The all new BMW iX3. Diving into the beginning of a new era.

Now that the metaphorical dust has somewhat settled, it’s time to take a closer look at the all-new iX3, the first of BMW’s Neue Klasse series of cars. Yes, the first, because Neue Klasse is no longer just one or two models in BMW’s portfolio.

Instead, Neue Klasse represents the blueprint for the brand’s entire next generation. Over the next two years, BMW will roll out its innovative tech and revolutionary design language across 40 new models and updates, creating an entirely new series of cars under the Neue Klasse nomenclature. The manufacturer itself describes this shift as a leap so significant it’s akin to skipping an entire generation, and judging from what we saw firsthand at the launch event, it’s hard to disagree.

Design

BMW is no stranger to pushing the boundaries of design, and that remains true with the new iX3. Most striking is its distinctively sculpted front end, which carries clear visual nods to the original Neue Klasse of the 1960s, from the upright kidney grilles to the subtle curves of the bonnet.

These cues have been thoroughly modernised and reinterpreted for the future, with illuminated “iconic glow” elements replacing chrome, and broad, minimalist surfaces blending soft arcs with hard edges. The result is a form that plays with light and shadow to project depth and proportion, giving the iX3 a clean, cohesive, and quietly handsome presence that from many angles, looks almost identical to the Neue Klasse Vision X concept presented just a little over a year ago. The other iconic BMW elements are all present of course, and interestingly, the latest DRLs even seem to evoke the Hoffmeister Kink!

Visually, it’s instantly recognisable as a BMW, and like every new Bavarian Motoren Werke creation before it, the iX3 has managed to make its predecessors look dated almost overnight. Colours once again play quite an important role with the exterior and many of us, myself included, felt it looked best in Silver. As many have also pointed out, while the iX3 retains the ever so familiar SUV/SAV visage, it actually does ride rather low with an accompanying low roof line as well.

For a more in-depth look into the aesthetics, we sat down with Oliver Heilmer, the Head of Design for the Compact Class, Neue Klasse, and BMW M models, so do stay tuned for that.

Charged up for 805 kilometers.

Underneath all the sleek surfacing, the real magic of the Neue Klasse lies in its sixth-generation BMW eDrive tech, the most advanced electric drive system the Bavarians have ever put into production. In the case of the iX3 50 xDrive, that means a pair of motors producing 345 kW (469 hp) and 645 Nm, enough to launch this SUV from 0–100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds before topping out at 210 km/h. It also packs the biggest battery in its class at 108.7 kWh, giving it a projected range of up to 805 km on the WLTP cycle, or around 644 km by stricter EPA standards, a significant bump up from the previous generation.

The clever bit is how BMW mixes its motor types: a super-efficient current-excited synchronous motor on the rear axle, paired with a new, compact asynchronous motor up front.

Now, I’ll be honest — I’m not quite clever enough to fully explain the wizardry behind that combo. But what BMW tells us is this: not only does it deliver punchy all-wheel-drive performance, it’s also lighter, more efficient, and 20% cheaper to produce than the old setup.

The battery tech is equally impressive and all new. Out goes the old pack, and in comes a round-cell design that bumps energy density by 20% while cutting weight. Better still, it charges about 30% quicker, thanks to an 800-volt architecture and a “cell-to-pack” layout that skips unnecessary bulk. The pack itself doubles as a structural part of the chassis, which saves even more weight and improves rigidity. With 108.7 kWh usable, BMW is quoting up to 805 km on the WLTP cycle, though as always, expect a bit less under stricter EPA tests. Still, those are serious numbers that many have been asking BMW for.

Charging has also taken a leap with the sixth-gen eDrive. Hooked up to an 800-volt fast charger, you can add up to 372 km of range in just 10 minutes, and bring the battery from 10 to 80% in around 21 minutes. Now, I’m not sure how relevant that will be in Singapore, given our lack of such high-power chargers. That said, it’s reassuring to know the latest iX3 is future-proofed enough to take full advantage of upgrades to the local charging network when they eventually arrive. If they arrive.

Interior feel and BMW’s Panoramic Vision Display

Getting in, the first thing you notice isn’t the beautifully vivid and responsive angled iDrive touchscreen, nor the equally sharp and very impressive panoramic projection display. No, what really stands out is the leap in material quality, especially when you’ve just seen the new X3. The choice of trim, the finishing, even the plastics, everything feels well put together once again and much more premium.

With leather now only offered through the Individual program and fabric being a non-starter for most buyers in Singapore, Veganza is pretty much the default trim you’ll find here. The thing is, material tech has come such a long way that it’s honestly hard to tell the difference anymore, BMW’s vegan leather feels soft, supple, and in certain areas, almost Nappa-like. There is also a play with interior lights using projectors similar to what we’ve seen on the latest Minis to further build on interior ambience.

One neat touch that might interest some folks is the return of BMW’s iconic orange glow when you flick it into Sport mode. I did put in a cheeky petition for the comeback of the classic BMW speedometer display, but the brand’s head of UI/UX kept poker-faced on that one, only dropping a hint to “be patient” with future updates. At least they did acknowledge that strong emotional connections remain a big part of why people love driving BMWs, so fingers crossed.

It’s not all perfect, of course. BMW doubling down on ditching the iDrive controller has plenty of longtime owners (myself included) raising eyebrows, and I’m still not sold on those capacitive touch buttons on the steering wheel. Yes, they’re customisable, but in my experience with other brands, they’ve been more frustrating than helpful. Maybe BMW’s cracked the code and made them work better, but we won’t know until we actually get behind the wheel of the new iX3. That said, BMW hasn’t gone full button-delete just yet. There are still physical controls for key functions, though whether that’s enough to keep drivers happy remains to be seen.

As mentioned, the latest iDrive display, now running BMW OS X, is a proper thing of beauty, vivid colours, ultra-fast response, and buttery-smooth transitions that make the UI feel slick and polished. Sadly, with the limited seat time we had, there wasn’t much chance to really dig into usability. BMW did emphasise the extensive testing that’s gone into development, but I’m still not entirely convinced that shifting something as fundamental as the A/C vents into the touchscreen is the smartest move. Once again though, the real verdict will have to wait until we get some proper time in a test car.

The Panoramic Display is another standout, a bold move from BMW that bucks the trend of giant dashboard screens in favour of a cleaner, more minimalist approach. Instead, you get a highly customisable projection unit, right in the driver’s (and front passenger’s) line of sight. It looks futuristic, avoids the glare and distraction of a massive slab of glass, and yes, it’s even been tested to work perfectly with polarised sunglasses. Expect to see this implementation copied by other manufacturers in the future.

A Joyful Heart.

One of the biggest highlights of the launch was the so-called “Heart of Joy,” one of four “superbrains” in the Neue Klasse’s electronic architecture. This unit handles everything from drive and braking to recuperation and even partial steering, and BMW says it can process data up to ten times faster than a conventional control unit.

Paired with BMW’s in-house Dynamic Performance Control software, the “Heart of Joy” will take things to a whole new level, calculating driving dynamics faster and more precisely than ever. With every press of the accelerator, brake, or flick of the steering wheel feels direct, confident, and utterly precise. Even braking was a key highlight of the presentation, stopping is now smoother than ever thanks to the clever Soft Stop function, and the integrated control of drivetrain, brakes, and recuperation that maximises efficiency. On the road, BMW claims that 98% of deceleration is handled purely through regenerative braking, friction brakes rarely even need to come into play.

Now, I know all of the above might sound like marketing speak, but what we’re actually being told is pretty simple: the tech is there to make an EV feel as alive, responsive, and downright fun as the analog BMWs of old. Pre-launch impressions have been very positive, and I for one can’t wait to get behind the wheel and see if it really delivers on that promise.

So, when can we expect it in Singapore? Word is Q2/Q3 2026. Patience will be required, but judging by what we’ve seen so far, it’s shaping up to be well worth the wait. The future for BMW is bright indeed.