Auto Rádio: the cars set to define 2026

Happy New Year to start with. We have just stepped into 2026, and we are kicking things off properly with a fresh episode of Auto Rádio. The subject could hardly be anything else: what’s new this year - and, more precisely, the cars we already know will be talked about throughout 2026.

We counted more than 100 automotive launches for 2026. Even so, it is clear that some will make a bigger impact than others, regardless of whether they are electric, hybrid or combustion-powered - and whether they cost €20,000 or €200,000.

In this Auto Rádio episode - a Razão Automóvel podcast supported by Pisca Pisca - we have pulled together the 2026 new arrivals that will shape the conversations, trends and the market.

The cars that will define 2026

Guilherme Costa, Fernando Gomes and Miguel Dias looked at the "flood" of models due to land in 2026, picked out the most important ones, and organised them into sensible groups.

Auto Rádio’s more affordable new arrivals (electric and combustion)

They began with the cars that look set to avoid eye-watering prices. That means not only a new wave of more attainable EVs, but also a range of even cheaper combustion options.

Among the names highlighted were the electric Renault Twingo and the new combustion Renault Clio, the Volkswagen ID. Polo and the FIAT 500 Hybrid - which returns to combustion power and which we have already driven.

SUVs everywhere in 2026

It is also impossible to ignore SUVs. They may not be the body style that excites enthusiasts the most, but they continue to dominate the market - and, as you would expect, they will account for a large slice of the planned launches in 2026.

From the “Portuguese” Volkswagen T-Roc to a new premium electric trio - BMW iX3, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Volvo EX60 - plus the arrival of a new-generation Nissan Juke and Bentley’s first electric SUV, it looks like there will be something for every need… and every budget.

Enthusiast and petrolhead highlights for 2026

Enthusiasts and petrolheads have not been overlooked, and 2026 is shaping up to be a standout year. Leading the charge is the Toyota GR GT: a proper sports car from the Japanese giant, developed from the ground up - with "no partnerships with other manufacturers" - and debuting a new twin-turbo V8.

Performance EVs keep coming, even as the market resists

Staying with high-octane machinery (but now with electrons in the mix), expect a new Audi RS 6 Avant and, among the exotica, the epic Bugatti Tourbillon, combining the talents of an unusual V16 with three electric motors.

Electric performance cars have had a tough time commercially - despite their speed, they have struggled to persuade petrolheads to become electroheads - but the line-up will continue to expand in 2026. From the Peugeot e-208 GTI pocket rocket to the all-conquering Mercedes-AMG GT XX, which could top 1360 cv, the segment is not slowing down.

These are only a handful of the most relevant 2026 launches, and you can discover many more by watching Auto Rádio. The new year looks set to be as turbulent for the industry as 2025 was, but it will not be throwing in the towel: the 100-plus announced launches are proof enough.

See you on Auto Rádio next week

There is no shortage of reasons, then, to watch or listen to the latest Auto Rádio episode, which returns next week on the usual platforms: YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.