Prototypes of the next-generation BMW iX3 are undergoing final validation tests at the Miramas track in southern France ahead of their world premiere at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich this September.
Series production will begin at the new BMW Group plant in Debrecen, Hungary, before the end of the year.
BMW head of Neue Klasse Mike Reichelt said the new model embodies “longer range, faster charging, an all-new display and operating concept, and the intelligence of four superbrains,” and marks the first application of the company’s fundamental technology upgrades.
He added that all future BMW models, regardless of powertrain, will benefit from innovations developed for the Neue Klasse.
At the core of the Neue Klasse innovations is the BMW Panoramic iDrive. Its four elements deliver driving information directly in the driver’s line of sight. Panoramic Vision projects details across the windscreen from A-pillar to A-pillar.
An optional 3D Head-Up Display overlays navigation and automated-driving prompts above that projection. A central free-cut-design display, positioned close to the steering wheel, employs matrix backlight technology for clarity and ergonomics.
A “shy-tech” multifunction steering wheel illuminates only active controls and provides haptic feedback, allowing drivers to operate functions without diverting their gaze.
The Panoramic iDrive runs on the newly developed BMW Operating System X, which supports extensive customisation, intelligent driver assistance and over-the-air software updates. BMW says the system redefines its “Hands on the Wheel, Eyes on the Road” motto by balancing physical controls and digital interfaces.
Powertrain advances centre on the 6th-generation eDrive (Gen6) system. The high-voltage battery’s cylindrical cells offer 20 per cent greater energy density than the prismatic cells used previously, and are integrated into the vehicle’s body structure.
The launch model, BMW iX3 50 xDrive, will deliver an electric range of up to 800km under WLTP testing, and can add more than 350km of range in just 10 minutes at up to 400 kW charging power.
The Gen6 system also supports 800V charging infrastructure while maintaining compatibility with 400V DC stations. Drivers can monitor charging performance live via the My BMW App.
Enhancing user convenience, an intelligent charging flap detects when the driver approaches a familiar charging point and opens automatically.
From series production, the iX3 will offer bidirectional charging functions: Vehicle-to-Load (up to 3.7 kW), Vehicle-to-Home and Vehicle-to-Grid, allowing the vehicle to power external devices, supply household energy or feed back into the grid. BMW’s new DC Wallbox will provide up to 19.2 kW of bidirectional charging and discharging, depending on market specifications.
Driving dynamics benefit from the “Heart of Joy” control computer and BMW Dynamic Performance Control software stack, which process inputs ten times faster than previous systems.
This superbrain coordinates powertrain, braking and steering sub-systems, delivering consistent cornering characteristics and enabling recuperation at all speeds; in 98% of deceleration events, the vehicle can stop without friction brakes, eliminating noise and jolts.
Driver assistance features are powered by a fourth high-performance computer, known as the Superbrain of Automated Driving, which offers 20-times faster processing.
The basic specification includes lane change warning, road priority warning, safe exit monitoring and Assisted View, which displays detailed driving situations on the central display, Panoramic Vision or 3D Head-Up.
Extended motorway assistant with automatic lane change and a combined Motorway & City Assistant for complex urban driving will be available on request.
Symbiotic driver assistance permits seamless transitions between automated steering and braking, allowing drivers to intervene without disabling the system.
Parking functions deploy AI-based space recognition, manoeuvre planning and enhanced monitoring to prevent damage.
The new electronics and software architecture, featuring four superbrains and BMW Cloud connectivity, supports numerous smart features via over-the-air updates, including enhancements to the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.
The shift to the Neue Klasse platform has generated a substantial number of patent applications, covering technologies from the Panoramic Vision projection and Heart of Joy controls to battery management, electric motor design and a zonal vehicle electrical system.
