BMW’S FIRST NEUE KLASSE MODEL GOES INTO SERIES PRODUCTION
BMW lifts the curtains on the fully electric BMW iX3, its first-ever Neue Klasse model to go into series production. Ahead of its world premiere at the IAA Mobility 2025 show in Munich from September 9-14, 2025, designboom had a first glimpse at the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) that unveils a new design language, which will be replicated across the brand’s future model range, a powerful electronics architecture with four ‘superbrains,’ and a holistic approach to circularity. The model signals a profound leap in technology, design, and user experience for the German automotive giant.
‘The Neue Klasse is our biggest future-focused project and marks a huge leap forward in terms of technologies, driving experience and design. Practically everything about it is new, yet it is also more BMW than ever. Our whole product range will benefit from the innovations brought by the Neue Klasse,’ states Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.
BMW presents the first series-produced Neue Klasse model | all images courtesy of BMW
NEW BRAND FACE FOR BMW MODELS
Following the acclaimed Vision Neue Klasse X concept car, the BMW iX3 is a tangible statement of that vision becoming a reality. It will be manufactured at the BMW Group Plant Debrecen in Hungary, where the fully electric SAV rolls off the assembly line from autumn 2025, presenting a new brand face for the Bavarian company. Referencing the Neue Klasse models from the 1960s, the iconic BMW kidneys and headlight signatures are reimagined with vertical LED units and dynamic lighting effects, replacing traditional chrome with brilliant light to showcase the vehicle’s unmistakable character.
the new-generation BMW iX3 is a fully electric Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV)
Stripped away from unnecessary elements to create a powerful, monolithic silhouette, even the use of flush doorhandles helps create a clean, focused visual presence. This is accentuated with the aerodynamically-optimized greenhouse. Inside, the interior mirrors the exterior’s refined forms, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere through large window surfaces and an optional panoramic sunroof. The overall interior is meticulously designed to focus attention on the BMW-typical driver focus and the new digital experience.
with the unveiling, BMW presents a new design language which will be replicated across the brand’s future model range
CONSUMMATE USER EXPERIENCE WITH PANORAMIC IDRIVE
The BMW iX3 is the first production vehicle to feature the company’s patented Panoramic iDrive. This revolutionary system, revealed at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, elevates the brand’s renowned ‘hands on the wheel, eyes on the road’ principle to new levels. Information is projected across the entire width of the windscreen from A-pillar to A-pillar via BMW Panoramic Vision, ensuring that critical driving data is always in the driver’s natural line of sight. An optional 3D Head-Up Display adds three-dimensional depth to navigation and automated driving displays, providing an even more focused experience.
the BMW iX3 is the first series-produced model in which BMW Panoramic iDrive redefines the user experience
The system is further anchored by a central 17.9-inch display with matrix backlight technology, angled toward the driver for optimal ergonomics. It features QuickSelect technology for intuitive access to frequently used functions, allowing content to be swiped into the Panoramic Vision. The boxy multifunction steering wheel uses a ‘shy-tech’ approach, where buttons only illuminate when a function is available, creating an intelligent and uncluttered command center.
the free-cut-design central display is located in an ergonomically ideal position next to the steering wheel
FOUR ‘SUPERBRAINS’ AND ‘HEART OF JOY’ DRIVE NEW BMW
The BMW iX3’s intelligence is driven by its four high-performance computers — dubbed ‘superbrains’ — which act as a digital nervous system, handling everything from infotainment to automated driving and core comfort functions. The most dynamic of these is the ‘Heart of Joy,’ which manages the car’s drivetrain and driving dynamics. By processing information up to ten times faster than conventional systems, it ensures a uniquely harmonious and precise driving feeling. This technology is so advanced that in everyday driving, up to 98% of all braking is carried out using recuperation alone, efficiently converting energy back into the battery.
On top of that, the car’s high-voltage battery with cylindrical cells delivers a significant increase in power and range, providing up to 805 kilometres (500 miles) of travel. At a DC fast-charging station, the iX3 can add more than 350 kilometers (217 miles) of range in just 10 minutes. Furthermore, the car features bidirectional charging, a premiere for BMW. This means the iX3 can not only take energy from the grid but can also be used as a mobile power bank to power your home or send energy back to the grid.
the BMW iX3 sets new standards for efficiency and longdistance capability
HOLISTIC COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY AND CIRCULARITY
Beyond its electric powertrain, the BMW iX3 embodies a holistic commitment to sustainability and circularity. It is the first BMW model to feature a ‘secondary first’ philosophy, with around one-third of the vehicle made from secondary raw materials. The entire interior is free of traditional leather, with seat surfaces trimmed in a material called Econeer, which is made from 100% recycled PET yarn. Even the yarn for the headliner and floor mats is made from entirely recycled materials. The iX3 also pioneers the use of recycled maritime plastic, repurposed from discarded fishing nets to create selected components.
The focus on mono-material design and eco-conscious manufacturing at the fossil fuel-free Debrecen plant not only lowers the vehicle’s carbon footprint by a third but also ensures that components can be more easily disassembled and recycled at the end of the vehicle’s life, proving that a premium, high-performance car can also be a leader in environmental responsibility.
BMW is also mindful of the complete vehicle life cycle when it comes to both the choice of materials and their processing
at a DC fast-charging station, the iX3 can add more than 350 kilometers of range in just 10 minutes
the sculpted BMW kidneys reference the Neue Klasse of the 1960s in their vertical arrangement
the fully electric SAV rolls off the assembly line from autumn 2025
project info:
name: BMW iX3
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