BMW’s Neue Klasse vs. Mercedes GLC at IAA Munich + AI Cars, VW x Rivian, Polestar 5 & 204-mph Lucid!
Welcome back to The Inevitable by MotorTrend—where we dig into the future of the automobile. Fresh off IAA Munich 2025, we compare BMW’s Neue Klasse / iX3 with Mercedes-Benz GLC Electric, talk mega watt charging, battery design, interiors, and who’s really leading right now.Guest Kyle Conner (Out of Spec) joins us first, then Frank Markus and Ed go deep on Qualcomm x BMW tech from the show floor: zonal compute, ADAS that’s less annoying, AR HUDs, and on-device vs. cloud AI agents. We also hit VW Group’s software reset (Cariad → Rivian/Xpeng), the Polestar 5 reveal (and its pricing problem), plus Kyle’s Autobahn run in a Lucid Air Sapphire to an indicated 204 mph.
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Topics covered
- IAA Munich highlights & how the show has “become CES for Europe”
- BMW Neue Klasse platform: 4695 cylindrical cells, cell-to-pack, pack-to-body, zonal architecture (“Heart of Joy” ECU)
- Mercedes GLC Electric: big battery, 2-speed rear unit, 330 kW DC—how it stacks up
- AMG prototype mega-charging (~1 MW burst)
- VW Group software pivot: Cariad’s struggles, Rivian partnership, ID.1 single-ECU concept
- Polestar 5: specs vs. price, missing performance basics
- Lucid Sapphire at 200+ mph: stability and thermal takeaways
- ADAS/UX done right: AR HUD, driver monitoring that understands intent, Level 2→4 reality
- Agentic AI in cars: what can run on-device vs. in the cloud
00:00 – Welcome to The InEVitable
00:15 – What this show is about
00:32 – SDV Innovator Awards: nominations open
00:57 – Today’s topic: IAA Munich overview
02:29 – Kyle Conner joins; Jonny bingeing his IAA videos
03:05 – Hot products: BMW iX3/Neue Klasse vs. Mercedes GLC EV
03:53 – Why Neue Klasse matters across BMW lineup
04:26 – Battery: big 4695 cylindrical, cell-to-pack, water jackets
05:05 – Pack architecture & bus bars; no modules
05:56 – Range context vs. Model S/Lucid
06:16 – 500 WLTP / ~400 EPA for X3-class
06:49 – Motor strategy: EESM rear, induction front
07:03 – Pack-to-body: floor comes out with battery
07:24 – Manufacturing upside & seat/floor integration
08:02 – Zonal compute; “Heart of Joy” ECU
08:40 – Is BMW leading Germans now?
09:18 – AMG prototype: ~1 MW charging burst
10:02 – Design chat: Neue Klasse in person
10:45 – If that pack fits a 3 Series… huge range
10:52 – Mercedes GLC specs: 94 kWh, efficiency bits
12:01 – Spec sheet verdict: BMW smokes GLC?
12:25 – Interiors: why GLC misses; BMW surprises
13:44 – BMW’s 3-screen cockpit feels right
14:16 – VW Group/Cariad story; culture clash
15:47 – Rivian partnership; Xpeng in China
17:01 – ID.1 “one ECU” idea & why it can work
18:06 – Design: ID.1 looks right & near-production
18:59 – Polestar 5 reveal party & pricing shock
22:57 – Lucid Air Sapphire 204 mph Autobahn run
24:02 – Thermal management findings: motors vs. pack
26:20 – Top-speed behavior
27:04 – Stability at 200+ mph
27:44 – Is IAA now Europe’s CES?
29:03 – Segue: on-floor tech chat with Frank Markus
31:05 – iX3 / GLC recap from a US lens
35:02 – BMW + Qualcomm: who owns what data?
36:19 – From many ECUs to zonal; BMW tunes the feel
37:31 – ADAS that’s less annoying: examples
41:02 – AR HUDs & cockpit UX that helps
45:11 – Driver monitoring that understands intent
49:58 – L2→L5 autonomy reality check
51:01 – Agentic AI in cars; on-device vs. cloud
53:52 – Generative vs. agentic vs. embodied AI
55:34 – “Friendly” in-car AIs & avatars
59:52 – Edge compute, cameras, local smarts
1:03:40 – What’s next & closing
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