The iX3 50 xDrive kick-starts BMW’s revolutionary Neue Klasse range, but it is only the first of a coming new wave of electrified models
BMW “Neue Klasse” doesn’t refer to a single model or even an entire model range, but rather to the brand’s brave new approach to tackling individual mobility in an age of electrification.
BMW didn’t just build another same-old-same-old electric car, but instead, sat down to rework every aspect of the Neue Klasse’s creation from start to finish, to renew the brand’s legacy to ensure it endures well into the next century.
Mike Reichelt, head of Neue Klasse BMW, says, “The launch of the Neue Klasse is a milestone for BMW – the dawn of a new era. We have made a bold, systematic leap forward with our new technology clusters and throughout the development process. The latest 800V Gen6 eDrive technology (G6 hardware production pictured below), the revolutionary BMW Panoramic iDrive, four superbrains with the Heart of Joy, and the new design language elevate the typical BMW Sheer Driving Pleasure to a whole new level. The new BMW iX3 is the spearhead of the Neue Klasse. This unique technology leap will be rolled out to the entire BMW portfolio by the end of 2027 — regardless of the drive type.”
See also: Fast, (eco) friendly fun with the BMW Neue Klasse : Editor's Note
Every part of the car’s life-cycle, and we mean every part, was rethought and done differently. This encompassed production, development, factory planning, the electric drivetrain, the display and control/operation concept, as well as the typical BMW driving experience and design. However, the aim was also to ensure that the characteristics that made every BMW a BMW remained hardwired into the Neue Klasse cars.
From our time with the iX3 50 xDrive, it was clear that BMW’s legendary DNA pervaded all aspects of its being, both tangible and intangible. Design-wise, it adopts many of the familiar BMW aesthetic cues for a more contemporary flavour.
“The design of the Neue Klasse provides a very modern interpretation of what BMW has always stood for. With our new design language, the new BMW iX3 looks future-focused, modern and timeless — but above all, more BMW than ever,” says Adrian Van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design.
See also: BMW iX3 50 xDrive Review : Neue Wow Order
In many ways, this holistic end-to-end approach to sustainable mobility and the preservation of a virtuous (production) cycle isn’t new to BMW. Long-time fans of the brand will recall that it first embarked on this journey of electrification when the BMW i sub-brand (nee Project i) was conceived in 2011, leading to the creation of the original i3 compact city car and the dramatic i8 plug-in-hybrid sports car.
BMW’s early electrification efforts would evolve and spread to the regular range by the 2020s, with the iX (pictured above), a bespoke BMW i model, as well as the outgoing iX3 and current i4, i5, and iX2 offerings. Today’s BMW Neue Klasse reboots and revolutionises its product offensive in a bid to future-proof the brand’s provenance.
“The Neue Klasse is our biggest future project and marks a huge leap in terms of technologies, driving experience and design. Practically everything about it is new. Our entire product range will benefit from the innovations of the Neue Klasse — regardless of the drive technology,” says Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW. (pictured above)
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Joachim Post, member of the board of management of BMW, development, says, “With the Neue Klasse, we have crafted a technological masterpiece. The synergy between a powerful engine and a rapid-charging system is truly remarkable. The seamless integration of Panoramic iDrive with advanced driver assistance systems is consistently evident. With the ‘Heart of Joy’, we elevate the joy of driving to an exhilarating new level.”
3’s company
Several BMWs have worn the i3 model name from before (the original city-car and the China-exclusive), with this latest being the second model in the Neue Klasse roster following the launch of the iX3 50 xDrive.
In the Neue Klasse iteration, the i3 is the fully electric version of the new 3 Series, an iconic model in BMW’s line-up and, some might even say, of the automotive world for the better part of 50 years.
The i3 shares the same 800V architecture underpinning as the iX3 50 xDrive, boasts a similar advanced display and operating concept, features an (up to) 900km operating range in the WLTP cycle, and if the iX3 50 xDrive’s “Heart of Joy” is any indication, will deliver the sort of engaging driving experience the 3 Series is known for.
The new 2.5-box design features characteristic proportions, a long wheelbase and short overhangs, with a front end that is dominated by the brand’s familiar radiator grille and twin headlights.
There’s a “valley” in the sculptured bonnet within which sits a redesigned BMW brand emblem, which is further accentuated by the i3’s dynamic shark-nose front profile. The bodaciously phat flared wheel arches emphasise the i3’s wide stance, all of which point to the sedan’s sporty character.
The “valley” from the front is mirrored in the rear and is located between the strongly horizontal rear lights, with the brand emblem similarly ensconced within the “valley”.
The i3’s cabin is designed around the same immersive wraparound philosophy as the iX3’s, with a strong emphasis on driver focus, which manifests in the BMW Panoramic iDrive, the brand’s revolutionary display and operating concept.
The combination of BMW Panoramic Vision, multi-function steering wheel with Shy Tech controls, 17.9-inch Free-Cut Design Central Display and optional BMW 3D Head-Up Display works to fulfil BMW’s “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road” principle. The driver interacts with the car not just through touch and sight but also through voice via the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, which can provide context-specific replies.
The heart of every BMW is in its sportiness and driving pleasure. Like the iX3 50 xDrive, the Heart of Joy in the i3 has been calibrated with the BMW Dynamic Performance Control driving stack to optimise electromobility’s potential to deliver engaging driving dynamics. It controls drive, brakes, steering, charging and recuperation at a rate 10 times faster than before, delivering precise and confidence-inspiring handling.
The sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology doesn’t just offer a stupendous WLTP range of up to 900km on a full charge; it also supports charging at up to 400kW. This means that at a DC fast charger, the battery can be charged to provide up to 400km (WLTP) of range in just 10 minutes, while its bidirectional charging capability allows the i3 to transform into a power bank on wheels or a flexible energy storage device at home.
By offering a combination of ICE, plug-in hybrids and EVs, BMW has always given its customers the power of choice, which makes for an intriguing product strategy, even when other brands were quick to jump headlong onto the EV bandwagon.
Instead of chasing the market, BMW has taken the lead with the Neue Klasse models and more importantly, has cast the spotlight back on all the qualities that made BMWs so great in the past and injected them into its present and future cars.
