L’Europa is making a partial reverse on electric, but the manufacturers cannot afford to change course as quickly and if now in Brussels the possibility of granting more space (and more time) to combustion engines is being evaluated, the manufacturers continue straight on their path towards an increasingly zero-emission range. At least for now.
Looking at the 2026there are many models powered exclusively by battery ready to make their debut on the market. Even in Italy, practically every brand will present at least one zero-emission novelty. Let’s see what awaits us over the next 12 months.
Stellantis expands the Panda family. But there is also Ferrari
Let’s start from Stellar. If only for geographical reasons. The upcoming year will see the debut of Big Panda and of Panda Fastbacktwo body variants based on the Grande Panda – SUV and sedan with a streamlined tail respectively – which use the same platform Smart Car of the model already on the market will also be available in exclusively electric versions.
Photo by: Fiat
Lots of news also for Jeep, which will expand its offering with the new one Compassthe flagship Wagoneer S and the Recon, a sort of zero-emission version of the Wrangler. On the Lancia front, the Gamma is expected, which will have the features of an SUV, while the new 208, 308 and 408 will arrive under the Peugeot brand. Remaining in the Stellantis orbit, among the new features 2026 there will also be Electric Ferraria car destined to make the history of the Cavallino brand.
Photo at: Jeep
Volkswagen, or: the electric car for everyone
There is also one of the most active groups on the electrification front Volkswagenwhich will debut two very interesting cars in 2026. It’s about the ID.Polo and of ID.Cross. The first recalls the shapes of its counterpart on the market for years, the second, inspired by the up!, will be an entry level electric one, costing just 20,000 euros. To these will be added the restyling of the ID.3 and ID.4.
Volkswagen ID.Polo, the prototype test
Photo di: Volkswagen
Among the other Volkswagen brands, the Audi A2 e Q5 e-tronthe first compact and the second electric SUV based on Q5, and two equally electric Skodas. The compact SUV Epiq and a second model, yet to be named, which will have an SUV body and seven seats.
The return of the Renault Twingo
After being shown in concept form and then in its final version, the Renault Twingo all he can do is reach the dealerships. This is what he will do over the next year, completing the nostalgia operation which has already seen the very welcome returns of two other highly successful homages to the past: the Renault 5 and the Renault 4 (which will also come with four-wheel drive).
Photo at: Renault
The French group will also present new brand products Alpine. After the little one A290 and the SUV A390 it will be the turn of the new sports car. It will only be electric and will replace the Alpine A110probably stealing a lot of her technology too.
There are also Nissan and Mitsubishi
Remaining within the great alliance, the one that sees Renault linked to Nissan e Mitsubishiin 2026 we will see the debut on the market of two models that have already caused a lot of talk about themselves: the Nissan Micra (which was born on the Renault 5) and the Nissan Leaf, which enjoys a more distinct personality. It will arrive too Nissan Juke EV.
The new Nissan Leaf seen in person
Photo at: InsideEVs
The House of the Three Diamonds, however, will present the new version of Mitsubishi Eclipse Crosswhich will remain an SUV but which will profoundly change its appearance, also taking inspiration from the concept Elevance.
What’s new from Toyota and Mazda
In Japan there are 2 other brands that are making great efforts to make up for lost time and become competitive also in the field of zero emissions. It’s about Mazda e Toyota.
Mazda will present the production version of the zero-emission SUV which was designed and built in collaboration with the Chinese company Changan and which was anticipated by the concept EZ-60. Toyota, for its part, will support the bZ4X the much more famous and successful Corolla, which for the occasion will be completely renewed, also showing itself in a completely electric guise.
Photo at: Motor1 Brazil
Hyundai-Kia’s frontal assault
If there is a manufacturer that will present many zero-emission innovations in 2026, it is it Hyundai-Kia. The Korean group will present many new features with its two historic brands and to these will add the Genesis brand, fresh from its debut on the markets of the Old Continent,
Specifically, Kia will expand the range with the EV2, a compact SUV with an affordable price that is placed one step below the EV3. To these it will add the GT versions of the EV4, the EV5 and the PV5 minivan.
Photo at: Kia
Hyundai, for its part, will respond with the compact Ioniq 3 and with the official debut of the most powerful car in the history of the brand, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N. Finally, Genesis will present a complex range made up of GV60, GV70 and GV90 for SUVs and the G80 for sedans.
The new course of BMW and Mercedes
In Germany the three-way fight between the reference premium brands will be enlivened by the arrival of new concept models. BMWfor example, will expand the Neue Klasse range by presenting the i3electric version of the 3 Series. It will join the iX3, an equally electric SUV (and equally based on the new platform) which was previewed at the Monaco Motor Show.
New BMW iX3: first model born on the Neue Klasse platform
Photo at: BMW
Mercedes, however, will present the GLA electricsister with a raised center of gravity to the CLA already on the market, and above all the C-Class, which with the new generation will be available with zero emissions. Going up the range, Mercedes will also present the Electric GLC and the restyling EQS. Speaking of Mercedes: 2026 will be the year of Smart #2, the supercompact 2-seater that returns as the heir to the smart fortwo.
Photo credit: Mercedes-Benz
The SUV and sports car from Porsche
With regard to Porscheafter the debut of the electric Macan, which joins the Taycan, the Zuffenhausen company has 2 other zero-emission models in store. This is the Cayenne, which has been flexing its muscles with a battery-powered version for over 1.000 CVand of 718heir to the current one, which changes radically and which will only be available in the electric version.
Electric Porsche Cayenne Turbo
Photo by: Porsche
The 2-seater will still be available in two body variants, coupé (Cayman) and spider (Boxster). The first to debut should be the closed one.
Tesla: is the wait over?
If there’s a name that rhymes with electric car, that name is Tesla. It revolutionized the concept of zero-emission mobility and until a few years ago it was the company that sold battery-powered cars more than any other in the world.
Photo at: Tesla
Over time, the range began to feel the weight of the years, especially considering the more exclusive models Model S e Model XWhile Model 3 e Model Ythe two cars that make big numbers, are updated often, but remain increasingly alone on an increasingly crowded market.
In the 2026 something should happen. According to the statements of Elon Musk and his associates, the coming year could be the year of Roadster 2.0a car announced in 2017 and postponed several times, and of Cybercabthe self-driving vehicle designed to offer the service of robotaxi. The most optimistic also talk about Model 2, but the conditional is a must.
Volvo and Polestar are also renewed
Looking towards Scandinavia, we see a 2026 full of news for Volvo e Polestar. Volvo, above all, put on the market two new models, the sedan ES90which was born on the basis of the EX90 SUV and which transfers those same technological contents onto a three-volume bodywork worthy of a true flagship, and of the SUV EX60which presents itself as the younger sister of the EX90.
Photo at: Volvo
Polestar, on the other hand, after having updated the range with the 2026 model year of the “2” and “3”, should show the Polestar 6, a sports rod that draws inspiration from the Polestar 02 concept presented at the 2022 Los Angeles Motor Show.
Leapmotor, Omoda, and the other Chinese ones
In 2026 there will also be no shortage of new products from China, although many manufacturers from the Land of the Dragon will focus above all on hybrid models to increase volumes and gain market shares. This is the case of BYDwhich as regards zero emissions could introduce two high-end models, the Sealion 08 and the Seal 08, which have just been presented in China.
Omoda e JaecooLikewise, they will focus on other powertrains, but alongside the Omoda 5 BEV, already on sale, they will be joined by the Jaecoo 5 EV and the Omoda 4 EV, two cars created on multi-fuel platforms. Dongfengfor its part, will bring the zero-emission SUV Vigo to the market.
Photo at: Leapmotor
Leap motor will launch the B05 two-volume sedan on the market, presented at the Monaco Motor Show. Also Geelywhich recently made its debut with the EX5 SUV, should launch into the world of compact cars with the EX2 hatchback.
Photo at: Changan
Deepala Changan brand fresh from its presentation, launched the S05 and S07 SUVs at the end of the year, which are now reaching dealerships. 2026 should be the debut year for Zeekra brand already on sale in other markets of the Old Continent which will arrive in Italy in the second half of the year. MGfinally, it should expand the offer with the S6, which has already been shown, and with the S5, a compact SUV that will be born on the basis of the MG4, also expected in its renewed version.
