Key Points
- Power at the top: The AMG GLE 63 delivers 612 HP, while the Bovensiepen 05 GT sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 305 km/h.
- Global debuts: The Mercedes-Benz VLE 2028, Genesis Magma EV, Giamaro Krafla V12 quad-turbo and Hongqi E-HS9 mark the most anticipated premieres of the season.
- Expanding ultra-premium market: The launch of the Hongqi E-HS9 in Thailand — limited to 400 units — and MIMO 2026 confirm the progressive internationalisation of high-value automotive luxury.
A summer that rewrites the rules of luxury on four wheels
There are moments, every few years, when the premium automotive market stops evolving by degrees and decides instead to make a leap. The summer of 2026 appears to be one of those moments. Between reinterpreted grand limousines, Modenese hypercars with science-fiction engines and electric SUVs landing in uncharted markets, the luxury segment is experiencing a season of profound redefinition — as much aesthetic as it is technological.
The most eloquent signal comes directly from Stuttgart. Mercedes-Benz has chosen to break the mould by unveiling the VLE 2028, a grand limousine that reimagines the very concept of the executive MPV. The road test conducted by MotorTrend specialists returned a clear verdict: the offering exceeds the expectations of the traditional segment. This is not an update — it is a statement of intent. Mercedes wants to occupy a space that no other manufacturer has yet defined with clarity: that of the excellence limousine capable of combining the versatility of an MPV with the refinement of a flagship saloon. An ambition that, at least on paper, appears to be borne out by the first dynamic impressions.
AMG and BMW: the silent war of high-performance SUVs
On the high-performance SUV front, the rivalry between the two great German competitors is growing ever more intense. Mercedes-AMG has revealed the new GLE 63 in its definitive form: 612 HP — or more precisely 612 PS in the German designation — packed into a body that refuses to compromise on aggressive design and top-tier build quality. It is a precise statement of intent, aimed at those who regard the SUV not as a compromise, but as the most evolved form of driver's car. The power output is that of a supercar; the context is that of an everyday five-seat vehicle.
On the other side, BMW is quietly working on the fifth generation of the X5, scheduled for 2027. Prototype tests reported by Car and Driver reveal a structurally stiffer architecture compared to the previous generation, with optional air suspension and rear-wheel steering that promises saloon-like manoeuvrability in urban settings. Acoustic insulation has been the subject of dedicated engineering work, and early assessments speak of a cabin capable of shutting out the outside world with an effectiveness unprecedented in the segment. The X5 does not want to appear sportier: it wants to be more precise, quieter, more mature.
Genesis and the Magma EV: Korean identity in the electric premium space
While the Germans refine their established strengths, the Koreans at Genesis continue to build their own identity. The Magma EV represents something more than a straightforward high-performance electric SUV: it is the affirmation that the brand has now moved beyond the legitimisation phase and entered one of autonomous proposition. Stylistically distinctive and technologically ambitious, the Magma EV aims to occupy a space in the electric premium segment that, until just a few years ago, seemed reserved exclusively for European and American marques. The market is listening.
MIMO 2026: Modena responds with the V12 quad-turbo
MIMO 2026 has once again confirmed that Italy remains the beating heart of the global hypercar world. Among the most talked-about presences at the event, the Giamaro Krafla stands out — a Modenese hypercar equipped with a V12 quad-turbo powerplant that represents one of the most extreme engineering exercises presented anywhere in the world this year. Alongside it, Ares Atelier unveiled the S1 supercar accompanied by an exclusive collection, reaffirming its vocation for ultra-premium personalisation. The message from MIMO is unambiguous: Italian design does not defend itself — it asserts itself.
Hongqi and Bovensiepen: luxury without geographical boundaries
The globalisation of automotive luxury finds two emblematic examples in recent weeks. Hongqi, the Chinese parent brand and symbol of national excellence, has made its debut in Thailand with the E-HS9, a 493 HP right-hand-drive electric SUV launched in a limited edition of just 400 units, with a strategic positioning in the ultra-premium segment. It is the brand's first model in the Thai market, and the choice of an exclusive, supply-constrained launch tells the story of a brand-building strategy that privileges desire over availability.
On the European side, the name Bovensiepen — the historic founder of Alpina — makes itself heard once more with the 05 GT, a high-performance touring that applies supercar engineering to the luxury wagon category. A 0–100 km/h time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 305 km/h leave no room for interpretation: this is a car built by someone who understands speed from a craftsmanlike and unrepeatable perspective. With an inevitably limited production run, the 05 GT is set to become one of the most sought-after collector's items in the segment over the next twenty-four months.