- The BMW iX3 50 xDrive will be the first production model built on the Neue Klasse platform.
- It offers up to 800km of electric range (WLTP) and supports 400kW peak charging.
- New technologies include the Heart of Joy control unit and Panoramic iDrive interface.
BMW’s future-focused Neue Klasse era is kicking off with the upcoming iX3: an all-electric SUV loaded with innovations that promise to redefine the brand’s signature driving feel.
Set to premiere at the IAA Mobility 2025 in September and enter production by year-end in Hungary, the all-new iX3 50 xDrive represents a full technological pivot for BMW.
800km range, 400kW charging
Packing a projected WLTP range of up to 800km and a staggering 400kW peak charging rate, BMW says the iX3 can replenish over 350km of range in just 10 minutes.
Underpinning this performance is BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive technology (Gen6), featuring a new high-voltage battery with cylindrical cells that offer 20% greater energy density than previous models.
Bidirectional charging is also onboard - supporting vehicle-to-home (V2H), -load (V2L), and -grid (V2G) use cases, effectively turning the iX3 into a mobile energy hub.
Heart of Joy brings brains to brawn
Despite the impressive numbers, The iX3 isn’t just about straight-line stats. BMW’s new “Heart of Joy” control unit unifies the powertrain, chassis, braking and recuperation systems under a single high-performance “superbrain” - delivering responses up to 10 times faster than current setups.
This apparently makes for sharper cornering, smoother deceleration (often without even using the brakes) and a more intuitive driving experience.
Assisted driving tech has also had a major overhaul. The so-called “Superbrain of Automated Driving” introduces a raft of ADAS features including motorway assist with automated lane changes, safe exit alerts and even cooperative braking - where the car can respond smoothly to slight brake inputs from the driver without disengaging the system.
Display envy, incoming
Inside, the Panoramic iDrive concept blends tactile control with digital fluidity. Drivers get an expansive full-width windscreen projection (Panoramic Vision), a new 3D head-up display (HUD), a matrix-lit central screen and a “shy-tech” steering wheel with haptic feedback. It’s all powered by BMW’s new Operating System X, which supports over-the-air updates and a modular approach to future features.
As Mike Reichelt, Head of Neue Klasse, puts it: “Longer range, faster charging, an all-new display and operating concept, and the intelligence of four superbrains are the distinguishing features... We can hardly wait to see it in action on the road.”
Neither can we. By all indications, Neue Klasse is the start of a very different BMW.
