2027 BMW iX3: First of Brand’s New Generation of Vehicles Revealed With 400-Mile Range

Competes with: Audi Q4 e-Tron, Cadillac Optiq, Genesis GV60, Porsche Macan Electric
Looks like: A lower X3 with two grille designs (or too many headlights)
Powertrain: 463-horsepower dual electric motors; all-wheel drive
Release date: Mid-2026

Just two years after debuting its Vision Neue Klasse (German for “new class”) concept car and about 18 months after giving us our first look at the Neue Klasse styling cues on an SUV, BMW is readying the first salvo of a new styling language that will eventually be applied to the brand’s entire lineup. The 2027 iX3 compact electric SUV introduces BMW’s sixth-generation electric powertrain technology, with new motors, a new battery pack, 800-volt architecture enabling faster charging and a comprehensively reimagined operating system.

2027 BMW iX3 | Manufacturer image

Familiar Profile, New Grille

Key takeaway: The BMW iX3’s exterior design features softer styling and a tidier grille than the X3, as well as distinctive exterior lighting and available M Sport packages.

In profile, the new iX3 looks an awful lot like the existing gas-powered X3 SUV. The Neue Klasse styling is not a wholesale revolution of proportions, but rather a reappraisal of detailing defined by softer forms. On the iX3, the sharp beltline crease on many current BMWs is mostly banished, with just an echo remaining in the shoulder over the rear wheel. Below that, the body sides are more gently rounded, contrasting with flat, vertical metal around the wheel arches.

The dramatic departure is in the grille, a superfluous vestige of internal combustion design in an electric vehicle with no radiators in its nose to cool a gas-burning engine. Here, the iX3 has a tidier interpretation of BMW’s traditional kidney grille, which has been growing to monstrous sizes on some of the brand’s recent designs. Flanking the narrow, vertical kidneys are broad black horizontal elements that blend into the headlights. These suggest a secondary grille but are, in fact, signature lighting elements outlined by thin LED strips that create the illusion of depth on their flat surface. A shallow valley running down the center of the hood is echoed in the contours on the standard roof spoiler and on the liftgate, where the wide taillights seem to be sheltered under overhanging sheet metal.

The standard alloy wheels measure 20 inches, while optional designs are available in 20-, 21- and 22-inch sizes. Naturally, an M Sport design package is available, which includes redesigned front and rear bumpers, upgraded brakes with blue calipers, and interior upgrades such as a unique steering wheel and metal pedals. The M Sport Professional Package renders many of the unique exterior elements in black.

Almost X3-Size

1 / 152027 BMW iX3 | Manufacturer image

Despite the similarity in size, BMW assures us the iX3 is an all-new SUV, its underpinnings “created squarely and exclusively for electric vehicles.” The iX3 measures 1.1 inches longer than the freshly redesigned gas-powered X3. It’s also 1 inch narrower and 1 inch shorter, but it rides on a wheelbase that’s 1.3 inches longer, with a slightly wider front track and narrower rear.

The iX3’s basic specs are promising from a dynamic perspective. In addition to the low center of gravity that results from packaging the heavy battery beneath the vehicle’s floor, even the all-wheel-drive iX3 50 xDrive variant is said to carry just 48.6% of its weight over the front wheels, with 51.4% riding on the rear axle. If the flat-folding rear seats don’t free up enough space for all of your cargo, the iX3 can tow up to 4,400 pounds.

Launching with AWD

Key takeaway: BMW says the iX3 50 xDrive features a dual-motor AWD system with a total of 463 hp, as well as an expected range of up to 400 miles. It will also have an 800-volt architecture that can handle up to 400 kilowatts when charging, a North American Charging Standard port and bidirectional charging capabilities.

BMW says other drivetrains will follow (including a single-motor rear-drive option), but the first Neue Klasse to market will be the iX3 50 xDrive. With electric motors front and rear for standard AWD, the iX3 50 xDrive boasts a combined 463 horsepower and 476 pounds-feet of torque. It accelerates from 0-60 mph in a claimed 4.7 seconds and hits a top speed of 130 mph. The automaker says its next-gen motors reduce energy losses in the drivetrain by 40% compared to those in its current EVs, and they’re 10% lighter and cost 20% less to manufacture.

The new battery pack enjoys similar advances over BMW’s previous tech; the brand says energy density is up 20% and charging speed improves 30%. The company is not sharing the precise capacity of the battery yet, but based on its internal tests, anticipated range is as high as 400 miles per EPA testing procedures. Should drivers push their luck, Max Range mode can extend range up to 25% by limiting power and top speed and scaling back the energy used for comfort functions.

When the driver is using navigation to find a charging source, the iX3 will automatically precondition its battery to allow for charging at maximum speed immediately upon arrival. The 800-volt architecture can handle up to 400 kW of peak charger output, allowing drivers to add some 175 miles in as little as 10 minutes on a DC fast charger. Under the right circumstances, replenishing the battery from 10% to 80% will take just 21 minutes. A 19.2-kW Level 2 home charger will be available.

With bidirectional charging capabilities, the iX3 can power everything from small electronic devices to major home appliances in case of a power outage and even feed energy back into the local electrical grid. A Tesla-style North American Charging Standard port is also included, as is an adapter for using Combined Charging System plugs.

Reimagining the Head-Up Display

2027 BMW iX3 | Manufacturer image

Key takeaway: The iX3’s interior features a unique steering wheel, a screen that spans the dashboard’s entire width, a 17.9-inch center touchscreen and a new operating system.

Inside the cabin is where the Neue Klasse truly is revolutionary. The iX3 sports a minimalist dash with no secondary controls below the central touchscreen. Aside from lights, windshield wipers, cruise control and other things typically handled by buttons or stalks on the steering wheel, most functions are controlled through the touchscreen or with voice control.

The design of the iX3’s steering wheel alone is more intriguing than some entire cars. The hub appears to float free from its horizontal spokes and is supported by two vertical pieces, including one that would block the driver’s view of the gauge cluster if the iX3 had a traditional instrument panel.

Instead, the iX3 debuts a new feature BMW refers to as Panoramic iDrive and Panoramic Vision. Comprised of a slender screen that spans the width of the dash at the base of the windshield — that’s the Panoramic Vision part — Panoramic iDrive puts the usual imperative information (e.g., speedometer, charge level, etc.) in front of the driver right above the steering wheel in their line of sight. What appears in the central and right-side areas of the display can be customized using the central infotainment screen.

The touchscreen and Panoramic iDrive are powered by BMW’s latest OS X operating system. Users will appreciate the large 17.9-inch touchscreen, which is set up like a smartphone with a permanent home button at the bottom of the display and customizable widgets arranged vertically along the left side, in easy reach of the driver.

But the technology behind that familiar interface is a significant advancement. BMW refers to the electronics powering the system as “four superbrains” and says they remove nearly 2,000 feet of wiring from the iX3, reducing the weight of its wiring harness by 30%. (Modern vehicles can contain as much as 150 pounds of wiring.) Not only do those “superbrains” simplify the iX3’s electronic architecture, but they allow the vehicle to interact with the driver in new ways. BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant allows for voice control of everything from the windows and climate controls to seat adjustment and will make suggestions based on what’s going on in and with the iX3 — say, offering to engage Sport mode or return that missed phone call.

If that sounds annoying, don’t worry: The function can be disabled or, if ignored repeatedly, will get the hint and fade into the background. BMW OS X is primed for further capabilities to be added through over-the-air updates, and BMW assures none will take more than 20 minutes.

Read More BMW EV Coverage on Cars.com:

Standard and Available Safety Tech

BMW’s Active Driving Assistant Plus safety suite is standard on the 2026 iX3. It includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitors and lane-centering steering.

The optional Driving Assistance Professional Package includes Highway Assistant, which allows for semi-autonomous hands-free highway driving at speeds up to 85 mph. Active Lane Change with Eye Activation will suggest lane changes as the iX3 approaches slower traffic, signaling and executing the maneuver once the driver looks at the appropriate side mirror. A new feature BMW calls Symbiotic Drive allows the driver to apply steering, accelerator and brake inputs without disengaging the driving assists; this sounds like a minor detail, but it’s backed by more than two dozen patent applications. Automated parking is also available.

Release Date and Pricing

Production of the iX3 will start in early 2026 in Hungary, with first U.S. deliveries set to begin in the summer of 2026. BMW expects pricing for the initial iX3 will start around $60,000. The brand says the iX3 kicks off “a whole new era of The Ultimate Driving Machine,” with the EV’s powertrain technologies, operating system and Panoramic iDrive set to be incorporated into nearly 40 other new and updated BMWs through 2027.

Editor’s note: This story was updated Sept. 16, 2025, with a revised range estimate from BMW for what can be added at a 400-kW DC fast charger in as little as 10 minutes.

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How Much Is the 2026 GMC Sierra HD?

By Jared Gall

September 4, 2025

Share 2026 GMC Sierra 3500 | Manufacturer image

The GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 are heavy-duty pickup trucks that are available in a tremendous range of configurations from simple tool to leather-lined luxury tug. Nothing major changes for the Sierra HD for the 2026 model year, with just a couple of new colors available and GMC’s MultiPro Tailgate now optional on the SLT trim level. For 2026, the GMC Sierra 2500 starts at $49,295 and the 3500 at $50,495 (all prices include $2,595 destination charge).

Release Date and Pricing

The 2026 GMC Sierra HD is on sale now, and full pricing is below.

Sierra 2500

Pro: $49,295
SLE: $56,095
SLT: $67,295
AT4: $74,195
Denali: $77,595
AT4X: $86,295
Denali Ultimate: $96,395

Sierra 3500

Pro: $50,495
SLE: $57,295
SLT: $68,495
AT4: $75,395
Denali: $78,695
Denali Ultimate: $99,795

Cab and Bed Configurations

Like the competition from Ford and Ram — as well as its mechanical sibling, the Chevrolet Silverado — the Sierra HD comes in two strengths: 2500 and 3500. The Sierra 3500 offers buyers the additional choice of single or dual rear wheels, with the wider footprint of the dual-rear-wheel truck inflating the maximum towing capacity by nearly 10,000 pounds, to 31,600.

The Sierra HD is available with three cabs and two bed lengths. The regular- and double-cab Sierras are only available in the two most affordable trim levels; buyers wanting a more luxurious work truck will have to opt for a crew cab. The standard bed measures 6.8 feet and the long bed 8.2 feet.

Powertrain Specs

Regardless of bed and box combination and in both the 2500 and 3500 trucks, the Sierra HD’s standard engine is a gas-burning 6.6-liter V-8 that makes 401 horsepower and 464 pounds-feet of torque. An optional turbo-diesel 6.6-liter V-8 generates 470 hp and 975 pounds-feet; it’s optional for all configurations and standard on the range-topping Denali Ultimate. The diesel engine is also available with an integrated power takeoff for running jobsite equipment.

Both engines are backed by a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the base Pro trim level, and four-wheel drive is available for $2,800; 4WD is standard on the rest of the lineup.

Official fuel-economy estimates are not available for the Sierra HD, as the EPA doesn’t rate the fuel efficiency of heavy-duty trucks.

Read More About the GMC Sierra HD:

Trim Levels

The Sierra HD Pro is about one thing only: work. Standard equipment includes a trailer hitch receiver and wiring, an integrated trailer-brake controller and a locking rear differential. It rides on 17-inch steel wheels and has black plastic door handles, a manually adjustable front bench seat, a tilting (but not telescoping) steering wheel, vinyl flooring and vinyl upholstery. Its few frills consist of LED exterior lighting, push-button start, six speakers, and a 7-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Task masters who care just a little bit about the comfort of their minions can opt for the SLE. It gets carpet, cloth seating and a 13.4-inch touchscreen with Google Built-In and satellite radio, as well as GMC’s EZ Lift damped tailgate for easier opening and closing. The SLT can be identified by its body-color door handles and 17-inch aluminum wheels.

GMC opens the features firehose on the SLT, which builds on the SLE with towing mirrors, an in-vehicle trailering app with electrical diagnostics and trailer tire pressure monitors, and rear-wheel-well liners to cut noise and protect against rust. The SLT also gains rain-sensing windshield wipers, a rear window defroster, upgraded LED taillights, chrome mirrors and door handles, 18-inch wheels, an alarm and keyless entry. Inside, it boasts perforated leather upholstery, a tilt and telescoping steering column, a power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory, a heated steering wheel, heated outboard front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The AT4 brings some off-road capability to the Sierra HD. It rides on a retuned suspension with Rancho shock absorbers, as well as black 20-inch wheels wearing all-terrain tires. It’s fitted with skid plates to protect the engine and transfer case, red recovery hooks, hill descent control, body-color bumpers, a spray-on bedliner and the MultiPro Tailgate. GMC also throws in some comfort goodies, including power-adjustable front bucket seats with heating and ventilation, heated outboard rear seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, remote start, wireless phone charging and a seven-speaker Bose sound system.

GMC’s signature Denali trim keeps the AT4’s off-road gear but switches to all-season tires on chrome 20-inch wheels and chrome recovery hooks. Its cab is capped with amber marker lights and sports a power-sliding rear window.

Only available on the Sierra 2500 crew cab with the standard bed, the AT4X goes all in on off-roading, with a 1.5-inch suspension lift featuring trick Multimatic shock absorbers, an electronically controlled locking rear differential, 18-inch wheels wrapped in mud tires and a matching spare. It also features a moonroof, power-retractable running boards, upgraded leather and a 12-speaker Bose audio system.

Like the standard Denali and AT4, the Denali Ultimate gets most of the AT4X’s backcountry upgrades minus the suspension lift and mud tires. Available exclusively with the diesel V-8, the Denali Ultimate also builds on the AT4X’s feature set with a unique brown leather interior and wood trim, dark-chrome exterior accents, a Kicker sound system built into the tailgate and a rearview mirror camera.

Standard and Available Safety Features

Standard safety tech on the 2026 GMC Sierra HD includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, a following distance indicator and automatic high beams.

Adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alert are optional on the Pro, SLE and SLT and standard on the rest of the lineup. A 360-degree camera system is available for the SLE and SLT and standard on the AT4s and Denalis. A 15-inch head-up display is optional on the AT4 and Denali and standard on the AT4X and Denali Ultimate.

Related Video:https://players.brightcove.net/1578086878/HyOJ1bP6_default/index.html?videoId=6339677524112

10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Dodge Charger Sixpack Makes Its Case, Tesla Cybertruck Settles

By Matt Schmitz

September 4, 2025

Share 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack Scat Pack | Manufacturer image

Ordering a well-done steak at a white-tablecloth restaurant is a blasphemous act that comes with a jumbo side of side-eye from embarrassed tablemates and sheepish compliance from the unfortunate server who has to then go back and repeat the order to the chef — who is then likely going to find the oldest, most questionable piece of meat in the kitchen to incinerate. To dyed-in-the-wool muscle car enthusiasts, a six-cylinder Dodge Charger isn’t unlike an overfired filet mignon: It is to be shamed, spurned and ridiculed. But what if said Sixpack proved to be that rare case where a six-cylinder muscle car was actually well done?

We explore this very question in one of Cars.com’s most popular news articles of the past month, in which we compare performance specs of the all-new Sixpack lineup for the 2026 Charger with the now-defunct V-8 models, which sunsetted after the 2023 model year. Spoiler: The Sixpack R/T and Scat Pack outperform their cylindrically superior counterparts (at least on paper). The 2026 R/T’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six bests the 2023 R/T’s 5.7-liter V-8 by 50 horsepower and 73 pounds-feet of torque, while the 2026 Scat Pack’s high-output twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six bests the 2023 Scat Pack’s 6.4-liter V-8 by 65 hp and 56 pounds-feet. Meanwhile, the Sixpack Scat Pack is said to boast a 0-60 mph sprint of 3.9 seconds, cover the quarter-mile in 12.2 seconds and top out at 177 mph — competitive, if not superior to, those old eights. That’s in addition to the fact that the Sixpacks come equipped with all-wheel drive with a rear-wheel-drive mode for purists.

For the full comparison of the 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack R/T and Scat Pack — including how they measure up in price as well as against the 2023 Charger SRT Hellcat in power — follow the link below to No. 4 news story on this month’s countdown of most read articles.

In other love-it-or-hate-it headlines, Cars.com reviewer Damon Bell’s comprehensive critique of the 2025 Tesla Cybertruck also attracted eyes among August articles. Objective though he was about the patently polarizing pickup truck, Bell couldn’t get over overexposure to the sun due to the expansive glass roof; dearth of cubbies and pockets to put things; inconsistent passenger and cargo space, limited by the “Blade Runner”-esque body style; terrible rearward visibility; confounding controls for some of the most basic car functions; frustrating close-quarters maneuverability; and concerning limitations of the self-driving system’s reliability.

It wasn’t all negative, however. For our full take on the 2025 Tesla Cybertruck — including the things Bell actually appreciated about the futuristic Musk-mobile — follow the link below to the No. 5 article of the month.

Beyond that, we’ve got headlines on the Hyundai Palisade, Lexus RX, Toyota 4Runner, Kia Sportage Hybrid, Genesis G80 and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past month:

1. 2026 Hyundai Palisade Review: Growing Gains

2. How Much Is the 2026 Lexus RX?

3. Is the 2025 Toyota 4Runner Good for Families?

4. 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack: Are Six Cylinders Enough or Does It Need a V-8?

5. 2025 Tesla Cybertruck Review: Wedge Issues

6. Genesis Introduces New Prestige Black Trim to Lineup

7. Long-Term 2025 Toyota 4Runner Update: How Efficient Is the Hybrid After 5,000 Miles?

8. 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid Review: Styling Dialed Back, Features Dialed Up

9. How Much Is the 2026 Genesis G80?

10. Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now