BMW Accelerates EV Revolution With Neue Klasse Platform And Upcoming i3 And iX3 Models
by AutoExpert | 24 June, 2024
By launching the Neue Klasse platform, BMW is speeding up its transition to electric vehicles, which is part of the company's strategy to move toward digital mobility. The flagship models of this initiative will be the i3 sedan and the iX3 SUV version, which will replace the names of the Vision Neue Klasse and X SUV concepts, respectively, when they make their debut in 2026 and 2025.
Using BMW's newly introduced Neue Klasse platform, the new i3 is a separate model, even though it shares its name with the eccentric i3 electric hatchback.
It maintains BMW's dual-platform approach, which allows electric vehicles like the i3 and iX3 to live side by side with gas-powered vehicles (the 3 Series and X3), similar to the present i5 and 5 Series and i7 and 7 Series models. The forthcoming i3 will join the iX3, iX4, and iX5 SUVs in the lineup. The i3 has a striking appearance, similar to other Neue Klasse products, but with its own distinct design features, as shown in the Vision Neue Klasse concept.
BMW's design team has prioritized clean lines and surfaces, drawing attention to the brand's signature kidney grille and C-pillar Hofmeister kink. A pair of LED headlights, angular lower vents, a 21-inch wheel design evoking BMW Motorsport's past, a stylish dual-cowl hood, and a shark-nose fascia will characterize the new i3. The i3's interior will include the latest iDrive operating system—the BMW Panoramic Vision interface—as a standard feature.
The i3's futuristic wrap-around dashboard, multifunction massaging seats, and customizable augmented reality overlaying the entire windshield draw design cues from its conceptual ancestor. In 2027, BMW plans to release augmented reality glasses that will further integrate digital features. With an interior that combines cutting-edge technology with plush comforts and more room than the ICE 3-Series, this vehicle is sure to impress.
The versatile Neue Klasse platform can support both front- and rear-wheel drive systems, with the option to install one or two motors. BMW's new collaboration with Rimac Technology has the potential to bring about even more efficiency benefits than the cylindrical battery design that the company had previously announced.
This design boasts reduced manufacturing costs, quicker charging times, and a range increase of up to 30%. Initial production units will likely have 300 hp and use an 800-volt system, which allows for bidirectional charging and rapid charging up to 270 kW.
With this setup, you should be able to get a competitive mileage of more than 500 miles (or 800 kilometers). Under the iM3 moniker, BMW will also release a genuine flagship vehicle. With a quad-motor setup that takes advantage of the Neue Klasse platform's remarkable potential of up to 1,000 kW, the EV could boast an astounding 1,341 horsepower.
Releasing in 2026, the i3 will follow the iX3—the inaugural Neue Klasse model—by less than a year. We anticipate the release of the high-performance iM3 in 2027. An all-out war in the luxury segment is in the works, with the Tesla Model 3, Audi A4 EV, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class EV serving as main rivals.
