Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

Volkswagen Revives a Cult Classic with the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE

The 1990s Golf II Fire and Ice was the sort of car that became a cult icon almost by accident: a quirky trim line, a bold collaboration with fashion brand Bogner, and suddenly you had a Volkswagen that oozed character. Fast forward three decades, and Wolfsburg is betting lightning can strike twice—this time in the electric age.

Production has officially kicked off in Saxony for the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE, a limited-run special edition that fuses EV performance with fashion flair. Just 1,990 units will be built, a nod to the Golf’s 1990 debut, with prices in Germany starting at €56,020. The cars roll out of VW’s Zwickau and Dresden plants, the same sites that have already cranked out more than a million EVs across the Volkswagen, Audi, and Cupra brands since 2019.

A Saxony Original

“The ID.3 marked the beginning of the era of electric mobility for Volkswagen,” said Danny Auerswald, spokesperson for VW Saxony. “With more than one million EVs produced here, our team has shown it has mastered transformation.”

For Saxony, the FIRE+ICE project is more than just a trim package. It’s a showcase of regional expertise and industrial resilience. “Such special models are not just top industrial achievements,” noted Saxony’s Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Panter, “they also symbolise innovative strength and reliability ‘made in Saxony.’”

Power Meets Style

Unlike the Golf II Fire and Ice, which leaned mostly on bold colorways and branding, the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE packs some serious hardware. Buyers can choose between 210 kW (286 PS) and 240 kW (326 PS) dual-motor setups, both churning out 545 Nm of torque. In its most powerful spec, the car rips from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and keeps pulling to an electronically limited 200 km/h.

A sports DCC chassis comes standard on the 326 PS version and optional on the base GTX FIRE+ICE, sharpening handling to match the car’s straight-line punch. Energy comes from a 79 kWh lithium-ion pack, good for up to 591 km WLTP range. Plug into a 185 kW DC fast charger, and you’ll go from 10 to 80 percent in about 26 minutes—enough time for a Bogner store browse, if you’re keeping on-brand.

Fashion DNA

The collaboration with Bogner’s FIRE+ICE line ties the new model directly to its ‘90s namesake. That earlier Golf gained cult status among fans for its loud styling and limited availability. Volkswagen is clearly leaning into that nostalgia play, pairing it with today’s electric performance credentials.

And just like its predecessor, exclusivity is part of the package: with fewer than 2,000 units available globally, the GTX FIRE+ICE is destined to be more boutique collector’s item than mass-market commuter pod.

A Growing Legacy

Since its launch in 2019, VW has built over 350,000 ID.3s in various trims. Roughly one in ten of those is a sportier GTX model, highlighting that buyers aren’t afraid to seek a little more edge in their EVs. This FIRE+ICE edition slots right into that ethos, while offering VW Saxony’s workforce a chance to flex its creative muscles.

At the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden, six apprentices even created a one-off show car ahead of production to keep buzz alive between the world premiere and customer deliveries. It’s already been drawing hundreds of visitors a day, underscoring VW’s view of the Transparent Factory not just as a production site but as a brand experience hub.

Is the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE the second coming of a cult classic, or just a clever marketing exercise wrapped in nostalgia? Time—and the secondary market—will tell. What’s clear is that Volkswagen is digging into its history books to add emotion to its EV lineup, and the FIRE+ICE might just be its boldest move yet.

After all, if the ‘90s taught us anything, it’s that sometimes the most memorable cars aren’t the fastest or the most rational—they’re the ones with the strongest sense of style.

Source: Volkswagen

NEW CARS

Smart Bets on Small Again with the All-Electric #2

Smart is going back to what made it famous—or infamous, depending on who you ask. The brand has confirmed it’s working on a new two-seat city car, fully electric this time, slated to arrive at the end of 2026. Its name? The Smart #2, a nod to the company’s numerical naming strategy and, more importantly, a spiritual successor to the original ForTwo that debuted back in 1998.

That first ForTwo promised to change how we think about urban mobility. It didn’t, of course. But the car was quirky, undeniably cool, and made parallel parking in Europe’s oldest cities a game rather than a chore. Smart even experimented with an EV version as early as 2007, eventually putting it into series production in 2011. The problem: the thing was terrible. Even in later iterations, the electric ForTwo topped out at a meager 130 kilometers of range—fine for a quick grocery run, but laughable in a world of Teslas and Hyundais.

The new #2 has to do better. It joins Smart’s growing lineup, which already includes the #1 crossover, the #3 coupe/crossover, and the upcoming #5 SUV. Unlike the early-2000s Smart, the brand now has access to far better battery technology, courtesy of its joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely. That means the #2 should finally pair tiny-car maneuverability with a range figure that doesn’t trigger instant range anxiety.

Dirk Adelman, Smart Europe’s chief, is framing this as nothing less than a rebirth: “The confirmation of our ‘project: two’ and the upcoming launch of Smart #2 marks a turning point for the Smart brand globally. Smart #2 will shape a new era of individual urban automotive mobility, especially in classic ‘Smart cities’ such as Rome, London or Paris.”

That’s a bold promise. But if Smart can deliver a chic, reasonably priced, and actually usable EV for the world’s densest metropolises, the #2 might finally fulfill the mission the original ForTwo couldn’t.

Source: Smart

NEW CARS

Ioniq 3 Takes Shape: Hyundai’s Radical Electric Hatch to Debut in Munich

Hyundai is getting ready to shake up the electric hatchback market with a daring new concept bound for the Munich Motor Show. Dubbed Concept Three, the design study previews what will become the Ioniq 3, Hyundai’s upcoming compact EV and sibling to the Kia EV3. If the sketch is any indication, this is no ordinary commuter car—it’s a wedge of racing-inspired aggression wrapped around Hyundai’s proven E-GMP architecture.

From the side profile, Concept Three looks less like a practical hatchback and more like a two-door sports coupe. A massive rear wing, ducktail diffuser, and a front splitter that wouldn’t look out of place in touring-car racing all combine with sharply sculpted flanks and a visor-shaped greenhouse. Hyundai’s designers say the new look is rooted in a fresh philosophy called “Art of Steel,” which aims to mimic the bending and flowing of steel surfaces, emphasizing clean lines, sharp cuts, and fluid movement. Unlike the retro-inspired Ioniq 5 or the slab-sided Ioniq 9 SUV, Concept Three leans more toward the sleekness of the Ioniq 6 sedan.

The production Ioniq 3 is expected to arrive in the third quarter of 2026, with first deliveries potentially starting next summer. Underneath, it will ride on the group’s scalable E-GMP platform, meaning it should share specs with the Kia EV3. That suggests a choice between 58.3- or 81.4-kWh batteries, good for up to 590 kilometers of range, and a single front-mounted motor producing 204 horsepower and 283 Nm of torque.

Inside, Hyundai promises a step forward in everyday usability. A new infotainment system will tie driving modes to the cabin atmosphere—adjusting lighting and even ambient sound to match your chosen style. It’s an attempt to add more character and emotional connection to what’s typically the most clinical aspect of EVs.

If Hyundai holds true to the concept’s radical styling cues, the Ioniq 3 won’t just be another compact EV. It will land squarely in the ring with hot-looking electric hatches like the Cupra Born, signaling that Hyundai wants to fight on both design and driving appeal.

Source: Hyundai