- The first of the “new class” of BMW vehicles is the new IX3
- The most important battery models will offer an electric range of 500 miles
- The interior inaugurates a new Idrive infotainment system
BMW has removed the first of its new “Neue Klasse” vehicles – a design reset and a design approach to the design of electric vehicles from the German brand.
First teased in the smooth living room and curved BMW vision Neue Klasse two years ago, then with the X-Badged Sports sports vehicle last year, the new lines move away from the giant giant divisor and Chintzy chrome to a simpler and more coherent future look.
We are told that the new daring approach will appear in more than 40 new models in the next two years, which is an amazing power game of a brand which, like so many premium established players, feels the heat of many more affordable Chinese rivals.
The German brand also sets out its stool with regard to the performance of its electric powertrain group, with the topping IX3 50 xDrive offering up to 500 miles on the WLTP cycle from a 108.7 kWh battery pack.
An ultra-fast charge of up to 400 kW is possible thanks to the 800V electrical architecture now omnipresent, which will see 231 miles of range added in just 10 minutes.
BMW also started zero with the electrical architecture underlying the next generation of EV. Four “superbrain” high performance computers will supervise driving dynamics, automated driving, infotainment and basic comfort functions.
The so-called “Heart of Joy” control unit will take care of vehicle dynamics and would be 10 times faster than conventional rivals.
There are also impressive stuff inside the cockpit, with a whole new iteration of the BMW IDRIVE infodivement system, which is now made up of a trapezoidal central touch screen, haptic buttons on the steps and steep sweater.
This will house six individual data areas that can be personalized to provide all kinds of driving, navigation and multimedia information. We will have to wait and see what it is to interact (especially these haptic steering wheel buttons), but he certainly looks impressive in the flesh.
Analysis: Big Graxe, Big Tech, Bold Looks
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Although there are style elements that go back to undeniably “new class” cars of the 1960s, the outside of the first modern interpretation will probably divide opinion.
Press images are lifting, showing the side of the folds with intelligent use of reflections and making the position more aggressive with lighting towers, but I was a little disappointed to see it in the flesh.
It is still not a conventionally magnificent car and although it moves away from the huge chrome renal grille from recent BMW models, it is always based on illuminated elements that have become more and more popular on models from China.
But BMW claims that prices will start at £ 58,755 for the 50 xDrive in the United Kingdom, prices that should start at less than $ 60,000 in the United States (around $ 91.00 in), which is less than current IX3 ice, although it is more spacious, more powerful and offering an Ice X3 range.
The beauty is in the spectator’s eye, after all, but BMW seems to make sure that everything else in the Neue Klasse package ticks all the good boxes.
I am just happy to hold the version of the living room, which promises to appear infinitely better.
