BMW Neue Klasse SUV: A Next-Gen EV With Some Clever Tricks
BMW’s much-hyped Neue Klasse series of next-gen EVs is nearly here. But first, the company is teasing us once again with the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X concept, unveiled earlier today in Germany and wow — there’s a lot going on here.
What Is the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, Exactly?
It’s the upcoming 2025 or 2026 BMW iX3, probably. The slightly longer answer is that the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X is an early look at the first of many upcoming Neue Klasse SUVs and sedans, all of which will share this new design direction.
Make no mistake: this SUV concept is slated for showrooms, and soon. Production will begin in 2025 at BMW’s new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, the company confirmed in its annual press conference.
“Neue Klasse is much more than just a car or a specific concept; it is redefining the BMW brand – and, at the same time, will be more BMW than ever.”
Oliver Zipse, BMW Chairman
The Neue Klasse is BMW’s next-generation family of EVs. An untold number of very clever German engineers has been working on these vehicles for a long, long time now, and so expectations are high. This is a high-stakes project for BMW.
“Neue Klasse is much more than just a car or a specific concept; it is redefining the BMW brand – and, at the same time, will be more BMW than ever,” said Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW.
We Need to Talk About That Dashboard
BMW’s all-new Panoramic Vision projector runs with the width of the dashboard, directly under the windscreen. It looks, from this concept at least, as if it’ll replace the traditional instrument binnacle typically located behind the steering wheel. Panoramic Vision projects a user-customizable array of information, from navigation to music, to trip info and phone calls. Users can even customize where each piece of information is projected. This isn’t replacing the head-up display system either; a newly enhanced 3D head-up display system will be integrated with the Panoramic Vision system to create what looks like the first truly next-gen vehicle interface.
The Cabin Is Beautiful
Flush-fitting glass and huge side windows make the cabin look especially open and airy. We really hope the backlit fabric surfaces across the dashboard and doors make it into production. It’s both minimal and beautiful. (The colour and material trim designers here deserve an award.) Make it happen, BMW!
It Has A “Super-Brain”
Actually, the Neue Klasse SUV will have four super-brains, which are high-performance computers working together, doing work that was previously handled by an assortment of separate control units. The first super-brain handles the powertrain and driving dynamics, “with up to ten times more computing power,” according to BMW. The second super-brain enables a “quantum leap in automated driving,” apparently.
It all sounds geeky, but BMW’s Frank Weber, member of the board of management for development, has reassuring words for people who just like to drive. He said the goal here is to make a car that drives like a proper BMW, but better. “The result will be more dynamic performance, more precision, more efficiency, and even more fun to drive,” Weber said.
EVs are heavy beasts, and making them handle with the same sort of lithe, balanced agility that made BMW’s the ultimate driving machines is no easy task. So, we’re eager to discover whether these super-brains work as well as advertised.
BMW’s Sixth-Gen EV Powertrain
Driving range and charging speed are still key concerns for for drivers considering whether or not to buy an EV. BMW’s upcoming sixth-generation EV eDrive powertrain, which will underpin the Neue Klasse models, is said to offer up to 30 per cent more range and 30 per cent faster charging. Details are scant on how the company achieved such a leap, but they did mention new cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells and an 800-volt architecture.
Wait, Wasn’t There Also A Neue Klasse Sedan?
Yes, good memory! The Neue Klasse sedan is still in the works. It’ll likely branded the i3 (no relation to BMW’s beloved and brilliant original EV). Expect the 2026 i3 sedan to go on sale after the 2025/2026 iX3 SUV, at least here in Canada.
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