Many of the most exciting cars that recently appeared at the first post-pandemic New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) will be coming to Canadian roads soon enough. But with pressure to meet green energy goals, automakers are churning out new electric vehicles as quickly as they can. There are waitlists and even sold-out models like the all-new 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, which might be spotted at local dealerships but can no longer be preordered.

We’ve reviewed some of the newest electric vehicles in Canada that have us dreaming of plugging in. If you’re serious about buying, you won’t want to wait. You can find the models we’re most excited about in our most recent edition of Autophiles below.

The biggest buzz at NYIAS was arguably the long-awaited Volkswagen ID. Buzz, which will be one of the most dynamic electric vehicles in Canada arriving in 2024. With up to seven seats and rear or all-wheel drive, it will be capable of reaching 80 percent charge in 30 minutes using a fast-charger, with an estimated range of 400+ km and starting at 201 hp, up to almost 300 hp. The ID. Buzz uses Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive (MEB) platform, shared by several EVs including the Audi e-tron crossover.

Among Time’s Most Influential Companies of 2022, Ford saw its market value soar above $100 billion for the first time earlier this year, bolstered by sales of the electric-powered Ford F-150 Lightning (electric truck maker Rivian and EV Connect also were included on Time’s list).

Just announced, an all-wheel-drive hybrid Corvette is coming as early as next year, followed by an electric-only version. The details, such as horsepower figures, have yet to be revealed.

If vintage muscle cars are more your style (and you can afford to part with more than $200,000), check out the 600-hp Cobera C300 Roadster, a Shelby-inspired retro-rocket that promises approximately 560 km of range and 0-100 km/h in 2.7 seconds. The carbon fibre body shell was developed by aircraft designers. 

The Deus Vayanne is a 2,200-hp Austrian hyperEV, claiming 0-100 km/h in less than two seconds. So far only 99 vehicles are planned for production with deliveries expected by 2025.

For truck lovers, there’s another exciting one on the way: an all-electric Chevy Silverado with up to 640 km of range, reaching 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. Deliveries are expected by fall 2023.

Another daily driver worth noting is the Nissan Ariya (up to 389 hp, with an estimated top range from 330 to 480 km), the automaker’s first all-electric SUV, which is expected later this year. Nissan plans to release 15 EVs by 2030, including an Infiniti model that’s also due by year-end, although details have yet to be revealed.

The award-winning Kia Niro is redesigned for 2023 to offer approximately 405 km with a full charge, which can be achieved in under 45 minutes using a fast charger. With a base price under $50,000, the Niro qualifies for all federal and provincial credits. 

Meanwhile, Toyota is aiming to maintain leadership in the EV race with the introduction of the bZ4X, an electric SUV with an all-wheel-drive option and an estimated maximum range of just over 400 km.

Two new competitors from Vietnam, the VinFast VF 8 and VF 9 are SUVs (midsize and full-size, respectively) that have an optional battery replacement subscription to help reduce future maintenance fees. In the next few months, VinFast vehicles will be on display in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, with incentives for early orders.

A few years down the road, the Lincoln Star SUV is planned to lead production for electric vehicles in Canada through 2025, but plug-in hybrids are currently available (the Aviator and Corsair Grand Touring models). Worth noting: 2022 is also the automaker’s 100th anniversary. What a turning point for a company acquired by Henry Ford, one of the originators of the electric vehicle.

For insight into what trends are causing the most buzz across industry internet forums, stay tuned for next month’s edition of Autophiles.