BMW has started rolling out its next wave of EVs in Thailand, the first Asean market to launch the new iX3 from the Neue Klasse family.
BMW Group Thailand introduced the iX3 50 xDrive M Sport as the first production model built on BMW’s new EV architecture.
This is more than a routine model launch. It gives the clearest indication yet of where BMW is heading with its next generation of electric cars.
The styling is cleaner and less busy than before, with a more upright interpretation of the kidney grille. Inside, BMW’s Panoramic iDrive projects key information across the base of the windscreen, while the cabin looks airier and more pared-back.
Under the skin, the iX3 sits on a dedicated EV platform. Its dual-motor setup produces 345kW and 645Nm, which is enough for 0-100kph in 4.9 seconds. BMW also says the new hardware cuts energy losses, trims weight and reduces production complexity compared with the previous approach.
The battery is rated at 113.4kWh gross, with a claimed WLTP range of up to 805km depending on version.
Peak DC charging stands at 400kW, and BMW says that can restore up to 372km of range in 10 minutes in the right conditions. It also quotes a 10 to 80 per cent charge time of 21 minutes.
The iX3 is also the launch car for BMW’s new electrical architecture, which uses four high-performance computers.
One of them, called Heart of Joy, controls drivetrain and driving-dynamics functions such as braking, recuperation and steering. BMW said it processes information up to 10 times faster than conventional control units.
On the sustainability front, BMW said the iX3 50 xDrive’s product carbon footprint over a full 200,000km life cycle is 34% lower than its predecessor’s.
The iX3 is only the beginning. BMW has already revealed the new i3 as the second Neue Klasse model, with deliveries due from autumn 2026.
