2026 car market shifts: from EV hype to pragmatic choices
2026 cars: the pragmatic turn beyond the EV-versus-gas divide
2026 car market shifts: from EV hype to pragmatic choices
Explore how the 2026 car market moves beyond EV vs gasoline: AMG GT EV, Porsche 718 ICE, VW ID. Polo, Ram TRX, and Cayenne Turbo Electric, plus Ferrari EV
2025-12-28T18:14:38+03:00
2025-12-28T18:14:38+03:00
2025-12-28T18:14:38+03:00
2026 is shaping up to be the year when the auto industry stops marching in a single direction and starts favoring pragmatic choices. At one pole sits the new Mercedes-AMG GT EV (project C590), hinting at more than 1,300 horsepower and debuting the first AMG-dedicated platform for electric cars.At the other is the AMG GT Track Sport with a new V8 and the clear ambition to challenge the 911 GT3 RS. Porsche’s tone is changing as well: the next 718 (983) is confirmed with an internal-combustion engine, while rumors point to a 911 Turbo Touring stripped of showy aero.Supercars have their own headlines lined up: the Huracan successor is set to reach global markets in early 2026, Bugatti is closing the W16 chapter and moving to the V16-hybrid Tourbillon, and Chevrolet is preparing the Corvette ZR1X with hybrid tricks and a target of hitting 60 mph in under two seconds.In the mainstream lane, Volkswagen is betting on the ID. Polo on the MEB+ platform, priced below 25,000 euros and with the promise of a GTI version, while smart is reviving the city microcar idea with the #2.Pickups and SUVs won’t be quiet either: Ram is readying a TRX revival while pushing the Ramcharger with extended range, GM is hinting at the next generation of Silverado/Sierra alongside a fresh V8 lineup, and Jeep is eyeing a Gladiator 392.In the premium bracket, an electric SUV showdown is brewing: Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric, a compact Bentley Urban, and the long-anticipated Ferrari Elettrica. Among other notable arrivals are the Genesis GV90, BMW iX3 Neue Klasse, Kia Telluride, and Subaru Outback Wilderness.The upshot for 2026 is that the market is moving past the “electric or gasoline” divide and assembling the right toolkit for different use cases. The strongest players will be the brands that offer a choice of powertrains and clear value rather than just loud promises. That’s how the new normal for 2026 cars is coming together—less ideology, more solutions that simply make sense.
2026 car market, pragmatic powertrains, EV vs gas, AMG GT EV, Porsche 718 ICE, 911 Turbo Touring, Bugatti Tourbillon, Corvette ZR1X hybrid, VW ID. Polo, Ram TRX, Cayenne Electric, Ferrari Elettrica
2025
Michael Powers
news
2026 cars: the pragmatic turn beyond the EV-versus-gas divide
Explore how the 2026 car market moves beyond EV vs gasoline: AMG GT EV, Porsche 718 ICE, VW ID. Polo, Ram TRX, and Cayenne Turbo Electric, plus Ferrari EV
Michael Powers, Editor
2026 is shaping up to be the year when the auto industry stops marching in a single direction and starts favoring pragmatic choices. At one pole sits the new Mercedes-AMG GT EV (project C590), hinting at more than 1,300 horsepower and debuting the first AMG-dedicated platform for electric cars.
At the other is the AMG GT Track Sport with a new V8 and the clear ambition to challenge the 911 GT3 RS. Porsche’s tone is changing as well: the next 718 (983) is confirmed with an internal-combustion engine, while rumors point to a 911 Turbo Touring stripped of showy aero.
Supercars have their own headlines lined up: the Huracan successor is set to reach global markets in early 2026, Bugatti is closing the W16 chapter and moving to the V16-hybrid Tourbillon, and Chevrolet is preparing the Corvette ZR1X with hybrid tricks and a target of hitting 60 mph in under two seconds.
In the mainstream lane, Volkswagen is betting on the ID. Polo on the MEB+ platform, priced below 25,000 euros and with the promise of a GTI version, while smart is reviving the city microcar idea with the #2.
Pickups and SUVs won’t be quiet either: Ram is readying a TRX revival while pushing the Ramcharger with extended range, GM is hinting at the next generation of Silverado/Sierra alongside a fresh V8 lineup, and Jeep is eyeing a Gladiator 392.
In the premium bracket, an electric SUV showdown is brewing: Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric, a compact Bentley Urban, and the long-anticipated Ferrari Elettrica. Among other notable arrivals are the Genesis GV90, BMW iX3 Neue Klasse, Kia Telluride, and Subaru Outback Wilderness.
The upshot for 2026 is that the market is moving past the “electric or gasoline” divide and assembling the right toolkit for different use cases. The strongest players will be the brands that offer a choice of powertrains and clear value rather than just loud promises. That’s how the new normal for 2026 cars is coming together—less ideology, more solutions that simply make sense.
