Text size
Drive
3 min readText size
Published
Text size
This year’s Munich motor show – officially known as the 2025 IAA Mobility Show – proved to be one of the most memorable car expos in years, staging a host of important new-model releases and close-to-production concepts.
With their makers’ futures resting on their success or otherwise, here is a cross-section of the most relevant debutantes for Australian consumers.
BMW’s new iX3 is the second-generation SUV electric vehicle (EV), and should create waves when it lands in Australia next year, with over 800km of WLTP range available from a fresh, efficiency-upscaled high-tech EV architecture dubbed Neue Klasse. A more-elegant design and cutting-edge interior offer wide, windscreen base-located electronic displays, dramatically cutting distraction, while all the usual BMW performance, refinement, safety and sporty-handling virtues remain, though substantially improved as well. Porsche Macan, look out!
Detailing the look of the spiritual successor to the now-discontinued TT due in 2027, the Concept C brings “radical simplicity” to the luxury sports coupe genre, with a stark, striking design that recalls both its immediate predecessors as well as the 1930s Auto Union Type C racing cars. Key features include EV power, a retractable hard top and an equally-minimalist interior. It is also expected to be twinned with the next Porsche 718 (Cayman and Boxster).
One of Australia’s most popular luxury mid-sized SUVs goes EV with the 2026 GLC. It comes with an advanced – and all-new – 800-volt architecture for fast charging and up to 700k-plus of range, and is clothed in a completely redesigned body brandishing lots of stand-out styling elements, especially around the flashy grille and tail. The far-roomier cabin is dominated by a vast, 39.1-inch ‘Hyperscreen’ digital dashboard display, while Mercedes promises the latest GLC will be the most sophisticated ever.
The big-selling T-Cross small SUV has come in for a total makeover, and will include an all-EV version known as the ID Cross. Due by 2027, the second-generation crossover adopts cleaner, more contemporary styling inside and out, with simplicity and quality being the buzz words. The ID Cross uses an evolved EV platform from other VW EVs, headlining improved range and packaging, as well as lower build cost, for more-competitive pricing. We love the sound of that! Also coming to Australia will be a Skoda version badged Epiq.
EV specialist Hyundai has unveiled a bold new design language destined for the coming Ioniq 3 in the Concept 3. To be built in Europe, related to the excellent Kia EV3 and aimed at BYD Atto 3 buyers, the Concept 3/Ioniq 3 coupe/hatch crossover will fit neatly between the dinky Inster and larger Kona in the brand’s EV arsenal, effectively replacing the long-running i30.
Chinese brand Leapmotor’s entry into the circa-$30,000 EV space, the neatly-styled B05 should debut in Australia sometime later next year. It is about the size of a Toyota Corolla, and aims to make life hard for the MG 4, with a large battery promising impressive range. Like its mid-sized B10 SUV stablemate, equipment levels are also expected to be generous.
Aussies with long memories may recall the International Scout of the ‘70s – a small but tough ute and wagon. Now a stand-alone American brand owned by Volkswagen, Scout will sell both the Ram 1500-sized Terra ute and related Traveller SUV from 2027 – initially in America but later Australia as well. The EV offers 550km of range and the petrol-hybrid over 800km, while being off-road capable too. Towing capacity is 4500kg.
