Tag Archives: vehicles

NEW CARS

Hydrogen-Powered BMW X5 to Join the Lineup in 2028

BMW has never been shy about hedging its bets when it comes to future propulsion. While rivals charge headlong into battery-only electrification, Munich is keeping every card on the table—petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, EV, and now, hydrogen. In 2028, the X5 will officially gain a fuel-cell variant, marking the brand’s first hydrogen-powered model to be offered to paying customers.

The move builds on BMW’s iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet, which has quietly been logging miles since 2023. Those vehicles, strictly used for testing and development, ran a Toyota-supplied second-generation fuel-cell stack paired with BMW’s own integration. With a combined 396 horsepower and a WLTP range of 313 miles, it was a promising appetizer. The main course arrives in four years, powered by BMW’s third-generation system.

Smaller, Stronger, Smarter

The new setup, developed once again with Toyota, is said to be 25 percent smaller than the iX5 Hydrogen’s unit but offers more power density and greater efficiency. BMW says it’s modular by design, meaning it can scale across multiple vehicle platforms. Production of the stacks will take place in Steyr, Austria, while other key components—like a new hydrogen-specific high-voltage brain dubbed the BMW Energy Master—will be built in Landshut, Germany.

Prototypes are already being pieced together at Dingolfing, with BMW board member for development Joachim Post promising “improved range, higher output, and significantly greater efficiency” compared with the current pilot fleet. Translation: expect more horsepower and more miles between fill-ups from the new X5 Hydrogen.

A Limited-Run Experiment

BMW won’t flood showrooms with this one. Sales will be limited to markets where hydrogen refueling infrastructure actually exists—a caveat that should temper any expectations of wide availability. That said, the X5 Hydrogen represents an important milestone: BMW’s first commercial hydrogen passenger vehicle after decades of dabbling.

A New-Gen X5, A New Look Inside

The hydrogen variant will ride on the upcoming fifth-generation X5, codenamed G65, which itself is due in 2026. Early prototypes reveal styling cues lifted from the next iX3, including sleeker lines and a more aggressive stance. Inside, the transformation is more radical. Out goes the familiar instrument cluster and the long-serving iDrive rotary controller. In their place: a panoramic projected display, a 17.9-inch widescreen central interface, and full reliance on voice and touch inputs.

The Long Game

BMW’s hydrogen strategy may seem contrarian in today’s EV-hungry market, but it’s a deliberate hedge. The company insists that hydrogen fuel cells can coexist with battery EVs, especially for long-distance and heavy-use scenarios. With Toyota as a partner and a modular system capable of scaling across platforms, the upcoming X5 Hydrogen is less a one-off experiment and more a test case for a wider rollout down the road.

The future of hydrogen cars remains uncertain. But BMW, never one to ignore an engineering challenge, is betting there’s room for both plugs and pumps. In 2028, the X5 will let customers decide.

Source: BMW

NEW CARS

Volkswagen Previews Sub-€30K Electric SUV Ahead of Munich Debut

Crossovers are eating the world, and Volkswagen isn’t about to be left behind. With compact SUVs and high-riders dominating sales charts, VW is preparing a new entry-level electric crossover that promises to be stylish, affordable, and, most importantly, attainable. Ahead of its official unveiling on September 7 and first public showing at the IAA Mobility Show in Munich, the automaker has released design sketches that hint at what’s next in Wolfsburg’s expanding ID. lineup.

A Baby ID.4 With Big Ambitions

Think of this newcomer as a crossover spin on the ID.2all hatchback concept revealed last year. That tidy B-segment EV, shown in both standard and sporty GTI form, set the stage for Volkswagen’s push to deliver a true people’s electric car at around €25,000 ($27,000). This upcoming SUV—unnamed for now but rumored to wear an “ID.2 Cross” badge—adds the elevated driving position and chunkier styling customers crave, while still aiming to keep prices below €30,000 ($32,000). That puts it well under the larger ID.4, which starts north of €40,000 in Germany.

Near-Production, With a Concept Edge

The sketches, shared on social media by VW’s head of design Andreas Mindt, suggest a subcompact SUV with an outsized presence. Oversized wheels, stretched proportions, and futuristic LED light bars front and rear check all the concept-car boxes. A rugged skid plate underscores its crossover character, while a contrasting rear pillar with three slots nods to Volkswagen’s design experiments. Expect toned-down details by the time production begins, but the essentials—boxy stance, wide track, and clean surfacing—should carry through.

Size and Platform

Dimensionally, the SUV will likely shadow the ICE-powered T-Cross but benefit from a roomier interior thanks to its EV-specific platform. The ID.2all hatch measured 159.4 inches long with a 102.3-inch wheelbase, and this crossover shouldn’t stray far from that footprint. Underneath sits the MEB Entry architecture, a downsized, front-wheel-drive–friendly take on the VW Group’s modular EV toolkit. Unlike larger MEB-based models, which default to rear-drive, the ID.2 SUV starts with a front-mounted motor and is expected to offer both single- and dual-motor versions down the line.

Powertrain and Performance

The ID.2all concept carried a 222-hp front motor, enough for a 0–62 mph sprint in under seven seconds and a top speed of 99 mph. While the SUV may not match those figures exactly, performance should remain competitive for the segment. More powerful dual-motor AWD versions are plausible, though VW might reserve that tech for pricier trims, given limited demand in the entry-level EV market.

Built for the Masses

The production version will be assembled in Pamplona, Spain, alongside the T-Cross and Taigo. It will also share bones with the Skoda Epiq, another subcompact EV due to launch soon. Price will be critical, and VW knows it: with a target range of €25,000–30,000, the crossover will take on an army of competitors including the Peugeot e-2008, Jeep Avenger, Kia EV2 and EV3, Volvo EX30, and even Toyota’s upcoming Urban Cruiser EV.

EV Momentum

Volkswagen’s timing is strategic. The company’s EV sales grew 47 percent in the first half of the year, hitting nearly half a million units. And with the €20,000 ID.1 hatchback waiting in the wings for 2026, VW is building a stair-step ladder into full electrification. This crossover may not be the flashiest ID. model in the lineup, but it could be the most important.

If Volkswagen nails the balance of price, practicality, and personality, the ID.2 SUV could well become the Beetle of the EV age—an electric car for everyone, but wearing crossover clothes.

Source: Volkswagen

News

BMW’s First Full-Fat Electric M3 Spotted: Codename ZA0

BMW M has long thrived on one thing: combustion fury. From the sonorous S14 four-cylinder in the E30 M3 to today’s twin-turbocharged inline-six in the G80, the formula has been clear—fast revs, raw sound, and that elusive balance between muscle and precision. But the brand’s future won’t be fueled by premium unleaded. Enter “ZA0”—the codename for the first-ever all-electric M3, a car that could redefine Munich’s most iconic performance badge.

The First Real M Without Pistons

While BMW already offers electric M Performance models, ZA0 is the first true M car with zero tailpipe emissions. Think of it as the next chapter in the M3 lineage—just without the burbling inline-six. Recent spy shots caught the prototype hammering around the Nürburgring, and while it’s still cloaked in the brand’s trademark swirl camouflage, the car is starting to show its hand.

The front bumper sheds a little disguise, revealing lower air intakes—not for feeding turbos, but for cooling electric motors and battery packs. The reinterpreted kidney grille, influenced by the Vision Neue Klasse concept, looks sealed but may hide active flaps to balance cooling and aerodynamics. Close the shutters, and you extend range; open them, and the car breathes harder during hot laps.

New Materials, Old Tricks

One of the quirks of this test mule is its possible use of flax-based composites. BMW has been experimenting with natural fibers to replace carbon fiber, and the M division is already claiming a 40-percent reduction in CO₂e emissions compared with traditional carbon roofs. The swirly prototype might be hiding just that—a natural-fiber roof where carbon once reigned.

Other details: unfinished taillights, missing M-style mirrors, and riveted camo panels hiding bodywork lines. At the back, a subtle lip spoiler recalls the current M3’s proportions, though BMW is clearly working hard to keep the final design under wraps.

Big Shoes, Bigger Tires

The EV M3 doesn’t ride on dainty eco-rubber. Earlier prototypes were seen with Michelin Pilot Sport 5s, mounted on 20-inch rear wheels. Behind them lurk massive brakes—another reminder that this isn’t a softened i4 M50 but a purpose-built M car. Flared fenders and a hunkered stance further confirm it. Don’t let the bulky test bumpers fool you; the finished product will be sleeker and more aggressive.

The Twin Futures of the M3

For those who can’t stomach an M3 without a straight-six, relief is coming in the form of the G84, due around 2028. It’ll carry a reworked version of the S58 inline-six with mild-hybrid tech to meet emissions rules. Word is it’ll be xDrive only, automatic only, and potentially the last combustion-powered M3 ever. That makes today’s G80—with its six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive—the final bastion for purists. Buy now, or forever hold your peace.

Why This Matters

BMW’s M division has always prided itself on adapting—whether it was turbocharging in the F80 era or all-wheel drive in today’s G80. The jump to electric power is simply the next evolution. If ZA0 can deliver the response, balance, and driver engagement that define an M3, then history won’t repeat—it’ll recharge.

One thing is clear: the M3’s DNA isn’t going away. It’s just learning to hum instead of roar.

Source: BMWBlog