Are motor shows making a comeback? This year's IAA show in Munich (IAA stands for Internationale Automobilausstellung, or International Car Revue, running since 1897) could have been the biggest international motor show for several years.
We all thought that the idea of going to a big city and standing around to look at new cars had been killed off by Covid, but this year's Munich motor show (as the IAA is colloquially known) was a big one, with hugely significant new models making their debuts, and a strong presence at the show from many major car makers. Here's our A-Z (ok, A-V) guide.
Audi at IAA Munich 2025
New design manifesto
Is Audi gearing up to launch a new TT-like sports car? It looks that way, if the Audi Concept C is anything to go by, most likely platform-sharing with the new electric Porsche Boxster. Audi says it's pointing the way for its design language, but we're hoping for a lot more than that. The sportier looking Sportback version of the Audi Q3 SUV made its world debut at the Munich show, too.
Full story on the cool Audi Concept C
Full story on the new Audi Q3 Sportback
BMW at IAA Munich 2025
BMW iX3 is part of 'Neue Klasse'
Arguably the most important car to be shown in Munich, and appropriately it's from the home team - the iX3 is the first production BMW based on the company's massively important 'Neue Klasse' electric car architecture and software, and it also reverses a decade of BMW having polarising designs. It can in theory do over 800km to a charge...
Read the full BMW iX3 report here (with video)
Cupra at IAA Munich 2025
Cupra Raval is Polo alternative
Cupra had two new things to display in Munich. First up is the Raval (part of a four-pronged Volkswagen Group small EV jamboree in Munich), which is based on the VW ID. Polo and should get a range of around 400km with sharp styling and a sporty air. Then there's also a new concept car, supposed to push the boundaries of Cupra's design language, and it's called the Tindaya.
Full story of the disguised Cupra Raval in Munich
See our preview to the Cupra Tindaya concept
GAC at IAA Munich 2025
GAC (Guangzhou Automobile) is a Chinese carmaker now launching into Europe. Its first offerings, making their debut at the Munich show, are the GAC Aion V (an electric crossover) and the GAC Aion UT (an electric hatchback).
Read our review of the GAC Aion V
Hyundai at IAA Munich 2025
Is that you Hyundai Ioniq 3?
The Korean car-making giant used Munich to show off the spectacular Concept Three that's expected to preview an all-new Ioniq model, most likely the Ioniq 3.
Read the full story of the Hyundai Concept Three (with video)
Leapmotor at IAA Munich 2025
B05 hatch and B10 SUV launched
Leapmotor is only just arriving in Ireland this autumn with its small T03 city car and its bigger C10 SUV, but the range is already expanding, and Munich saw the debut of the new B05 electric hatchback, which will be Leapmotor's rival to the Cupra Born and Renault Megane E-Tech, plus the B10 C-SUV.
Full story on the Leapmotor B05 and B10 debuts
Mercedes at IAA Munich 2025
Mercedes GLC goes electric
Mercedes tried to upset BMW's electric SUV applecart on its home turf with the reveal of the new electric GLC. Based on an all-new EV platform that will also slot under the upcoming new C-Class, the GLC will get super-fast charging borrowed from the new Mercedes CLA, and a range of up to 713km. Plus, there'll be a big step-change in Merc's styling, as the GLC will get a traditional, upright Merc grille, which somehow the engineers have made work with the demands for smooth aerodynamics.
See the GLC's new high-tech interior here
Full story on the all-electric Mercedes GLC with EQ Technology
MINI at IAA Munich 2025
Though the two JCW concept cars created in collaboration with Deus ex Machina are unlikely to go into production, we're still very happy they exist. Proper attitude.
Opel at IAA Munich 2025
Opel GSE concept takes centre stage
Opel is going all high-performance on us, with a concept car in Munich for its GSE electric high-performance brand, which is said to take some inspiration from the brilliant Opel Manta 400 rally car of the 1980s. It was on Opel's stand alongside the new 280hp all-electric Mokka GSE crossover.
Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo in detail
Polestar at IAA Munich 2025
Polestar 5 to be launched at last
Big news for Polestar in Munich, as the Swedish-Chinese brand unveils its sleek executive car, the Polestar 5. A rival to the likes of the Porsche Taycan and the Mercedes EQS, the 5 will get ultra-fast charging and close to 900hp in its high-performance form. An EV game-changer? Could well be...
Read the full story on the Polestar 5
Porsche at IAA Munich 2025
911 Turbo enter the hybrid era
Porsche is pushing ahead with an all-electric Cayenne SUV. Don't expect anything too dramatic on the styling front, but do expect almost 1,000hp for the top-spec Turbo model, and fully active suspension. There will also be a non-electric model, and the 'Coupe' body style remains part of the range. The car was still under wraps in Munich, but it gave Porsche an opportunity to talk about its new wireless charging option. Anyway, most showgoers were drooling over the 711hp 911 Turbo S with hybrid assistance...
Read all about Porsche's wireless EV-charging system
Electric Porsche Cayenne preview
Read the full story on the new Porsche 911 Turbo S
Renault at IAA Munich 2025
Renault revealed the dramatic-looking new Clio in Munich, and it's more or less an all-new model, not just an update of the current car. It'll be a while before it gets here, so plenty of time to get used to the new look.
Read our full story on the 2027 Renault Clio (with video)
Skoda at IAA Munich 2025
Skoda Octavia goes electric
The Skoda Epiq is a compact electric crossover with a range of around 425km and distinctive styling that pushes the Skoda family look along another notch. The show car in Munich is effectively production-ready.
Read the full story on the Skoda Epiq
There's bigger news, though, quite literally, as Skoda also revealed a concept version of its new electric Octavia, in estate form called the Vision O. This is one of the first sightings of Volkswagen Group's new 'SSP' flexible electric car platform, so it's a hugely significant car.
Full story on the Skoda Vision O concept
Volkswagen at IAA Munich 2025
VW ID.2 is actually the ID. Polo
Volkswagen had a massive Munich show with three major new debuts. We had expected to see the production-ready ID.2 EV, but instead Volkswagen has confirmed that it will in fact be called the ID. Polo, and that there will be a GTI version as well. Big news indeed.
Read the full VW ID. Polo story
VW ID. Cross as a concept
Alongside that ID. Polo is a concept called the ID. Cross, which is a slightly taller crossover version of the same car, so you can think of that as an electric equivalent to the VW T-Cross. Does that mean it will be called the ID. T-Cross? Watch this space for more...
Full story on the VW ID. Cross 'concept' (with video)
And a new VW T-Roc
That's not all, though, as Volkswagen showed off the all-new T-Roc, riding on a much-modified MQB chassis, and with a new hybrid engine lineup that plugs the gap in the VW engine range between its mild-hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
Full story on the new VW T-Roc
Volvo at IAA Munich 2025
Rounding out the Munich show debuts is Volvo, with the ES90 electric car. It's already been shown off by Volvo, but this was the first time for many of us to get up close and personal with Sweden's new electric executive.
Extra imagery by SB-Medien