BMW will push the Neue Klasse look and electronics into current models via larger-than-usual facelifts, starting with the new iX3 and followed by the next i3 in 2026.
BMW’s Neue Klasse chief Mike Reichelt told Autocar UK that a routine mid-cycle refresh would leave older cars out of date, so the major upgrade covers design, infotainment and core computing.
Beyond styling, BMW is introducing a new electronics setup with high-power processors, including a “Heart of Joy” controller for driving dynamics.
The latest iDrive X pairs a revised touchscreen with a full-width panoramic head-up display, and software updates will arrive more often than under the traditional multi-year schedule.
Body structures would stay as they are. Instead, BMW would add the most relevant Neue Klasse features during these bigger facelifts: the new design language, the Panoramic iDrive interface and upgraded driver assistance, said Reichelt.
Reichelt acknowledged that this approach is more complex than a standard refresh, but argued the pace of digital change makes regular updates essential to keep cabin tech current.
Over the next two years, BMW plans more than 40 new or updated models.
The iX3 leads the way with cleaner exterior cues, a modernised cabin with the new display setup, and fewer, more capable computers.
The same approach would cascade across the range without waiting for full model replacements.
