Renault has teased its fourth-generation Twingo ahead of next month’s launch.
The sub-Clio-sized hatch is going electric and should cost under £17k/€20k.
Design is inspired by the 1990s Twingo and was previewed by 2024 concept.
Renault is primed to deliver its third mashup of electric power and feelgood retro design. The all-new, fourth-generation Twingo E-Tech makes its debut on November 6, less than a month from now.
The sub £17k/€20k hatch is a size down from the Clio and 5 E-Tech, and a direct rival for the production version of Volkswagen’s ID. Every1 concept, which could be called ID. Lupo. But the VW isn’t due to launch until 2027, meaning Renault, as well as BYD with its new Dolphin Surf, have a big headstart.
And that might not be the Twingo’s only advantage. While the ID. Every1 looked stylish, grown-up and modern, we can imagine plenty of buyers – particularly the younger ones Renault is targeting – falling for the cute frog-like face of the French model.
As with the 5 EV, the rebooted model takes design inspiration from a decades-old Renault, in this case the 1990s first-generation Twingo. So it’s bound to invoke some nostalgic feelings, among those who remember the original, but it won’t matter if you don’t – the UK never got the gen-one, for instance.
Judging by these fresh teaser shots and last year’s concept, which the production car should mostly replicate, the 2026 Twingo is a great-looking bit of design in its own right.
Renault
Modern LED technology creates a friendly, cartoon-like face, with the same wide-eye signature being repeated at the back. The laid-back windshield once again stretches out towards the nose, compressing the size of the hood, but unlike the two-door original Twingo, this one will be strictly a four-door affair.
We’re still waiting to see the interior, but there’s every reason to believe it will feature a 10.1in infotainment touchscreen and a 7.0in digital instrument cluster, as shown in the concept.
Renault’s base 5 E-Tech makes 94 hp (95 PS / 70 kW) and gives a 194-mile (312 km) range from a 40 kWh battery, but don’t be surprised if the Twingo specs are cut down to help make its sub-€20,000 price a reality.
The group’s newly revised Dacia Spring, for example, is fitted with a 24.3 kWh LFP battery and offers 140 miles (225 km) of range. In any case, we’ll find out the full details on November 6.
We’ve included images below of the 2024 Twingo concept and spy shots of the production car prototype.
X7 gets a major redesign inspired by the iX3’s Neue Klasse styling.
Panoramic Vision tech adds a massive pillar-to-pillar digital display.
Gasoline and diesel engines stay, joined by the first all-electric iX7.
BMW’s largest crossover is set for its biggest makeover yet, bringing a heavy redesign that leans into the Neue Klasse school of design. Codenamed G67, the next X7 is also set to spawn an all-electric iX7 variant for the very first time.
Our spies behind the lens have snapped the new X7 testing out in the wild, but that hasn’t stopped us from decoding the camouflage to give you a sneak peek as to what Bavaria’s next luxury SUV will look like. Read on as we break down everything we’ve uncovered so far.
Controversially, the X7 retains its split-headlamp array, with the DRLs mounted high up against the hood line, whilst the main beams are repositioned into squarer units lower down. The redesigned twin kidneys remain equally as bold as before, but now feature lighting elements in place of chrome and the lower intake is more rectangular in shape.
Where the Neue Klasse aesthetic really takes hold is in the side profile, where the front and rear fenders, along with the smooth, flush surfacing, draw clear parallels to the recently revealed iX3.
Baldauf
Conventional door handles are gone, replaced by subtle ‘winglets’ that rise from the beltline in a style reminiscent of the Mustang Mach-E. The rear quarter glass is a pinch larger and has more of that traditional ‘Hofmeister kink’ than other recent BMWs.
The rear will retain the split tailgate, and the taillights will be slimmer LED units. M-performance variants will sport quad tailpipes, while the all-electric iX7 will have a different lower valance to reflect its petroleum-free powertrain.
Panoramic Vision
Inside, BMW will introduce its Panoramic iDrive infotainment system in the new X7: a pillar-to-pillar display at the base of the windshield with customizable sections for both core driver information and passenger entertainment.
This is accompanied by a 3D Head-Up Display and a large central touch display for key infotainment functions, though traditionalists ergonomics advocates alike may lament the removal of the physical iDrive rotary controller.
Other interior touches will likely follow the new iX3 in terms of cleaner surfacing and reduced clutter, but will use more glass inlays, atmospheric ambient lighting, and premium materials.
Improved driver assistance features include hands-off capabilities for motorway driving and City Assist with traffic light detection, which allows the car to stop and then resume movement automatically.
Platform and Powertrains
Underneath it all, the X7 will continue to use a heavily updated version of BMW’s CLAR architecture (Cluster Architecture). Expect adaptive air suspension with adaptive dampers, possibly including rear-axle steering and active anti-roll control.
Alongside petrol and diesel engines, there will be an electric iX7 variant for the first time. Using the iX3 as a guide, we can expect a dual-motor version pumping out 463 hp (345 kW).
SHProshots
If that’s not enough, a thumping 800-horsepower M70 is on the roster, alongside an even more powerful Alpina option. As our own Chris Chilton reports, the system will use an 800-volt architecture with a 110 kWh cylindrical-cell battery pack.
Expect the B58 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology to continue, alongside the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 derived from the S68. The 40d xDrive inline-six diesel will also return for markets where oil-burners remain popular.
An official reveal is scheduled for sometime between late 2026 and early 2027, with production set to commence shortly thereafter. Both the X7 and the iX7 will be produced at BMW’s Spartanburg assembly plant in South Carolina.
What do you think of the X7’s Neue Klasse-inspired look? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
BMW is expected to unveil a new generation of the 3-Series sedan in 2026.
The Neue Klasse sedan will be available in ICE (3-Series) and EV (i3) derivatives.
Despite riding on different underpinnings, the models will look very similar.
Update: A lot has happened since we last looked at the future G50 3 Series. Thanks to new renderings, fresh intel, and the latest spy shots, we now have the clearest picture yet of how Munich’s defining sports sedan is set to evolve in its next generation.
Sedans may no longer dominate sales charts in an SUV-driven world, but the3-Series still has plenty of road left ahead of it. This compact executive four-door has been a pillar of BMW’s lineup for fifty years, valued as much for its reputation as for the way it drives.
The next chapter begins in 2026, when a new generation arrives in two distinct forms: the all-electric i3, codenamed NA0, and the traditional internal-combustion 3 Series, codenamed G50. If that sounds familiar, it’s because BMW’s been work-shopping this approach with their bigger sedans, the i5/5-Series and i7/7-Series.
The 3 Series and its EV sibling are now set to follow the same playbook, giving customers a choice between conventional gasoline power and fully electric performance.
Spied And Rendered
Illustrations Kelsonik / Kolesa
Recent spy shots of prototypes have revealed both gas-powered and fully electric versions of the next-gen 3-Series. While both share the “Neue Klasse” design language, the differences in proportions are telling.
The ICE testers feature a slightly longer hood, a sharper dash-to-axle ratio, and a more upright windshield. These elements combined make it look less like a complete EV-inspired redesign and more like an extensively reworked version of the current G20-generation BMW 3-Series.
These sightings have inspired digital artists Theottle and Kelsonic from Kolesa to create their own renderings of the next 3 Series, each offering an early glimpse of how the sedan’s styling might evolve.
BMW’s signature shark-nose design returns with a sharper, more athletic edge, framed by a fresh take on the kidney grilles. Slimmer and wider than on today’s models, the grilles now stretch across the front and now double as housing for sensors and tech that support advanced driver-assistance features. A deeper front bumper and lightly flared fenders complete the look, adding some muscle without drifting into excess.
Flush door handles bring the styling in line with BMW’s latest clean-surfaced aesthetic, while the greenhouse and Hofmeister kink stay intact.
The next generation of the BMW 3-Series sedan (Photos: SHProshots)
The BMW i3 Neue Klasse sedan.
Out back, heavy camouflage forces a little guesswork. Theottle’s rendering draws from the 2023 Vision Neue Klasse concept, with a full-width light bar and crisp LED signatures, while Kelsonic’s interpretation borrows slimmer light units reminiscent of the production iX3. Lower down, both envision sportier bumpers inspired by BMW’s M division, in line with prototypes wearing large alloys, upgraded brakes, and quad tailpipes.
Tech Blueprint From The iX3
While we have yet to get a glimpse of the 3-Series prototype’s interior during development testing, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect, largely thanks to the new iX3 that serves as the blueprint for BMW’s next generation of models.
At the center is the new Panoramic iDrive system that replaces the traditional instrument cluster with a wide digital display stretching across the full width of the dashboard. It places essentials like speed and electric range directly in the driver’s line of sight while allowing the rest of the information to be tailored to both driver and passenger. The screen itself is divided into three flexible sections, each configurable to suit individual preferences.
BMW will also offer an optional head-up display with animated guidance that counts down to the next turn. The setup is joined by a large, asymmetrically shaped infotainment touchscreen on the center console and a handful of physical switches for everyday functions.
Two Platforms, Two Paths
Unlike the i5/5-Series and i7/7-Series, where BMW paired EVs and ICE models on the same platform, the i3 and 3-Series are believed to head down different paths.
The all-electric i3 sedan will ride on the Neue Klasse architecture, shared with the upcoming iX3 SUV, while the combustion-powered 3-Series will reportedly stick to the CLAR platform, which also underpins the forthcoming G45 X3. This would explain the differences in proportions and styling details we see in the i3 and ICE 3-Series prototypes here.
Based on what we’ve seen with the mechanically related X3, the next-gen 3-Series will likely offer mild-hybrid upgrades of BMW’s proven 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 3.0-liter inline-six, with the latter forming the heart of the next M350. Both should see gains in efficiency and power over today’s units.
Interestingly, even the mighty M3 isn’t immune to electrification. However, as BMW officials told us in a recent trip, the next M3 will forego the heavy plug-in hybrid setup of the M5, instead opting for a lighter mild-hybrid system. This should provide outputs in excess of the current ratings of 473 hp, 503 hp, and 523 hp, depending on whether you’re looking at the standard car, the Competition, or the Competition xDrive, not to mention the inevitable special editions.
Meanwhile, for those following BMW’s EV push, a quad-motor all-electric counterpart to the M3, possibly called the iM3, is already under development. With over 700 horsepower and near instant torque, it promises tire-melting lunacy for the brave few. And there may be more to come, as BMW has hinted the setup could be pushed past 1,300 horsepower, though whether that kind of excess ever makes it to production in some form of a special edition is another story.
The downside is weight, and plenty of it, as spy shots suggest the electric M3 could be at least 465 kg (1,025 lbs) heavier than today’s car. Hardly surprising, then, if carbon-ceramic brakes show up on the options list, just as they do on the current M3 and M4.
When Will They Arrive?
The current G20-generation BMW 3-Series first graced the stage in 2018, with minor facelifts arriving in 2022 and 2024. BMW has already confirmed the electric i3 for next year, and while it hasn’t given a timeline for the ICE 3 Series, it will most likely be introduced in 2026 as a 2027 model year, with the actual market launch possibly slipping into 2027.
Prototype previews a budget-friendly fastback crossover for Panda buyers.
It rides on Stellantis Smart Car underpinnings with ICE, hybrid, and EV choices.
The production version resembles the Citroen Basalt sold overseas markets.
A new chapter in Fiat’s Panda lineup is beginning to take shape, with fresh variants now undergoing tests on European roads. Among them is a budget-friendly fastback crossover that aims to combine everyday practicality with a more distinctive silhouette, set to be offered with gasoline, mild-hybrid, and fully electric powertrains.
The fastback first appeared in concept form in early 2024, shown alongside a hatchback that evolved into the Grande Panda, plus an SUV, pickup, and camper study. The prototype caught in camouflage testing looks toned down compared to the concept, trading some of its flair for more traditional proportions and a simplified glasshouse.
Up front, the resemblance to the Grande Panda is clear, with boxy LED headlights featuring pixel-style graphics, a closed-off grille, and a single intake low on the bumper. From the side, the longer wheelbase and large-diameter alloys give it a stretched stance. The shape of the windows hints strongly at Citroen design influences, something that makes sense once you look at its family connections.
At the rear, heavy camouflage hides much of the fastback curve, but you can still spot slim taillight elements mounted high and the license plate positioned on the bumper. A discreet exhaust tip tucked beneath the car suggests this particular prototype is running a combustion engine.
The original concept (above) compared to the production version (below).
SH Proshots
An Italian With A French Sibling
Despite its silhouette, the car isn’t related to the the Fiat Fastback that is available in South America since 2022. Instead, it shares DNA with another Stellantis product, the Citroen Basalt, which launched in 2024 for markets including India, Brazil, Argentina, and Indonesia. That model is mechanically linked to the C3 hatchback and C3 Aircross SUV, though it wears a more coupe-like shape.
Fiat’s newcomer will sit on Stellantis’ Smart Car platform, the same underpinnings found in the Grande Panda, the European-market Citroen C3 and C3 Aircross, and the Opel Frontera.
Engine choices are expected to include the 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder in both standard petrol and mild-hybrid configurations, alongside a full EV variant. While the default setup is front-wheel drive, there’s a chance an all-wheel-drive version could follow, echoing the planned Grande Panda 4×4.
Fiat has confirmed that the full Panda family will roll out by 2027, with the fastback likely to be the first of the new additions to reach showrooms. An official unveiling is expected within the next few months.
Tesla’s Model Y Standard is said to drop luxury touches for only $5K off the price.
Cut features reportedly include glass roof, second-row screen, and HEPA air filter.
Redesigned fascia loses full-width LED light bar and gets a simple looking bumper.
Update II: Tesla has posted a teaser on its X channel hinting at a new reveal later this week, on October 7. The company shared two brief clips, one that appears to show a spinning wheel cover, and another featuring the front end of a new model with distinct, separated headlamps. Both the timing and, more importantly, the shape of those headlights strongly suggest it’s the budget version of the Model Y seen here.
Some have speculated that the teaser could point to the long-delayed Roadster, though that appears unlikely. The Roadster prototypes previously shown by Tesla featured different alloy wheels without covers, along with a lighting signature that doesn’t match what’s visible in this teaser.
Update I: Well, that didn’t take long. Just hours after the leaked option codes surfaced, a prototype of what looks to be the most stripped-down version of the Model Y was spotted undisguised by X user Ryan Marble near Tesla’s Gigafactory in Texas.
The new photos confirm the removal of the front light bar, along with a more basic front bumper that no longer features the aero cut-outs. No doubt some diehard fans will hail it as “cleaner,” though others may just call it cheaper looking. At the back, the center light bar is gone as well, as is the spaced-out “T E S L A” badging, giving the rear fascia a plainer, less futuristic feel.
It’s still unclear from these shots whether the rumored change to the roof has gone ahead, swapping the panoramic glass panel for a solid black section. The wheels, meanwhile, seem to have shrunk to 18 inches rather than the 19-inch sets fitted to the current RWD and AWD variants. (by John Halas)
What could be our first look at Tesla’s long-rumored entry-level Model Y has surfaced online, sparking plenty of debate about whether it’s the real deal. If it is, then the newcomer appears to take a seriously pared-back approach compared to the Model Y we know today, stripped of many features that define its higher-priced counterparts.
The open question is whether such a cut-down version would help Tesla boost sales across the US and other key markets, or if it risks being seen as too compromised to win over buyers. Of course, much of the answer will hinge on pricing, especially compared with the current base Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive, which starts at $44,490 in the States now that the $7,500 tax credit has disappeared.
Simpler Looks
The image comes from TheTeslaNewswire on X, which claims the shot briefly appeared on Tesla’s website before disappearing. In the photo, the the new base Model Y ditches the full-width LED light bar fitted to current crossover and instead wears a pair of narrow headlights that resemble those on the refreshed Model 3. The front bumper has been pared back too, losing its usual air curtains and settling for a plainer black grille along the lower edge.
This entry version, apparently set to carry the Model Y Standard badge, rides on 18-inch wheels with black plastic aero covers. The effect is about as minimal as Tesla has ever gone on its mainstream models.
A No-Frills Cabin
Several changes are also being reported, although official images have yet to appear. The same account that dug through the website’s source code suggests the panoramic glass roof, standard on all current Tesla passenger models, will be dropped in favor of a solid roof, with textile trim pieces added in its place.
A manually adjustable steering wheel will also be part of the package. In the back, the second-row touchscreen has been dropped, replaced with manual air vents. Tesla has removed the HEPA filter as well, a change that lines up with reports from a well-known hacker who mentioned similar cuts last month.
Extract 1:
Model Y Standard","Bring Everyone and Everything","Unparalleled Efficiency","Have More Fun","Virtually Low Maintenance","Built for Safety"],"card_description":[" ","For anybody and every drive.","Load up your friends and family with seating up to five and bring all…
An extract from Tesla’s website describing the new model was also shared on X by the same account. it says Tesla describes the model as providing “unparalleled efficiency” and having “virtually low maintenance,” which we suspect should say ‘virtually no maintenance.’ Tesla also notes that it doesn’t require “oil changes, tunes ups or smoke checks,” and that all owners will need to do is “refill the washer fluid and rotate your tires.”
When Cheap Isn’t That Cheap
Then there’s the all-important price. Apparently, the Model Y Standard will start at a claimed $39,990 in the United States. That’s only $5,000 less than the current base Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive, which doesn’t sound like a good deal, particularly given all the features the Standard version is lacking. Even more so if you consider that just days ago, before the federal EV tax credit was scrapped, buyers could pick up the Long Range RWD for as little as $37,490.
🔥🔥 More affordable Tesla Model Y Standard leaked on the website!
✅ Called Model Y Standard ✅ $39,990 starting price ✅ Redesigned front fascia ✅ Single-part headlights ✅ Front bumper camera ✅ No front light bar ✅ No glass roof (“closed glass roof”) ✅ New 18” Aperture… pic.twitter.com/eGm4QnMxJm
Audi’s smallest ever EV has been spied testing ahead of 2027 debut.
The new SUV slots below the Q4-etron and could be named Q2 or A2.
It rides on the same MEB+ platform as the VW ID. Polo and ID. Cross.
We’ve heard a lot about VW’s next generation of ID. electric models and their new MEB+ platform. But today we get our first look at what sister company Audi plans to do with the same DNA to create its dinkiest ever EV .
This little monobox electric SUV is designed to slot below the existing ID.4-sized Q4 e-tron in Audi’s lineup starting in 2027, and it would seem logical for it to get the Q2 e-tron name. But some people have suggested it could be called A2, and we can certainly see some similarity between the classic aluminium-bodied A2 subcompact of the early 2000s and this prototype in the profile view.
But the Q2/A2 looks wider, lower, and sportier than the old A2 with a more aggressive windshield rake and roofline that plunges even harder after the C-pillars.
We can also see that the pint-sized EV has a split-headlight treatment and the same style of door handles we’ve seen on prototypes of the upcoming Q7, which look very much like the ones on the front doors of a Ford Mustang Mach-E. And also, strangely, like the little chest-height cigarette shelves you used to get above public urinals in the 1980s, though I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the inspiration here.
There seems to be more A2-inspired detailing at the back though, where a high-level spoiler appears to bisect the rear window. But this being 2025 and not 2000, we also get a transverse LED light bar instead of a stack of vertically-arranged lights in each corner.
Not visible, but almost certainly present beneath the “brake test” sticker on the prototype, is an illuminated four-ring Audi badge.
While the bigger Q4 e-tron uses the older MEB platform shared with cars like the ID.4 and ID. Buzz, the Q2/A2 adopts the newer MEB+ architecture. It places a single motor at the front, driving the front wheels (single-motor MEB cars are rear-mounted, RWD) and, based on what we know of MEB+ VW models like the ID. Polo, could deliver around 280 miles (450 km) of range and 223 hp (226 PS / 166 kW) for sub-7-second zero to 62 mph (100 kmh) sprints.
Land Rover’s baby EV, dubbed the Defender Sport, has been spied testing again.
The boxy SUV rides on the same EMA platform as the upcoming Evoque EV.
JLR could re-engineer the platform to take advantage of strong hybrid demand.
JLR’s masterful reinvention of the Defender proved the doubters wrong and added millions to the automakers’ balance sheet. Now it’s hoping that a baby version powered purely by batteries due in 2027 will enjoy the same success, but it might need some major surgery to fully realize its potential.
The bonsai EV, which will effectively replace the ancient Discovery Sport and could be called the Defender Sport, was spied testing again this week. While the final name might be unclear at this point, what’s under the skin isn’t. The baby SUV’s blanked grille and lack of exhaust pipes tell us its an EV and confirm it’s running on the same EMA electric architecture that will also underpin the upcoming Range Rover Evoque EV.
It’ll be thoroughly modern platform with 800-volt charging and JLR has invested huge sums to make it happen, including a £500 million ($668 million) refit of its Halewood plant in north west England and the construction of a brand new battery site in the south west.
But with electric sales having failed to take off as expected in key markets like the US, is JLR really prepared to leave sales on the table by failing to offer customers the combustion powertrains many of them still want in their new cars? Could the company change its plans and adapt the EV-only EMA platform to also accept hybrid power?
It wouldn’t be the first automaker to do it. Fiat responded to weak sales of its electric 500e by slotting a 1.0-liter mild-hybrid petrol engine from the discontinued combustion 500 in the nose, and Porsche recently confirmed it would add ICE power hero models to the top of the new 718 EV lineup, and has scrapped plans to make its super-SUV an EV. The pricey utility will now get straight combustion and hybrid engines instead, and Porsche is also building a new ICE Macan to sell alongside the new Macan Electric.
JLR hasn’t made any specific comments about that kind of rethink regarding the EMA platform, but it did announce last year that it, like many other automakers, was taking a more measured pace when it came to electrification than it had planned.
“What you have seen from other OEMs is that the race to BEV is starting to stutter a little,” then-CEO Adrian Mardell said at the time. “PHEV acceptance has been quite a surprise. We are working hard in the interim time to make more PHEVs available to the marketplace.”
Senior BMW executive told journalists combustion engines will never disappear.
Jochen Goller’s comments were later toned down by BMW’s press team.
BMW claims Goller referred to differing speeds at which markets develop.
We now know that combustion engines won’t completely disappear from automakers’ European lineups in 2035, as some previously feared, because some hybrids will live on. But according to one senior BMW suit, ICE hasn’t just been given a 10-year reprieve. It’s immortal.
“ICE and combustion engines will never disappear. Never!” So said Jochen Goller, BMW’s head of customer, brand and sales in a recent roundtable interview at the Munich Motor Show. This is the same show, remember, where BMW unveiled the electric iX3, the first of the Neue Klasse vehicles that will guide the brand forward for the next decade or more.
How Serious Was He?
Was Goller serious? He obviously didn’t mean that gasoline power will be around when cars can fly, but humans don’t need them because they’ve mastered teleportation (BMW’s pod will naturally deliver ultimate teleportation pleasure) and half of us are living on Mars. No one with half a brain believes that. But was he suggesting that combustion engines will still be around 40, 50, or 60 years from now?
BMW’s press team was quick to temper any excitement over Goller’s Braveheart-like pro-petrol stance. According to AMS magazine, a BMW spokesperson explained that the comments were made in a “humorous context. They added that the sales chief was trying to highlight that the take-up of new drive technology varies dramatically between different countries and regions.
Unfortunately for those of us in Europe and the US, that take-up is happening more quickly than in some other markets, even if in some cases it’s not happening as fast as automakers like BMW once hoped. Electric cars now account for a fifth of all new car sales in Europe, and though their share in the US is smaller, mass acceptance in America (and maybe regulatory change ensuring it) is still going to happen sooner than in India or some remote part of Africa or Asia.
The good news for us Westerners not keen on moving to Chad just so we can avoid buying an EV from our BMW dealer is that BMW seems committed to a multi-energy strategy worldwide, at least for a while yet. The company’s older CLAR platform is being updated to ensure combustion and hybrid options, like the new X7 seen in the spy shot below, live on alongside the Neue Klasse EV models.
A Multi-Platform Future
Autocar India, which first reported Goller’s comments, claims BMW will eventually have three platforms: the Neue Klasse for EVs, a new multi-energy version for hybrids (and presumably hydrogen), and a basic platform for entry-level ICE machines.
So will combustion engines never die? Of course they’ll die eventually, but with hybrid help, customer demand, and maybe e-fuels, they’ve got years left in the tank.
Final model won’t debut until 2026, but powertrain reveal is coming soon.
Spy shots reveal a disguised test mule with breadvan-style proportions.
Ferrari’s new EV is expected to be smaller than the current Purosangue.
Update: Our spies have been busy again, catching the new Ferrari EV prototype out in the wild. The camouflage is still working overtime, but these new angles add a little more intrigue to Maranello’s best-kept secret.
October 9 is shaping up to be an important date for Ferrari. That’s when Maranello is expected to preview the electric powertrain and possibly some sketches for its first-ever EV, although the car itself won’t be unveiled until next year. Dubbed the Elettrica in inner circles, the new model is believed to be a crossover of sorts that slots below the Purosangue in terms of size. That detail is still unconfirmed, and Ferrari’s test mules have only deepened the mystery.
So far, prototypes have worn what looks like a Frankenstein blend of a Purosangue and Maserati Levante parts for the shell, making it impossible to pin down the final shape. Now, a new prototype has surfaced. This time, the heavily clad body looks completely different and gives the impression of a breadvan-style silhouette, or at least that’s what it wants us to think beneath all that heavy camouflage.
Breadvan is the name often given to the one-off Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB. Built to race at Le Mans, it featured a very unconventional body with a roofline that carried all the way to the very end of the car. The French press of the day called it the “La Camionnette” (little van), and English-speaking journalists translated it as the Bread Van.
Photo Credit: Andrea Canuri for Stephen Hancock
It’s not hard to see the resemblance in the spy shots. Just like that 250 GT SWB, this electric prototype shows a roof that runs flat to the rear bumper and a squared-off rear window with rounded corners. Before anyone gets too carried away, though, a closer look at the images reveals the trickery of the disguise, exposing an angled rear window hiding beneath the cladding.
This is the first time we’ve seen a Ferrari prototype with this particular shape and stance. Every previous sighting of Maranello’s upcoming EV has featured far more curvaceous bodywork, though always wrapped in deceiving test mule panels. With the powertrain reveal scheduled for next month, there’s a good chance Ferrari could slip in a teaser of the car itself, finally giving us a glimpse at its true silhouette
Ferrari has certainly taken its sweet time bringing its EV to market. To the brand’s credit, the company said at the time that it would tell us about its first electric vehicle in 2025, and sure enough, we’re less than a month from that. We expect Ferrari to begin customer deliveries around a year from now. Below are some spy shots we brought you back in May of another Ferrari EV test mule.
Interestingly, while Ferrari has only confirmed development of a single EV, Reuters recently reported that this first model, said to be co-designed by former Apple design chief Jony Ive, is more of a statement piece than a volume seller. Positioned as a “symbolic milestone,” it is expected to cost over $500,000, be produced in very limited numbers, and come in a format larger than the typical Ferrari without straying into SUV territory.
That same report suggests a second EV program, originally projected at 5,000 to 6,000 units over five years, has been delayed to 2028. If true, it suggests Maranello may be hedging its bets, slowing its EV rollout to test the waters of demand while also sending a message to investors that the company isn’t rushing headlong into a market shift that could unsettle long-term returns.
An older Ferrari test mule captured by our spy photographers earlier this year.
We’ve got the first spy shots of the Urban SUV Bentley will sell from 2027.
The sub-Bentayga-sized EV is based on VW Group’s PPE platform.
Expect commonality with the Porsche Cayenne Electric and 800 hp+.
Bentley last year opted to dial back its goal to become an all-electric brand by 2030, delaying the switchover by several years. But its first EV is scheduled to debut next year, and these spy shots are the first images of a prototype out in the wild.
Dubbed the Urban SUV, the posh electric utility is smaller than Bentley’s existing combustion Bentayga and rides on entirely different architecture. While the Benytayga shares its MLB platform with Porsche’s petrol-powered Cayenne, the Urban SUV uses the VW Group PPE platform found under the new Cayenne Electric that’s due to debut in the coming months.
What Does It Look Like?
Slotting under Bentayga in Bentley’s growing line-up, the Urban SUV should be similar in size to the Cayenne Electric at just under 5 meters (196.9 inches) long. For context, the Bentayga measures 5,125 mm (201.8 inches), while the Extended Wheelbase version stretches to 5,305 mm (208.9 inches).
As we can see from these pics of the prototype, it’ll look very different from the Cayenne EV. It has a squared nose, flat hood, and flared rear fenders, much like other Bentleys, but it might be best not to put too much store into the quad headlight setup and oval-shaped taillights.
Why? Because this summer Bentley revealed its EXP15 concept to showcase its radical future design direction, and it’s very possible some of the design details from that fastback SUV, like the vertical headlights, huge square grille, and hairpin-shaped taillights, could make an appearance on the Urban SUV in some form.
Though this prototype’s roofline isn’t quite as coupe-like as the EXP15’s, it has a much more pronounced slope after the B-pillar than the Bentayga does, giving it a sportier vibe. The rear doors are also clearly shorter than the Bentayga’s.
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Power and Performance
Under the skin, there’s sure to be some crossover with sister company Porsche’s Cayenne Electric. Though we’re still waiting to get full details on that, reports suggest the Porsche will come with three powertrain options delivering 394 hp (400 PS / 294 kW) for the base Cayenne, 592 hp (600 PS / 441 kW) in S trim, and 794 hp (805 PS / 592 kW) as a Turbo.
Given Bentley’s position in the VW Group hierarchy it seems logical that the Urban SUV – or whatever it’s called when it arrives – will skip at least the first rung on that electric ladder. But it could get the same circa-108 kWh battery as the Cayenne, should still be good for around 350 miles (563 km) of WLTP range, and will be able to charge at 400 kW.
We’ll get a full look at the Urban SUV in mid-2026, but deliveries won’t start until the second quarter of 2027. Prices are still an unknown quantity, but should come in below the $207k starting price for a Bentayga. While the larger SUV continues as Bentley’s only ICE offering, the Urban SUV will launch solely as an electric model. Check out the EXP15 images below to get an idea of how the Urban SUV might look.
BMW’s first ever iX7 SUV has been spied testing in Germany.
The electric version of the next X7 is expected to debut in 2027.
It’ll get Neue Klasse design cues, but use older CLAR platform.
The 2026 iX3 unveiled at this month’s Munich Motor Show is just the first of several electric models BMW will drop in the next five years. And this biggest of them all is the new iX7, which our spy photo team has snapped on test maneuvers for the first time.
We published scoop images of the regular next-generation X7 a few months back, but that model’s quad exhausts left us in no doubt that we were looking at a combustion version, almost certainly powered by a hybrid-assisted 4.4-liter V8.
No Pipes, No Noise
But the prototype in these fresh images has no tailpipes or large transverse silencer beneath the rear bumper. And our photo guys say it remained near-silent even when the driver gave it a serious bootfull of throttle right in front of them, meaning it wasn’t a PHEV.
BMW has never offered electric iX versions of the X5 and X7 before, but that’s about to change. The iX5 is scheduled to arrive next year, with the iX7 arriving in 2027. Both will adopt the Neue Klasse design language already seen on the iX3 and coming to the all-new electric 3-Series within the next 12 months. But unlike those cars, the X5/iX5 and X7/iX7 will roll on updated versions of the older CLAR architecture found on the current X5 and X7 SUVs.
Shared Looks, Different Power
SH Proshots
Because petrol and electric versions of the G67-code X7 use the same platform, styling differences between the two are unlikely to be significant. And neither will fully embrace the Neue Klasse look by switching to a visor-style front end. Based on what we can see from the spy shots the next X7 retains both a large grille and the two-level lighting setup, reflecting the fact that its customer demographic is older and more conservative than the iX3’s.
But the iX7 will get some of the same clever infotainment and electrical hardware featured on its baby brother. BMW’s clever cylindrical battery cells are around 20 percent more energy-dense than conventional versions, and allow more driving range and – together with 800-volt electrics – shorter charge times. The iX3 is rated at 400 EPA miles (644 km) and it’s possible the iX7 could be equally suitable for long journeys with an even bigger battery measuring well over 110 kWh.
Horsepower with Headroom
The first iX3 to launch is the 50 xDrive, which delivers 463 hp (345 kW / 469 PS) from dual motors, but mid- and top-spec versions of the iX7 will need and get more muscle than that. We wouldn’t be surprised to see an M70 performance trim with over 800 hp (811 PS / 597 kW), while there’s also been talk about the iX7 getting an Alpina version too packing an extra 100 horsepower on top of that.
Porsche confirms the 718 sports cars will now get an ICE range topper.
Boxster and Cayman coming in 2026 were developed purely as EVs.
The combustion models, possibly badged RS, come later in the cycle.
Porsche has made a few goofs in its time, including thinking it could replace the 911 with the 928 and dropping combustion power from the 718 lineup. It wisely U-turned on the first of those decades ago, and it’s just confirmed it has backtracked on the second. The next Boxster and Cayman, originally planned as EVs only, will now get an ICE option, but only a small portion of buyers will be able to access it.
The rethink was confirmed late last week by Porsche on an investor call, where CEO Oliver Blume acknowledged that the EV market was no longer growing fast enough for the company to carry on with the electric-focused product strategy it conceived years earlier.
As a result of the slide, Porsche is refining its plans to incorporate more combustion models, some of which will be “highly emotional” derivatives appearing at the “top” of the 718 lineup.
No major details were released, but a likely explanation is that replacements for the Cayman GT4 and GT4 RS, and 718 Spyder, could carry on with six-cylinder petrol power. The regular 718 cars will stick with the single and dual-motor electric drivetrains Porsche has been developing since it conceived the next-generation sports cars purely as EVs.
Adapting the electric platform to take a combustion engine isn’t the work of a moment, however. The 718 EVs will debut in 2026, but a presentation slide confirmed we’ll have to wait until later in the model cycle to see the combustion halo cars.
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Porsche will obviously pitch them as the enthusiast’s pick, and it sounds like they’ll be the most expensive versions you can buy. The combustion cars might also be quicker around a track – we reported earlier this year that Porsche was struggling to get the new EV prototypes to handle as well as the outgoing ICE cars – but they’ll almost certainly be annihilated in a straight line by one of the dual-motor, all-wheel drive EVs.
Similarly, Porsche also confirmed at the same time that it was backtracking on its electric SUV plans. The Macan will no longer switch to an EV-only lineup and will now get a new ICE/PHEV model range before the end of the decade. And the SUV flagship, codenamed K1, which was also planned as an EV, now won’t get a BEV version at all, and will instead be offered with a choice of combustion and hybrid engines.
BMW quietly featured a mystery sedan on the iX3’s German product page.
Concept looks wider and sportier than the upcoming Neue Klasse i3 sedan.
No confirmation yet if this concept sedan will reach production status.
Is BMW preparing a completely new four-door sedan to expand its Neue Klasse family? The upcoming all-electric i3 sedan is already confirmed to join the lineup, following the second-generation iX3, but BMW’s own website now features something unexpected: a sporty Neue Klasse-inspired model that, unless we’re mistaken, has never appeared before.
This mystery car has been added to the German page for the new iX3 and serves to showcase some of the iX3’s driving assistance systems. The short clips, which are entirely animated, preview features like the radar cruise control, automatic sign recognition, and BMW’s new autonomous lane change function. It also shows how BMW’s Parking Assistant Professional system works, allowing vehicles to be pulled in and out of parking spaces using the BMW app.
The vehicle created to showcase these driving and parking assistance systems carries the Neue Klasse design language, yet it looks noticeably different from the new i3, seen both in repeated concept form and more recently, in camouflaged pre-production guise.
Up front it wears stylized kidney grilles paired with slim LED headlights, while along the sides the smooth surfacing is complemented by flush door handles. At the rear, narrow taillights complete the look, and overall the car appears wider and more substantial than the i3. Another noteworthy detail is the use of production-style exterior mirrors, a feature not typically seen on more far-fetched concept cars.
Digital Stand-In or Hidden Teaser?
These vehicles are typically referred to as computer-generated concepts, although it is a little weird that it went to the trouble of designing a new concept just for this purpose, rather than using the iX3 to showcase these autonomous functions. Then again, it might stem from an earlier development sketch of the upcoming i3, whether from the concepts that preceded it or as part of the design process for the production model.
Perhaps a New i4, or Maybe Nothing at All
Could a vehicle resembling this make it to production? There’s always a chance, especially if BMW is considering a successor to the i4 Gran Coupe, as the proportions and stance suggest it could serve as a sportier counterpart to the i3. On the other hand, the company may have no intention of adding another all-electric sedan to the Neue Klasse range, choosing instead to let this computer-generated design influence smaller styling elements across future models.
We’ve reached out to BMW and will update this story if we hear back. In the meantime, what’s your verdict on this concept? Would you want to see BMW put something like it into production?
Cayenne EV prototypes spotted at the ‘Ring with new rear wing and aero upgrades.
Porsche says the flagship model will deliver at least 1,000 horsepower at launch.
All models will use 113 kWh NMC battery with 400 kW fast-charging capability.
Although Porsche just scaled back some of its electric vehicle ambitions, even reworking its upcoming flagship SUV above the Cayenne from a purely electric project into a gas and hybrid model at launch, its existing EV lineup is still moving forward. Key among them are the Cayenne EV.
The question of how much appetite exists for an all-electric Cayenne remains open, but Porsche has been steadily developing this model with a planned market launch for 2026. Available in both SUV and Coupe forms, the lineup is also expected to feature an ultra high-performance variant with the legendary Turbo badge. Of course, in an EV there are no turbos in sight, but Porsche seems perfectly happy to let marketing trump mechanics.
Winged And Widened
Several prototypes of the electric Cayenne have been snapped testing by our spy photographers in recent months, but these ones nabbed being put through their paces at the Nurburgring are a little different.
The most obvious changes between these testers, and others seen recently, can be found at the rear. Porsche’s engineers have added a fixed rear wing to the decklid, no doubt helping to produce some downforce over the rear wheels. While it isn’t as large as the one found on the Taycan Turbo GT, it does add some extra sportiness to the Cayenne. The rear bumper also features new aerodynamic elements, while the arches appear more aggressively flared.
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There are also some unique elements at the front half. These include vents on the quarter panels and a new bumper, partially hidden by some temporary black parts.
Big Numbers Beneath The Body
Porsche has already confirmed that the electric Cayenne will produce over 1,000 hp. Presumably, that figure will be reserved for the flagship model pictured here, potentially using either the Turbo or Turbo GT badge. All models, including this halo version, are expected to use the same 113 kWh NMC battery pack from LG that supports charging speeds of up to 400 kW.
Not only will the Cayenne EV launch with wireless charging capabilities, but when plugged into a DC fast charging, it’s battery can be topped up from 10-80 percent in just 16 minutes. Porsche is said to be targeting a range of at least 370 miles (595 km).
Carscoops understands that horsepower levels will vary significantly across the range. Entry-level versions will start at approximately 400 hp, while mid-range versions should deliver between 600 hp and 700 horses.
Camouflaged YU7 wears new fender flares, carbon brakes, wider wheels.
It could become the fastest SUV to ever lap the Nürburgring circuit.
Trofeo RS tires hint at just how quick this high-performance SUV could be.
Xiaomi may be a relatively new player in the automotive space, but it’s already proven to be one of the most innovative and popular new car brands in China. Not only have the SU7 sedan and YU7 crossover been selling like hot cakes, but Xiaomi has laid the smackdown on Porsche and Rimac with the SU7 Ultra, and soon, the YU7 will get a high-performance trim of its own.
Expected to be carry the YU7 GT badge, the new model was recently snapped by our spy photographers testing at the Nurburgring. Xiaomi did not bother hiding the crossover under thick body cladding, instead opting for a simple skin-tight white and red camouflage wrap.
At first glance, the changes look subtle. The front fascia seems untouched compared with the standard YU7, but closer inspection reveals flared front and rear fenders that allow for a broader track and larger wheels. The test car rolls on Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires, which have been designed specifically for hypercars and supercars. Clearly, the YU7 GT is going to be fast, and it’s going to be powerful.
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Hiding behind the wheels sit oversized carbon ceramic brakes with bright yellow calipers, a setup that promises the stopping power to match the expected surge in performance.
The Powertrain
The current Xiaomi SU7 Ultra uses three electric motors to deliver a combined 1,526 hp and 1,306 lb-ft (1,770 Nm) of torque, giving it way more power than the 1,019 hp of the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. There’s no word on whether the YU7 GT crossover will have the same extraordinary amount of power as the SU7 Ultra sedan, but it will almost certainly use a similar tri-motor system and punch out more than 1,000 horses.
If that’s the case, then we expect to see the YU7 GT knock off the Audi RS Q8 Performance as the fastest SUV to ever lap the ‘Ring. To do so, it’ll need to post a time of less than 7:36.698. Either way, Xiaomi looks intent on proving it belongs in the fast lane of performance SUVs.
China’s Dreame reveals new render of its Bugatti-like EV ahead of CES debut.
Four-door sedan is due to be shown in concept form at CES in Las Vegas in January.
Sister brand Starry Sky Auto developing Rolls-Royce and Bentley-inspired SUVs.
Chinese vacuum maker Dreame Technology is doubling down on its promise to build an EV that’s the spitting image of a Bugatti Chiron. The company’s car division, Dreame Auto, has just released another image of its creation, and like the handful of renders shown last week, this one also appears to have been generated, at least in part, with the help of AI.
More importantly, company insiders have also shared some technical details, as well as news of a second luxury brand aiming to rival the likes of Bentley and Rolls-Royce.
Spot the Differences
The single new image, still a rendering, rather than a photo of a real vehicle, shows the car that’s apparently (and unashamedly) codenamed “Dreame Bugatti,” with its doors open this time. We already knew it had four doors, but now we can see the rear pair are rear hinged, that all four open upwards like a McLaren’s, and that there’s no B-pillar.
Close comparison of the old and new pictures reveals some detail differences. The new images of the white model show two vents in the hood, one behind each headlight, and the grille is slightly broader and less rounded, looking slightly less Bugatti-like, and more Jaguar-ish. The changes are, however, unlikely to placate Bugatti. The company never replied when we asked it for comment last week, but we doubt it’s thrilled at the news.
Both pure EV and range-extender hybrid versions will be offered when the finished car enters production in 2027 at a site next door to Tesla’s Gigafactory in Berlin, according to Weixin, which cites a company insider it spoke to. But we’ll get our first look at a physical car in January next year when the company brings a pre-production prototype to CES – yes, that CES in Las Vegas.
Second Luxury Brand Modeled After Bentley and Rolls-Royce
The company’s automotive ambitions stretch further than a Bugatti lookalike. The same insider told the Chinese outlet that Dreame Tech is splitting its car operations into two divisions. Dream Auto is focused exclusively on building the Chiron-a-like, which founder Yu Hao hopes will go on to break hypercar speed records. The other division we learned about today, Starry Sky Auto, has been benchmarking cars such as the Rolls Royce Cullinan and various Bentley models in preparation for the development of four vehicles built from the same basic components.
Citing a recent internal communication meeting, the Chinese outlet reports that the company’s founder told his team the Starry Sky Auto premium models will be built on wheelbases of 3.2 meters (126 inches) and 3.3 meters (130 inches) long. He also “put forward the requirements that the former should be larger in length, width, and height than the Li Auto L9 and M9, and the latter should have a domineering and tough appearance, with all dimensions no smaller than those of the Cullinan.”
According to the report, Dreame Auto has ” assembled a cross-industry team covering R&D, manufacturing, and quality control. The team includes core R&D personnel from its original smart hardware business, as well as experts from traditional vehicle manufacturing.”
Budget Meets Ambition
With prices allegedly ranging from $38,000 to $83,000, Starry Sky Auto’s models will certainly not be in Bentley and Rolls Royce territory, and are instead designed to take on EVs from smartphone-maker Xiaomi, whose expansion from electronics giant to automaker Dreame wants to replicate.
Audi’s entry-level electric vehicle has been spied undergoing testing.
The mule is based on the ID.3 GTX and looks rather unremarkable.
Production begins next year and it could ride on the MEB+ platform.
The Concept C stole the spotlight at the Munich Motor Show, but Audi also used the event to highlight an entry-level EV. It’s scheduled to go into production in Ingolstadt next year and slot beneath the Q4 e-tron.
While the company didn’t say much about the new entry-level e-tron model, spy photographers recently caught a mule based on the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to see as the body appears to eschew modifications. In fact, the only changes appear to be sportier wheels and a camouflaged interior.
That leaves us with only hints to work with, but Audi CEO Gernot Döllner has previously described the model as “an electric vehicle in the same class as the A3.” This suggests the car could be called the A3 e-tron, although the A2 e-tron has also been floated as a possible moniker.
There are more questions than answers at this point, but the model will presumably ride on the MEB+ platform, which also underpins the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Polo. The architecture is billed as the “next evolutionary stage” of the electric vehicle platform and is slated to offer two battery capacities as well as four different outputs.
Volkswagen has not shared many specifics yet, but has previously confirmed an ID. Polo GTI with 223 hp (166 kW / 226 PS). We also wouldn’t be surprised to see a variant with 208 hp (155 kW / 211 PS) as was alluded to by the ID. Cross concept.
Shproshots
That being said, the Audi could be significantly larger as the current A3 Sportback measures 171.3 inches (4,352 mm) long. That’s quite a bit bigger than the 160-inch (4,053 mm) ID. Polo and 163.8-inch (4,161 mm) ID. Cross. Of course, it’s also worth noting the ID.3 clocks in at 167.9 inches (4,264 mm).
Details are pretty hazy, but we’ll likely get a better idea of what to expect when fully fledged prototypes start appearing. Given that production is expected to begin next year, this should happen relatively shortly.
Porsche used digital technology to virtually test its new Cayenne Electric.
It eliminated the need to build around 120 traditional early prototypes.
The Cayenne Electric debuts later this year, is based on Macan Electric.
The use of simulations is nothing new in the car industry. Automakers regularly use them to speed up testing and add extra trials that they can’t afford (in time and/or money) to carry out with real cars. But with the upcoming Cayenne Electric, Porsche used computer power to skip an entire process in the traditional car development program.
“This project was the first in which we moved directly from digital whole-vehicle testing to pre-series production,” says Dr. Michael Steiner, Porsche’s deputy chairman and a big cheese on the R&D team.
From Pixels to Prototypes
Instead of moving from the design to the construction phase and then to pre-production prototypes, Porsche managed to skip the construction phase altogether. It says its engineers were sending virtual prototypes on digital test drives as early as the design phase as a result.
Porsche hasn’t put a price on how much money this digital-focused strategy saved, but it must be tons. It claims the virtual testing program eliminated the need to build around 120 actual test vehicles, which are not only expensive, but time consuming to produce. As a result, development time was cut by 20 percent.
The virtual test drives included, of course, laps of the Nurburgring, but also took in everyday traffic situations to simulate real world use. Because components like tires, dampers and bushes can be modified in the computer program, it’s relatively quick and simple to work out which spec works best. And each of the approved virtual components is then tested in the real world to provide validation.
Testing Without Drivers
Not all of the simulations require a human to be behind the wheel Gran Turismo-style. Many are run by the computers alone. Porsche developed a brand new test bench to put the motors, battery management and charging systems through their paces under realistic conditions.
“The machines are so sophisticated that we can even display different asphalt surfaces or tyre slip,” says engineer Marcus Junige, who says one clear goal was that the Cayenne’s powertrain always deliver full power when the driver calls for it, something that demands seriously good thermal management.
Humans Still Required
Naturally Porsche’s AI experiment doesn’t entirely remove the need for physical testing, which fully kicked in at the pre-series prototype stage. A fleet of SUVs was still driven everywhere from the blazing 122 degree (50 C) heat of Death Valley to the freezing -31-degree (-35 C) expanses of Scandinavia, each vehicle covering around 93,000 miles (150,000 km).
Other Western carmakers are sure to employ the same digital tricks to speed up their development, if they aren’t already. One of the major threats posed by the Chinese isn’t simply their aggressive prices, but how much faster they are at getting cars to market, and AI tech will be crucial in helping other nations keep pace.
The Hardware
The Cayenne Electric debuts this winter, and should go on sale early in 2026. Built around a stretched version of the 800-volt PPE platform used in the Macan Electric, it features a 108 kWh battery for a 373-mile (600 km) WLTP range and Porsche’s Active ride suspension. It emits V8-like noises in track mode and will reportedly come in three tunes: 394 hp (400 PS / 294 kW) for the base Cayenne, 592 hp (600 PS / 441 kW) in S trim and 794 hp (805 PS / 592 kW) as a Turbo.
RS6 e-tron prototype spotted despite reports claiming the project may be cancelled
ICE-powered RS6 with plug-in hybrid tech expected to launch with slightly lower output.
Both testers feature widened fenders and unique styling cues separating EV from PHEV.
A blend of punishing acceleration, all-wheel-drive confidence, sharp-suited styling, and everyday versatility has made the Audi RS6 super wagon a dream daily driver for enthusiasts for more than two decades. Audi originally intended to give buyers two flavors of the next RS6, one as a plug-in hybrid and the other as a fully electric e-tron. Yet a new report this week, citing unnamed company insiders, suggests those plans have changed, with the all-electric RS6 e-tron allegedly canceled.
Nothing is official, and Audi hasn’t confirmed the news. What muddies the waters is that RS6 e-tron prototypes are still being spotted on public roads, with our spies having photographed them on two separate occasions the past few days. This could mean the project is still alive, or that Audi is using the prototypes to test other systems before ultimately shelving the car.
Platform Divide
Though both combustion and electric models are (or at least were if the cancellation rumors are true) expected to wear RS6 badges and share a similar sporty wagon silhouette, their foundations are quite different. The ICE version rides on a conventional combustion platform, now for the first time on an RS6 paired with plug-in hybrid technology. The EV seen testing, meanwhile, is built on the VW Group’s PPE platform, which also underpins the A6 and S6 e-tron, Q6 e-tron, and Porsche Macan Electric.
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Audi hasn’t dropped any tech-spec nuggets, but considering the S6 e-tron makes 543 hp (405 kW / 551 PS), an RS6 e-tron, if it remains in development, could land around 805 hp (600 kW / 816 PS). Even that figure, though, would look modest next to the extremes of today’s electric sedans, with the Xiaomi SU7 and Porsche Taycan delivering as much as 1,527 hp (1,139 kW / 1,548 PS). BMW doesn’t offer an electric M5 yet, and the i5 M60 tops out at 593 hp (442 kW / 601 PS).
We expect the gasoline-powered RS6 to generate less power than its electric brother, perhaps 750 hp (760 PS / 560 kW) or so, but it won’t necessarily have a performance disadvantage because it will weigh several hundred pounds less than the e-tron, which could tip the scales at around 2,500 kg (5,510 lbs) due to its hefty battery pack.
Electrifying Looks
Both prototypes seen here get wider fender flares than their regular A6/S6 brothers, and the fronts on each appear to have a vent ahead of the doors. But there are some major design differences that aren’t simply limited to the EV missing out on the ICE model’s huge twin oval tailpipes.
The EV has a split headlight treatment and blanked grille, whereas the combustion RS6 has a conventional grille and lights, but much bigger outer air intakes, which of course the e-tron doesn’t need. But at the back, the combustion car’s moustache-shaped taillights make it more distinctive.
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Early expectations suggested the RS6 e-tron would arrive first, with the plug-in hybrid following in 2026, both offered in liftback sedan and wagon forms. With reports of cancellation now in play, however, that timeline is up in the air. Until Audi clarifies, the RS6 e-tron remains in limbo, caught between public road testing and rumors of an early exit.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include reports claiming the RS6 e-tron may be canceled, though Audi has not officially confirmed this.
As expected, the front end will be very similar to the Vision Neue Klasse concept.
BMW is ditching its controversial large kidney grilles in favor of far smaller units.
New-style LED lights will be a common theme of the upcoming Neue Klasse models.
Thanks to recent BMW concepts, as well as a series of detailed renderings, we have a good idea of what the next-generation 3-Series will look like. Arriving in both combustion form as the 3-Series and as a fully electric i3, the compact luxury sports sedan will be the latest to carry the brand’s Neue Klasse design language, launching with a more thoroughly updated and modernized look.
BMW has recently begun testing the new model with various powertrains near its base in Munich, Germany, and this particular prototype is interesting. Whereas others snapped testing in recent months have had plenty of faux body panels to throw off our prying eyes, this is the first we’ve seen with production-ready headlights.
A Sharper Face
As we expected, they are very similar in shape and size to the original Vision Neue Klasse concept and suit the new-age sedan nicely. They’re edgier than the ones used in the current 3-Series and flow neatly into a set of much smaller, narrow-style kidney grilles. The result in a classier front end, addressing one of the most controversial elements of the existing model.
Of course, it’s not just the face of the 3-Series that is due for a major overhaul. All of the exterior panels will be changed, too, with some parts, such as the door and rear quarter panels reminiscent of those on the current 5-Series. The taillights also appear neatly integrated into the tail of the four-door sedan, although it’s difficult to know if the ones on this prototype are the final production units.
Two Architectures, One Lineup
Interestingly, the new 3-Series and the all-electric i3 are expected to use different platforms. Whereas the EV will use the Neue Klasse architecture seen in the iX3 SUV, the combustion model will stick with the CLAR platform.
ICE models will be offered with several different 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 3.0-liter inline-sixes, depending on the market. Meanwhile, the next M3 will use a version of current model’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo six, albeit with the addition of a mild-hybrid system.
BMW has not announced when the new 3-Series will hit the market, but we expect to see it unveiled sometime next year alongside the new i3, before it is introduced as a 2027 model. Until then, the camouflaged prototypes will continue roaming the streets around Munich, offering occasional glimpses of what’s to come.
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