cylinder power, the GT 4-Door should make for a fitting send-off as one of the last V8-engined Mercedes sports cars.
Developing 831bhp and a whopping 1,400Nm of torque, the widely-used 4.0-litre biturbo V8 engine certainly doesn’t lack for power. It takes just 2.9 seconds to complete the 0-62mph sprint.
Mercedes-AMG C 63 PHEV
Recently unveiled at the Nurburgring 24 Hours (though not officially), the new plug-in hybrid C 63 is set to mix the same four-cylinder turbocharged engine found in the A 45 S hot hatch with electric power. A total power output of 671bhp is claimed, which is a full 168bhp more than its BMW M3 rival.
Polestar 5
The Polestar 5 will be, yep you guessed it, Polestar’s fifth car. It’s scheduled to launch in 2024 – two SUVs (the 3 and the 4) are due before it – and will rival the Tesla Model S as a striking fastback model.
The 5 is based on the Precept concept, retaining the ‘Thor’s hammer’ headlights, swooping roofline and squared-off rear end.
It appeared on static display on the main Polestar stand and set about the hill climb route as well. We didn’t get any heroics though, given it's still a disguised prototype model.
Polestar O2 Roadster concept
While the new Polestar 5 made its dynamic debut, the brand’s O2 roadster took pride of place on the brand’s stand. Unconfirmed for production, it still points into a potential range expansion into all-electric sports and convertible cars from the Swedish brand, morphing Polestar’s design language into a two-seat roadster form.
Polestar 2 BST edition 270
The Polestar 2 is no slouch, but the new BST edition 270 aims to give it some serious performance credentials.
Fitted with dual motors, the BST edition 270 adds an extra 67bhp to make a total of 469bhp, along with 680Nm of torque. Performance figures haven’t been revealed but we expect it to dramatically slash the current fastest Polestar 2’s 4.5-second 0-62mph time. The ‘BST’ is short for ‘Beast’, the nickname CEO Thomas Ingelath gave to the prototype version he’s driven daily for some time now.
Porsche 911 Sport Classic
No brand can yank on the heartstrings of its devotees quite like Porsche. The Sport Classic is a collection of the bits that have made the 911 an iconic sports car.
The ducktail spoiler, Fuchs-style rims and re-trimmed interior are all nods to 911s of yesteryear. Powering the rear-wheels is a 542bhp 3.7-litre twin-turbo flat-six lifted from the Turbo model, but unlike that car the Sport Classic forgoes the air ducts to retain a more classic 911 look.
Prodrive P25
Retro car recreations have become huge business in recent years with Kimera Automobili 037, Eagle Speedster, and Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer a notable few.
Entering the fray now is Prodrive. Its Subaru Impreza of 1997 is one of the most recognizable rally cars ever and the Banbury-based motorsport company is looking to make 25 ‘P25s’ at £552,000 a pop. The first day saw the P25 let loose on the hill climb, probably giving lots of fans nostalgia.
Radford Type 62-2
A tribute to the legendary Lotus Type 62 racer from 1969, the Radford Type 62-2 made its dynamic debut at the Festival of Speed this year.
It was driven by Formula One icon Jenson Button, which makes sense considering he’s a key investor of the Radford project and a development driver. While there are three versions of the Type 62-2, the most powerful 600bhp supercharged 3.5-litre V6 model blasted up the Goodwood hill.
Range Rover Sport
The Range Rover Sport is a hugely important car for Jaguar Land Rover and from the outside it looks like this third-generation retains much of the same design from the previous iteration.
There’s plenty of change underneath however, with an all-electric model coming in 2024 to sit alongside a range of hybrids and a 4.4-litre V8.
Renault 5 Prototype
The Renault 5 is one of the best-loved hatchbacks in the French firm’s illustrious history and Renault is bringing it back with electric power.
The retro-styled concept wowed crowds at the Munich Motor show last year and did the same at Goodwood.
Toyota Supra manual
The Toyota Supra has a huge following amassed through its various generations. The new fifth-generation ‘A90’ model might not be as loved as its Mk4 forbear, but the addition of a manual gearbox should give driving purists something to cheer.
What did you think of Goodwood Festival of Speed 2022? Let us know in the comments below…
