Rumorpile: Return of the BMW 8-Series?

There are things I really like about this EV Minivan like the AWD and the customizable seating features. Not sure about the big screen TV for the second and third row. Clearly the back end of the Minivan is polarizing, but they optimized it for the ability to put things in and easy take out when hauling stuff. Gotta love the 434 miles of range. Depending on Price, I think this will do very well here in the U.S. for Families and those wanting space with easy access.

Five decades BMW has been delivering the driving machine via their 3 Series. March 2026 BMW delivered the new i3 fully electric driving machine that they believe delivers on that sporty driving pleasure that their legacy has delivered for generations of auto enthusiast with a 21st century addition to the legacy with unique features. BMW calls this their Neue Klasse era. This first 800V all electric i3 series launches with the following points that BMW wants their current and new buyers to know: The core of the brand reinterpreted: modern, timeless, and unmistakable. Modern BMW 2.5-box silhouette with long wheelbase, short overhangs, and flared wheel arches. New front-end design: kidney grille and four-eye light signature form a unified geometry-and-light element. Driver-focused interior anchored by the BMW Panoramic iDrive and the free-cut central display. Gen6 BMW eDrive technology with 800-volt architecture enabling 400kW DC charging and a projected 440 miles of range. BMW Symbiotic Drive and available Level 2+ automated driving with intuitive human-vehicle assistance. BMW i3 50 xDrive Specifications The launch of the BMW i3 50 xDrive has the following specifications: Electric motors on both axles Combined output of 463 HP with maximum torque of 476 lb-ft Their sixth generation eDrive technology Estimated range of 440 miles on a single charge New battery pack with cylindrical cells High Energy density with flatter high voltage The front of the BMW 3 series sedan continues with the Neue Klasse distinctive look as also found on the 2026 BMW iX3 SUV. Exterior Design and Color Options The i3 sedan will continue with having the customizable lighting effects for the exterior allowing the owner to create their own Welcome and Goodbye animations depending on the equipment level. The optional BMW Iconic Glow exterior package offers Balanced, Relaxed, and Excited options or customize to their individual personal taste. The BMW i3 Sedan has 11 different exterior paint options available at launch with their newest M Le Castellet Blue color. The paint colors come in your choice of Solid, Frozen, and metallic finishes. This equates to gloss, matte, and metallic. Interior and Neue Klasse Cockpit The Neue Klasse design language gives buyers an interior that is dynamic, airy, and modern with a driver-oriented, digital 21st century experience. This includes a complete redesigned user interaction, and a harmonious interplay of geometry, light and sound. BMW says this gives a digital and real content merge through their coordinated design of ambient light, and the graphics on the central display along with the BMW panoramic Vision. From the Climate comfort Panoramic glass roof to the large windows enclosing the interior, creates a comforting space flooded with light and openness feeling. Driver orientation is one of precise intuitive experience due to the panoramic Vision display and optional 3D head-up display displayed directly into the line of sight for the driver. This eliminates the need for displays behind the steering wheel which is now completely redesigned. The driver has angled to them from the center of the dash what BMW calls free-cut central display. The i3 sedan comes with elegant seats that provide comfort and secure lateral support with optional sport seats. All seats can have optional multifunction features along with expressive designs and distinctive sport bolsters of choice. Between the seats is everything both driver and passenger would want from cup holders to inductive wireless charging, physical buttons, gear selector and more. From recycled materials and Vegan upholstery to leather are options for designing your interior. This interior is all supported by BMW OSx operating system that includes Amazon Alexa with AI technology supplying you your own BMW Intelligent Personal assistant that offers voice control over the i3. 800V Technology and Smart Connectivity BMW offers the ability to connect your smartphone or smartwatch and use it as a preferred vehicle key. The new 800V EVs all use the Android Open-Source Project (AOSP). This 800V system is 20 times higher computer power than previous BMW EVs. The whole 800V system is updated via over the air updates. This BMW 800V all new system has L2+ driver assistance systems from self-driving to safety features. This new system also offers the new BMW Charging revolution that offers the following innovations: Vehicle-to-Load (V2L): This turns the new BMW i3 into a mobile power bank that provides electricity directly from the high-voltage battery. For example, to operate an electric barbecue on a weekend trip or to charge the battery of an e-bike with up to 3.7 kW. Vehicle-to-Home (V2H): Bidirectional charging turns the BMW i3 into a home energy storage system: With Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) in conjunction with the BMW Wallbox Professional and a photovoltaic system, vehicle charging costs and electricity costs throughout the household are reduced. For this purpose, excess energy from the photovoltaic system is temporarily stored in the vehicle battery and is later fed back into the house when there is no solar power. Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G): V2G allows the BMW i3 to be integrated into the public power grid and feed energy from the vehicle's high-voltage battery back into the system. Individual control using the My BMW App is simple and transparent. Customers always have full control over their current and desired charge levels. Battery life is safeguarded by intelligent protection mechanisms. Intelligent Charging With NACS The 800V i3 and iX3 comes with Intelligent charging flap. The charging port is located on the rear right side of the new BMW i3. It is possible to open the charging flap manually by simply pressing, but this is no longer necessary. Because the intelligent charging flap of the new BMW i3 opens automatically as soon as the customer's charging request is detected. One of the triggers for opening is AI-supported: If the customer walks towards a known or learned charging point, the movement path reveals the charging intention, whereupon the flap opens. If no charging cable is connected, the charging flap closes automatically – as it does after the charging process is complete or when the vehicle is ready to drive. The all new 800V EVs come with NACS ports by default now. More details will be released as availability at dealerships happens. Check out the 2027 BMW i3 Sedan photo gallery for a full look at the exterior and interior. View full article

An interesting take on the Minivan segment by Mercedes-Benz as the VLE is much like any other name of Mercedes autos with the VLE not actually standing for anything but implied by the auto company as V - Van, L - Luxury, E - Electric drive train. MPV being Multi-Purpose Vehicle and with that we introduce you to the 2027 Mercedes-Benz VLE MPV electric van. Mercedes says this blends limousine-like ride comfort with refined MPV versatility. The VLE MPV has Mercedes ALL-NEW 800V technology and high-performance charging along with their latest MB.OS or Mercedes-Benz Operating System — the same AI-powered platform debuting in the 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. 10 Reasons the VLE Redefines Luxury Travel Mercedes has stated that the VLE redefines grand limousine travel with the following 10 Reasons: Innovative aesthetics that captivate: The new VLE embodies a completely new design with a low, streamlined silhouette and iconic aesthetics resulting in outstanding aerodynamics, with a drag coefficient of just 0.25. Highly flexible seating for up to eight people – manual Roll & Go or remote "seat ballet": The manually operated seats feature four integrated wheels and can be effortlessly moved back and forth, locked in any position, or easily removed and rolled into the garage. The electrically adjustable seats expand flexibility even further allowing repositioning via app and head unit, almost like choreographing a ballet (Remote Variable Rear Space). Newly developed seats – choose your style and comfort level: The new mechanical and electrical individual seats and benches can be configured in multiple different ways. The highlight of the three seat types is an electric Grand Comfort Seat with an additional pillow, wireless charging, lumbar support, massage function and calf support. Unparalleled MBUX rear space experience – turn every journey into an immersive adventure: Hidden in the headliner above the front seats is a retractable, 31.3-inch panoramic screen with 8K resolution, split-screen function and an eight-megapixel camera – perfect for enjoying a movie, music videos, and games or for joining business video conferences. Superior ride – agile and comfortable like a true premium limousine: AIRMATIC air suspension with 1.5 inches of level control makes every journey a remarkably serene experience. And with seven-degree rear-axle steering, the VLE is exceptionally agile and achieves an impressive turning circle of just 35.75 feet More than 434 miles (700 kilometers WLTP2 range) – long-distance comfort without range anxiety: On long journeys the VLE can be recharged for a range of up to 220 miles (355 kilometers WLTP) within just 15 minutes, thanks to 800-volt technology and a new battery with a usable energy content of 115 kWh. Extraordinary interior experience – Sky View panoramic roof: The impressive glass roof conveys a remarkable sense of space, freedom and tranquility. Surround ambient lighting invites the passengers to sit back and unwind. An electric sunblind protects against excessive sunlight. Top-notch digital intelligence – the VLE makes your driving experience smarter and personalized: Thanks to the AI-powered Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS), the VLE features the latest MBUX with intuitive and personal control. It also features the MBUX Virtual Assistant, which uses multi-agent generative AI and understands complex conversations with memory, responding like a friend. Over-the-air updates keep the VLE up to date for years, adding new features without the customer ever having to visit a dealer. Digital cockpit – MBUX Superscreen: Three screens behind a large glass surface: a 10.25-inch driver display, a 14-inch central display, and a 14-inch screen for the front passenger. While the driver benefits from clear, focused information, the front passenger can enjoy a personalized entertainment experience – such as video streaming, gaming or apps. Lane changing and steering made effortless – MB.DRIVE: Distance Assist DISTRONIC and MB.DRIVE ASSIST adds semi-autonomous steering on motorways and a revolutionary Lane Change Assist. Just engage the turn signal and let the grand limousine handle it from there. Key Performance and Convenience Specs With the following 10 reasons above, Mercedes also has what they believe are the numbers in other critical places to drive interest in people buying their Minivan: 4MATIC all-wheel drive with 409 HP or 305 kW HANDS-FREE sliding rear doors on both sides with fully retractable windows Three climate control systems keeping each zone comfortable be it 15 degrees below zero in north countries to 100 plus degrees in places like Dubai Customizable seating interior Google Maps AI Navigation The navigation system on the VLE is based on Google maps with the first integration of Google Cloud's New Automotive AI Agent for complete in-vehicle conversation services with Google Maps. Mercedes-Benz does not state if Android Auto or Apple Carplay will be supported or not, but with the new codeveloped Google Maps Cloud based Automotive AI Agent system, I have a feeling no. Check out the 2027 Mercedes-Benz VLE MPV photo gallery for a wide range of pictures that cover the various options on the interior to the exterior. More customizable than current Minivans on sale today. More details will be released closer to launch in the U.S. marketplace. Mercedes-Benz's electric vehicle push has come a long way since the 2020 EQC kicked off their electric dream. View full article

Yes.  And to think that that was done with very simple engines with four speed transaxles makes it even more impressive.  Those 3400, 3500, and 3800 V6s what have been considered somewhat complex when compared to a 231 c.i. V6 with a two barrel carburetor, and even more complex compared to a 250 c.i. L6 with a one barrel carburetor that they put into some hefty GM cars coinciding with the arrival of the catalytic converter. 

Tall overdrive gear and good torque at low RPM.  Even the 3800 powered Bonnevilles and LeSabres could manage 30+ mpg highway fairly effortlessly.