Story and photos by Andreas Conradt, Automedia
Honey, I Shrunk the G: First shots of the Mercedes Mini G
Mercedes plans to expand the G-Class with a smaller model. The new development is based on its own platform but retains the iconic design of the G-Class. Our photographer in the Arctic just caught a first prototype. The pictures prove the new Mini G will come as an all-electric EQ, likely accompanied by an identically looking ICE model.
Mercedes already announced at the IAA in Munich in 2023 that it would be adding a smaller model to the iconic G-Class. Electrically powered, the Baby G was supposed to hit the market as early as 2026. However, it seems that this schedule can no longer be met, as Mercedes revealed the first concrete details about the small G-Class at the recent IAA 2025--and only now has started testing actual prototypes. According to details from insiders, the Baby G will not be a spin-off of the angular icon with a modified platform, as previously rumoured. Instead, the small off-roader will be based on a completely new platform developed specifically for the Mini G.
Mercedes has not yet officially commented on the drive systems. While industry sources assumed that the smaller G-Class was originally planned as an electric-only car, the project is said to be under review again in view of weak sales figures for the electric G-Class. According to the German Handelsblatt newspaper, Mercedes is considering offering the small G with a combustion engine as well.
Visually, the Mini G is to remain true to its predecessor. Mercedes chief designer Gorden Wagener speaks to Car magazine of a "slightly modernized" interpretation: sharper lines, younger graphics for the lights, plus typical features such as the angular profile and the spare wheel at the rear. The new market launch could take place in the course of 2027.
Comeback with Hybrid: The Lamborghini Urus SE Performante
The Performante version of Lamborghini's runaway SUV success was dropped after just three years. But now it might be back. Lamborghini is changing the Urus Performante to become a PHEV like the SE, but bringing with it some visual upgrades to accompany the better performance. And you can probably expect a few tweaks inside the cabin as well.
We've spotted the latest take on the Lamborghini Urus Performante as it parked outside a restaurant near the Arctic Circle. This time around, much like the Urus SE, it's expected to get hybrid assist for even more power and, of course, for better economy.
The front fascia gets SE-like daytime running lights, but it also wears a new take on the diagonal bar that separates the side and center air intakes. The bar now runs all the way to the corner of the lights, and is at a steeper angle than the SE. The intake below the main bumper area also looks taller and narrower, though that could be a trick of the camouflage. There are revisions to the side skirts as well as to the rear.
Lamborghini unleashed the Urus on the market in early 2018. The brand's first SUV since the ultra-rare LM002 of the late 1980s, it immediately became the company's best-selling vehicle. It took only two years to hit 10,000 sales, and two more to hit 20,000.
Upgrading the Performante to become a PHEV sounds like an odd decision. Adding massive weight to what was the light one goes against the spirit of its badge. But emissions laws impact even the most outrageous of supercar builders, and Lamborghini is far from immune. Frankly, we'll need to have some trust in this process. Lamborghini clearly knows what its customers want. The Urus is supremely quick, and it's sold out until 2027. It seems weight isn't quite as important in this segment.
On the other hand, the whole Urus line has been a bit confusing. There was the S, then the Performante. Then it dropped the Performante after just two years, with company execs saying the SE was good enough at luxury and performance to replace both. But look at the company's website and the Performante is still listed along with the SE and the S. Though the configurators for the S and Performante are gone, suggesting that Lamborghini is keeping it up until it finishes customer orders.
Retouched: The BMW M5 Estate Receives as Facelift
Originally spied with a decidedly Neue Klasse front end, the '28 model year M5 facelift has reverted to a more conventional aesthetic with only a whiff of Neue Klasse to its name. Pictured in Touring specification, the mid-cycle refresh debuts a pair of slimmer headlight clusters and kidney grilles.
Emphasizing width, the new front end also integrates a different lower fascia with multiple vertical sections for the air intakes. The wagon-bodied prototype in these pictures also shows the quad exhaust peeking through a resculpted bumper. There will be new taillights as well, and similar to the front units, the signature lighting also emphasizes width.
Given this extensive interior camouflage, the Bavarian automaker is most likely adapting the iX3's infotainment system and Panoramic Vision setup for internal combustion models. Panoramic Vision is a projection system that uses the entire width of the lower windshield to create a digital space for both the driver and the front passenger.
BMW Operating System X with Panoramic Vision will also lead to the death of the iDrive controller in favor of a voice-and-touch-first interface, along with techier steering wheel controls. The interior redesign should further include a larger and better-integrated central touchscreen display, along with an optional 3D head-up display. There is also talk about an optional passenger display.
Beyond the tech-heavy makeover, the interior is also expected to lean more heavily into more premium trim pieces and materials. Preliminary information suggests that production of the M5 Touring will continue into the middle of 2032 with V8 power. For the first model year of the facelift, new exterior colours are reportedly in the offing as well.
S68 is BMW's codename for the 4.4-L engine of the M5 Sedan and M5 Touring, an engine that recently lost a few ponies in preparation for Euro 7 regulations. The S68 used in US-market vehicles hasn't lost any power. In the Old Continent, however, BMW and the M division have introduced new electric drive and battery software that makes up for the lost internal combustion muscle. The G90 sedan and G99 station belt out a combined 717 HP and 737.56 foot-pounds in their current iterations, with BMW claiming 3.5 seconds for the sprint from zero to 62 MPH per hour. When properly optioned, both can reach a top speed of nearly 190 MPH.
Coming Back Strong: The '27 Lancia Gamma
Lancia is gearing up for a fresh start in Europe. The starting signal was given by the Lancia Ypsilon, which was unveiled in 2024, debuted on the Italian domestic market in the same year and is available in other European countries since 2025. In addition to the small car, other models are also planned. One of these is the Lancia Gamma, which is set to be the brand's flagship model and will be released towards the end of this year. It is based on Stellantis' STLA Medium platform and is therefore closely related to the Opel Grandland and Peugeot 3008. Its price is also in line with its corporate siblings, which start at $39,700 USD (Opel) and $43,700 USD (Peugeot). Given the premium status of the Lancia brand, we expect a starting price of at least $43,600 USD for the Gamma (all prices as of January 2025).
The Lancia Gamma was actually supposed to be launched as a purely electric car. However, in December 2024, the manufacturer announced that the flagship model would not only be electric, but also available as a hybrid. Management justified the decision with the current market dynamics of battery electric vehicles. It also said that this would allow the company to meet a variety of mobility needs.
Lancia has not yet released any data on the drive system, but a glance at its sister companies Opel and Peugeot is enough to give an idea. Both start at around 210 hp for the electric version. While we are still waiting for the long-range version from Opel, the Peugeot version is slightly more powerful at 230 hp and has a range of up to 698 km. A four-wheel drive version with dual motor is also already available to order from Peugeot. This version has a system output of 320 hp. Both the dual motor and the long-range version are equipped with the larger 98 kWh battery, while the basic version comes with a 73 kWh energy storage system as standard.
For the (partially electrified) combustion engine, two engines are available from Stellantis, both of which are also used in the Opel Grandland and Peugeot 3008. The entry-level model is a 1.2-L three-cylinder engine, which delivers a system output of 136 PS thanks to 48-volt mild hybridization. Above this is a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid with 195 HP system output. All of the above options are also conceivable for the Lancia Gamma (2026).
Looking at these very first spy shots of the new Lancia Gamma it is now clear that the Italian model will be an SUV, feature a sloping roofline towards the rear, similar to the Peugeot (e)3008 or the Cadillac Lyriq. Like the Opel Grandland, the Italian car is expected to be around 15.3 ft. wide and 6.2 ft. wide.
It is currently unclear what the interior of the Lancia Gamma might look like. While the Opel dashboard can be equipped with either a 10-in. or 16-in. screen, Peugeot also offers a 21-in. panoramic display. The Ypsilon suggests that the Gamma could also offer an interesting mix of digital features, sustainable materials and Italian chic. One example of this is the round, table-like console called Tavolino, which was first seen in the Lancia Pu+Ra HPE concept car. "S.A.L.A.," which stands for Sound, Air, Light, Augmentation, refers to the centralized audio, climate and lighting functions that can be adjusted at the touch of a button or via voice input. The standard boot capacity could be around 17.6 cubic feet, equivalent to its sister models in the group.
