- BMW iX3 50 xDrive outputs 34 kW and claims up to 805km WLTP range.
- Its 108.7 kWh battery supports up to 400 kW DC and 21-minute 10 to 80% charging.
- An LLM-based assistant with Amazon Alexa+ launches from H2 2026.
BMW has used CES 2026 to put the spotlight on the new iX3, its debut model for its Neue Klasse era, and a rolling showcase of what’s coming next.
The headline acts are a new AI-powered voice assistant with Amazon Alexa+ baked in, a sweeping Panoramic iDrive interface, and a fresh sixth-generation electric drivetrain promising longer range and faster charging.
Voice assistant that talks like a human
First shown publicly here, BMW’s next-gen Intelligent Personal Assistant adds Amazon Alexa+ and uses a Large Language Model (LLM) to understand natural speech and generate its own replies.
The upshot is less “robot menu navigation”, more actual conversation: passengers can ask multiple questions in one sentence, mixing vehicle functions with general knowledge, and the assistant keeps the context for follow-ups.
BMW says the upgraded assistant will roll out in Germany and the USA across models running BMW Operating System 9 and X from the second half of 2026 at the latest.
800V charging and an 805 km claim
Under the skin, the iX3 50 xDrive runs two electric motors for a combined 345kW and 645Nm, with 0 to 100 km/h covered in 4.9 seconds and a 210km/h top speed. It uses 800V tech and a new high-voltage battery with cylindrical cells. BMW quotes a usable 108.7kWh and up to 805km of WLTP range.
Charging numbers are equally chunky: peak DC charging is rated at 400kW, with up to 372km of WLTP range added in 10 minutes under the ISO12906 method. The iX3 is also claimed to charge from 10 to 80% in 21 minutes, and it can use both 800V and 400V DC stations. AC charging is 11kW standard, with 22kW optional.
Hands-off help and a ‘Heart of Joy’ brain
BMW is also pushing a new electronic architecture, including a “Heart of Joy” control unit managing drivetrain, braking, recuperation and steering, processing data up to ten times faster than conventional systems. It’s paired with an automated-driving “superbrain” said to have 20 times the processing power of the previous generation.
Driver assistance gets a familiar trick, too. With the optional Highway/Motorway Assistant, drivers can take their hands off the wheel at up to 130km/h, while staying attentive. Lane changes can be carried out with a glance confirmation, and BMW says the system can suggest lane changes for interchanges and exits when route guidance is active.
Urban functions, including stopping and restarting at traffic lights, arrive with the Highway and City Assistant, with more features to be added later via over-the-air (OTA) updates.
