The year 2026 promises to be a turning point for the global automotive industry, but not in the way it was expected a few years ago. The bet on total electrification turned out to be premature: the US and Europe have softened their rhetoric, and in China, the market has unexpectedly turned towards hybrids. Nevertheless, the inertia of the decisions of the early 2020s has not disappeared, so traditional brands are preparing a whole kaleidoscope of new products - from models with classic ICEs to high-tech electric vehicles of the new generation.
One of the most high-profile premieres will be the Audi Q9 - the largest crossover in the history of the brand. The model will be built on the PPC platform, it will retain internal combustion engines and will be philosophically close to the current "fuel" Audi. At the same time, the Q9 will not replace the Q7: in 2026, the German brand will simultaneously launch both SUVs on the market, focusing on expanding the line, rather than on rotating models.
The Q9 will compete with the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Maybach GLS, and in the future may give impetus to the revival of the Audi-Horch sub-brand. Prototypes with unique decor and a four-seater VIP-salon have already been caught by spy photographers. It is expected that the most expensive version will receive a gasoline V8 - a rarity for civilian Audi, except for the SQ7. For a brand that experienced a sales decline of about 5% in 2025, such a flagship can become an important image and commercial lever.
In 2026, BMW will follow the path of strict separation of philosophies. The eighth generation of the 3 Series will debut immediately in two guises: a classic sedan with an ICE on the CLAR platform and a fully electric i3 on the Neue Klasse architecture. Externally and structurally, these will be different cars with minimal unification, although the form factor for both will remain traditional.
The separation will continue in the M-line. The gasoline M3 will retain the inline "six" with moderate electrification, while the iM3 will become a radically different product - a four-motor electric vehicle with an expected power of about 1360 hp. At the same time, the new BMW X5 of the fifth generation will debut, which will be offered immediately with five types of power plants, including electric and hydrogen, but without abandoning six- and eight-cylinder turbo engines.
The most unexpected debut of 2026 may be the first Ferrari electric car. The Elettrica project will receive a four-motor installation with a capacity of more than 1000 hp, acceleration to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and a maximum speed of 310 km/h. The range is declared at 530 kilometers, and the weight is about 2.3 tons. Maranello hopes that the electric car will help restart the brand's position in China, although it will have to compete not only with Europeans, but also with local manufacturers.
After the release of the last Jaguar F-Pace with V8, the brand completely switches to electric traction. The serial version of the Type 00 concept will retain the controversial, but bold appearance and a three-motor system with a capacity of about 1000 hp. Journalists who tested the prototype note the outstanding smoothness and acoustic comfort, and the starting price is expected to be 120 thousand pounds - significantly lower than Bentley.
The picture is completed by the Mercedes-AMG GT XX - an electric flagship with an eye on records. The liftback will receive charging with a capacity of over one megawatt, Yasa motors with liquid cooling and new generation batteries. The declared output exceeds 1360 hp, the maximum speed reaches 360 km/h, and the prototype has already proven its endurance, covering almost 5500 kilometers in a day. The only question is how applicable these technologies will be in real operation and whether they will be able to compete with the rapid progress of Chinese brands.
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