BMW iX3 crowned World Car of the Year 2026 as EVs lead the way
The BMW iX3 has been named World Car of the Year 2026, with the announcement made at the New York International Auto Show on 1 April.
- Industry News
- 2 April 2026
The next BMW 5 Series Sedan will soon be making its international debut. At the BMW Group’s annual conference is was announced that the 5 Series would also be available as an all-electric performance model from BMW M GmbH, to be launched in October this year.
More news is that the 2023 BMWi Touring, which is due to arrive in the spring of 2024, will be an all-electric model, competing in the estatecar segment.
What’s new?
For the first time ever, the BMW 5 Series will be offered in all-electric and plug-in hybrid variants as well as petrol and diesel variants with 48V mild hybrid technology.
The new 5 Series Sedan will, according to the manufacturer, be more dynamic and a lot more comfortable. The BMW Operating System, 8.5, with BMW Curved Display, innovative digital services and for the first time, a purely electric drive system, will all find their way into the new 5 Series.
Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, who announced details of the new 5 Series at the conference, indicated that a BMW M Performance model woud also be in the mix.
“The all-electric BMW i4 M50* shows how BMW blends dynamic performance and electric mobility to perfection,” Oliver said. “It was the best-selling BMW M model worldwide in 2022. A fully electric Performance model from BMW M GmbH will be included in the new BMW 5 Series Sedan line-up.”
The worldwide launch of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan will get underway in October 2023.
The BMW iX3 has been named World Car of the Year 2026, with the announcement made at the New York International Auto Show on 1 April.
Retail new vehicle sales continue to surge in South Africa despite global and regional conflicts, local floods and droughts.
South Africa’s new vehicle market delivered a standout performance in March 2026, extending its domestic growth trajectory to the strongest level seen in nearly two decades.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
While rising fuel prices often trigger spikes in interest around electric vehicles, Volvo Car South Africa believes the real reasons South Africans are starting to consider EVs go far beyond the petrol pump.
MG has opened a new engineering centre in Frankfurt as part of its “in Europe, for Europe” approach. The facility will focus on developing vehicles suited to European conditions, including climate, roads and driving habits. It will work alongside existing teams in the United Kingdom (UK) and London design hub.
Europe’s used electric vehicle (EV) market is experiencing a notable surge as the Iran conflict drives up global oil prices and pushes petrol costs sharply higher across the continent.