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CNET
6:359/24/25

Coming to America: Best Cars, Tech at the Munich Auto Show 2025

TLDR

The Munich Auto Show 2025 highlights a future of electric vehicles with innovative designs, advanced charging solutions, and sophisticated in-car technology relevant to the American market.

Takeways

German automakers dominate the Munich Auto Show 2025 with groundbreaking EV concepts and technologies.

Innovations include Audi's minimalist design, Porsche's wireless car charging, and Mercedes-Benz's megawatt charging capabilities.

BMW's Neue Klasse platform brings long-range, fast-charging electric SUVs to the market, rivaling Mercedes and Audi offerings.

The Munich Auto Show 2025 unveiled significant advancements in automotive technology, particularly in electric vehicles, focusing on innovations from German automakers. Key debuts include Audi's Concept C roadster showcasing 'radical simplicity' in design, Porsche's new wireless charging floorplate, and Mercedes-Benz's megawatt charging demonstration with the AMG GTXX concept. BMW also introduced its Neue Klasse iX50X drive, emphasizing long range and fast charging capabilities.

Audi's Concept C

00:00:31 Audi debuted the electric Concept C, an R8-sized roadster that previews its future 'radical simplicity' design ethos, inspired by Bauhaus-esque minimalism. The concept features a unique vertical frame grill, floating four rings, quad element LED headlamps, and a minimalist interior with tactile controls and a hideaway center screen. A production car, expected to be 97% accurate to the concept, is anticipated by 2027 as a rear-driven EV with potential dual-motor quattro all-wheel drive.

Porsche Wireless Charging

00:01:46 Porsche announced a wireless charging floorplate, a MagSafe-like system for cars, launching first in Europe with the Cayenne Electric in 2026, followed by America. This flat, compact pad provides up to 11 kilowatts of inductive power, comparable to a level two home charger, and allows the Cayenne to automatically lower its suspension for 90% charging efficiency. The vehicle's surround view camera assists drivers in parking accurately for optimal charging.

Mercedes-Benz EV Innovations

00:02:39 Mercedes-Benz showcased megawatt charging with its Concept AMG GTXX, achieving a peak charging rate of 1,014 kilowatts for about two and a half minutes, adding over 17 kWh to the battery. Additionally, the 2027 GLC with EQ Tech, a luxury electric SUV built on the CLA sedan platform, was unveiled. It boasts an estimated 400 miles of range, up to 483 horsepower, 330 kW DC fast charging for 188 miles in 10 minutes, and features a Sky Control panoramic roof and a 39.1-inch MBUX hyperscreen with an advanced AI voice assistant.

BMW Neue Klasse

00:04:48 BMW introduced its Neue Klasse electric vehicle platform with the iX50X drive SUV, evolving the iX's fascia with a design that is becoming more cohesive. This 800-volt electric architecture offers up to 400 miles of estimated range for the iX350 xDrive, arriving in 2026 for under $60,000, and 300 miles for the iX340 xDrive in 2027 for under $55,000. It features up to 400 kW DC charging, claiming 230 miles of range in 10 minutes, and includes the parallelogram display and panoramic display from CES 2025.