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Dual motor iX3 set to kick off Neue Klasse era
Richard Bosselman
Sept 6, 2025
The first car from a new wave of ground-up, high-tech electric vehicles out of Munich should be here from mid-2026.
DEFERENCE to the past, dedication to the future - both are evident with the design and engineering of the next BMW iX3, set to hit our market in the second part of 2026.
Almost the same size as the current X3, though the two are built on different platforms, the new model seems set to show first in the iX3 50xDrive format pictured today.
This uses a dual motor setup producing 345kW and 645Nm combined that feeds off a 108.7kWh battery that provides a driving range of 679-805 kilometres on the WLTP cycle. BMW cites 0-100kmh in 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 210kmh.
Where from? BMW is set to build the car in several global locations, but though the closest geographically is one in China, there’s expectation the regional supply will be out of brand-new facility in Hungary.
Neue Klasse names after a line-up introduced in the early 1960s, considered to have saved the company from bankruptcy and locked in its financial future; the slim line kidney grille style of the iX3 draws from the BMW look of that period. But everything else about the car looks forward, with a huge weight of expectation.
Beyond the sector in which it aims being key to the make’s performance here, it is the first car on an electric vehicle architecture that is to form the foundation of 40 new and updated models by 2027, ranging in size across the breadth of its lineup.
Neue Klasse sets out to establish new standards of sustainability, efficiency, technology and performance for BMW's models.
The iX3 is using sixth-generation electric motors, is the first BMW on an 800-volt architecture and delivers a new cell-to-pack approach that results in a 20 percent increase in energy density for the battery.
Thanks to a 400kW maximum DC-charge rate, the iX3 will be one of the fastest-charging electric vehicles available when it goes on sale in 2026, BMW believes. NZ lacks DC charging that powerful, but if and when it arrives, the car can add up to 372 kilometres of driving range in just 10 minutes.
The battery will also be able to act as a massive power bank thanks to its bidirectional charging, giving it Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capabilities in markets that allow it. It also gets 11kW AC charging as standard and this can be optionally upgraded to 22kW.
At 4782mm, the iX3 is slightly longer than the current car, though it's also a little lower at 1635mm and is 1895mm wide. The boot capacity is 520 litres, rising to 1750 litres with the back seats folded. If you still need more, there is a further 58 litres of cargo volume available in the 'frunk' in the nose.
The grille has optional illumination and the headlights feature an evolution of the brand's current design, with a new interpretation of what BMW's designers call its four-eyed face.
BMW, like several other brands, has taken a step away from using chrome in its cars on sustainability grounds, and it's now using light as a replacement.
Despite its size and monolithic design, aerodynamics play a key role, with a drag coefficient of just 0.24 claimed. Aero efficiency applies in many ways; flush fit for handles, cooling systems supplied by shutters in the lower section of the front bumper that open and close as required - even the wheels, ranging in size from 20- to 22-inch diameters, have been designed with aerodynamics in mind. A more uniform surface area between the window frames and glass is employed to help to reduce wind noise at higher speeds.
The sharp-eyed will notice that there is no shark-fin antenna on the iX3; instead, the hardware for this is installed in the leading edge of the roofline above the windscreen, again to improve aerodynamic properties.
As radical as the exterior looks, the bigger step up in design thinking comes inside. BMW has created a more digital experience and one that allows for more personalisation than before.
Core to this is the 'Panoramic iDrive' that is backed up by BMW's Operating System 9. this uses proprietary technology co-developed with BMW's technical partners to project a display across the base of the windscreen. The so-called 'Panoramic Vision' occupies the space where the dashboard meets the glass, and up to six different areas can be customised to show exactly what you want to have in each portion.
The main driving information, such as speed, range remaining and warning information, is also projected here in front of the driver. Drivers can also choose to have fewer items for a more minimalist look. Importantly, the area that the projection occupies doesn't take away from the amount of outward visibility, so you can still see the end of the bonnet.
An optional 3D head-up display is also available, positioned above the Panoramic Vision to provide navigation and automated driving graphics in the driver's line of sight as they look down the road.
The bulk of the new Operating System 9, which is based on an Android Open Source Project (AOSP) software stack, is controlled via a 17.9-inch display, shaped so main functions are closer to the steering wheel. The slant of the screen shape goes the other way for right-hand-drive cars.
BMW's latest multifunction steering wheel houses controls within two transparent pods on either side of the centre and overall it’s a largely button-free and somewhat minimalist aesthetic.
A small rocker switch serves as the drive selector, and next to that is a volume dial. You also still get physical buttons on the doors for adjusting the mirrors and controlling the windows.
