Electric vehicles have dominated the World Car Awards as they’ve won every single category this year. This is hardly surprising as many of the finalists were EVs, but it likely won’t alleviate criticism.

Top honors went to the BMW iX3 which was named 2026 World Car of the Year as well as World Electric Vehicle. In the former category, it beat out the redesigned Hyundai Palisade and Nissan Leaf. The Leaf was also up for being named World Electric Vehicle, but it and the Mercedes CLA lost to the German crossover.

More: Ford Won North American Truck Of The Year With A Trim

Speaking of luxury brands, the Lucid Gravity was named World Luxury Car. The electric crossover, which offers up to 450 miles (724 km) of range, bested the Cadillac Vistiq and Volvo ES90.

That brings us to the most controversial award, which is World Performance Car. Here, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N beat the BMW M2 CS and Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray.

While a 641 hp (478 kW / 650 PS) Hyundai is certainly impressive, is it really more of a performance car than a 523 hp (390 kW / 530 PS) coupe that accelerates from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.7 seconds and laps the Nordschleife in 7:25.534? The E-Ray, on the other hand, has all-wheel drive, an EV-only mode, and a combined output of 655 hp (488 kW / 664 PS).

Since you’re probably still stewing over that, we’ll finish up with the two categories little care about. World Urban Car went to the Nio Firefly, which beat out the Hyundai Venue as well as the Baojun Yep Plus / Chevrolet Spark EUV.

There’s also World Car Design of the Year, which was apparently decided by Mr. Magoo. The Mazda 6e / EZ-6 took home the prize as it won over the Kia PV5 and Volvo ES90. None of them are particularly pretty, but the 6e isn’t too shabby and the finalists were chosen by a design panel of people you’ve probably never heard of before.

2026 World Car Awards

When BMW introduced the iX3 last fall, it was launched with a 108.7 kWh battery pack and a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing a combined output of 463 hp (345 kW / 469 PS) and 476 lb-ft (645 Nm) of torque. The company promised further variants would follow including an entry-level model.

The automaker is now delivering on that by introducing the iX3 40. The crossover features a smaller 82.6 kWh battery as well as a rear-mounted motor developing 316 hp (235 kW / 320 PS) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. This enables the entry-level EV to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 5.9 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h).

More: BMW iX3 Ushers In Neue Klasse Era With A Surprising Price Tag

Buyers can expect a WLTP range of up to 395 miles (636 km), which falls well below the iX3 50’s rating of up to 500 miles (805 km). On the bright side, a 300 kW DC fast charger can provide up to 186 miles (299 km) of range in as little as 10 minutes. The model also has a bidirectional charging capability and can go from a 10-80% charge in as few as 21 minutes.

The iX3 40 will arrive in the United Kingdom this summer, where pricing starts at £53,250 (approximately $70,450 at current exchange rates). That’s £5,505 (around $7,280) less than the iX3 50, which represents a considerable savings.

The automaker was coy on equipment details, but said “as with its exterior and interior design, standard specification for the new iX3 40 is identical to that of the iX3 50 xDrive.” However, that might not be the same for all markets and we wouldn’t be surprised if some regions got smaller wheels or other minor changes.

iX3 50 pictured

BMW is kicking off its Neue Klasse rollout in China with a version built specifically for the market, and the new iX3 LWB makes that clear from the outset. This all-electric SUV stretches its wheelbase to free up more rear-seat space, while also packing in tech and safety systems tuned to local expectations.

More: BMW’s Most Traditional Sedan Becomes Its Most Futuristic Yet With New i3

While the official debut of the BMW iX3 LWB is scheduled for the 2026 Beijing Auto Show in April, the company has already shared photos on its social media accounts, following the camouflaged prototypes they showed us last January.

Different Handles For Different Rules

On the surface, the iX3 LWB closely mirrors the standard model, but the details start to separate it. The rear doors are slightly stretched, a result of the longer wheelbase, and the door handles now use a semi-enclosed design. That change is not just aesthetic, it aligns with Chinese regulations that restrict electronically controlled handles. It may also mark one of the first instances of a Western manufacturer developing two distinct door-handle solutions to comply with differing regional rules.

There are a couple of other small but telling tweaks. A new camera sensor sits on the roof spoiler, and the tailgate carries Chinese lettering, reinforcing that this version is very much market-specific.

The headline change is the extra 108 mm (4.25 inches) added to the wheelbase, bringing it to 3,005 mm (118.3 inches). That is actually 30 mm longer than the ICE-powered X3 LWB and puts it right in line with the current X5’s footprint between the axles.

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Assuming the overhangs stay the same, overall length should land around 4,890 mm (192.5 inches). That places it slightly ahead of the X3 LWB, yet still just shy of an X5, which is an interesting bit of positioning.

Localized Software

Inside, BMW has yet to show the cabin, though expectations are that it will largely carry over from the standard iX3. The bigger story is software. The new BMW Operating System X is expected to integrate Huawei HarmonyOS Next, along with AI models from Alibaba and DeepSeek, plus navigation from Amap with 3D mapping.

BMW is also rolling out a “China-exclusive all-scenario driver assistance system” developed in collaboration with Momenta. This promises to be “deeply customized for Chinese users” providing sophisticated ADAS for China’s “complex urban environments, highways, and long-distance travel”.

Finally, BMW engineers have tweaked the chassis, electronics, and suspension of the Neue Klasse architecture for the Chinese market, targeting “an elegant balance of comfort and stability in diverse driving scenarios.”

Same Power, Big Numbers

As for the powertrain, the iX3 50L xDrive mirrors its standard iX3 counterpart. It runs a dual-motor setup producing a combined 463 hp (345 kW / 469 PS) and 645 Nm (476 lb-ft) of torque, paired with a 108.7 kWh battery pack. That battery is rated for more than 900 km (559 miles) of range on the CLTC cycle and supports DC fast charging at up to 400 kW.

Built In China, For China

This version of the iX3 will be exclusive to China, built locally through the BMW Brilliance partnership at its Shenyang plant. Pricing remains under wraps for now, though that will come into focus closer to launch.

More: BMW Focuses On SUVs And Sedans, But China Might Want This Instead

Josef Borrell, CEO of BMW Brilliance, framed it as more than just another variant, positioning the long-wheelbase iX3 as a key step in blending BMW’s global tech with locally developed innovation.

“The new generation BMW iX3 long wheelbase represents a significant milestone for us in integrating innovation, driving pleasure, and digital intelligence for the Chinese market,” he said. “The new generation of technologies driven by our Chinese R&D team is gradually becoming an important part of BMW’s global technology landscape and brand DNA.”

It’s been just six months since BMW unveiled the second-generation iX3, and the electric SUV is already gathering significant momentum. The early response suggests the company’s new wave of EVs may be off to a strong start. Indeed, the German brand has already announced a second shift at the Debrecen plant where it’s manufactured.

During its most recent earnings report, BMW chief executive Oliver Zipse noted that production of the iX3 has been ramping up at the plant in Hungary and that European deliveries have just started. He revealed that “order books for the iX3 are full and reach well into this year,” noting it’s proving to be popular among private and fleet customers.

Read: BMW iX3 Starts Thousands Below Polestar And Audi Rivals Down Under

Zipse went on to reveal that more than 50,000 orders have been placed for the new iX3, a very impressive figure for what is the first in a new generation of EVs from BMW. At full capacity, the plant in Debrecen will be able to build up to 150,000 vehicles annually.

There’s More To Come

Making the demand for the iX3 particularly impressive is the fact that only a single version has been released at this stage. This model, badged the iX3 50 xDrive, has a sizeable 108 kWh battery and a pair of electric motors combining to produce 463 hp and 476 lb-ft (645 Nm) of torque. It has a class-leading driving range of up to 500 miles (805 km) and supports charging speeds of up to 400 kW.

By the time the new iX3 range has matured, the 50 xDrive is expected to be positioned in the middle of the family. Sitting below it will be 40 and 40 xDrive versions, both of which are expected to use a smaller battery pack, while also costing quite a bit less.

Sitting towards the top of the range should be an M60 model, potentially delivering upwards of 600 hp from its upgraded motors. As reported by BMW Blog, this model could then be joined by a fully-fledged M variant in late 2027, rated at more than 800 hp.

Production of the iX3 will also spread. BMW is also expected to produce it in China and in Mexico, which should give it enough capacity to meet global demand for the EV.

The second-generation iX3 is one of BMW’s most important new models in recent memory. It introduces an all-new design language and becomes the first EV to feature the brand’s sixth-generation batteries and electric motors. Still, like any new car, much of its success will ultimately depend on the price tag.

In the United States, we know it’ll start at around $60,000, but final details have yet to be announced. In Australia, however, pricing has now been locked in. The dual-motor iX3 50 xDrive will start at AU$109,900 ($77,600), which makes BMW’s latest EV look surprisingly competitive.

Read: BMW iX3 Has A 360 Camera, But You’ll Pay Monthly To Use It

It undercuts several key rivals, including the Polestar 3 (AU$116,700 / US$82,500), Audi Q6 e-tron quattro (AU$122,500 / US$86,600), Genesis Electrified GV70 (AU$132,800 / US$93,900), and Porsche Macan 4 (AU$134,400 / US$95,000). It is also just AU$5,000 ($3,500) more expensive than the previous-generation iX3 was in flagship form, back when it used a single electric motor.

The base price, however, is up AU$18,900 ($13,300) compared with the previous base iX3, which admittedly had a smaller battery pack, produced just 281 hp (210 kW) from its rear-mounted motor, and offered a quoted range of 286 miles (460 km).

By comparison, the new iX3 50 is available only with a pair of electric motors delivering 463 hp (345 kW) and 476 lb-ft (645 Nm) of torque. It also features a much larger 108 kWh battery pack that supports DC charging speeds of up to 400 kW and offers a range of up to 500 miles (805 km) on a single charge. The dash to 62 mph (100 km/h) also comes in just 4.9 seconds.

Options Can Quickly Add Up

While the new model’s starting price is very competitive compared to European rivals, it will rise significantly once shoppers start ticking off a few options. For example, any color other than the standard Alpine White paint is a AU$2,000 ($1,400) option, or AU$6,000 ($4,200) for the Frozen Space Silver.

Wheel upgrades add further to the tally. The 21-inch wheels cost AU$2,500 ($1,700), 22-inch aerodynamic wheels add AU$5,300 ($3,700), and 22-inch M light-alloy wheels come in at AU$7,700 ($5,400). Buyers can also add an AU$3,500 ($2,500) M Sport Package Pro, AU$4,000 ($2,800) Black Bicolor or Adelaide Grey Bicolor interior finishes, and even a white leather steering wheel priced at AU$300 ($212).