whichnewcar.ie attended the launch of the first in a line of new BMW’s which they call “Neue Klasse” or new class in English.
The first car in the Neue Klasse line up is the new iX3 EV and the design language we see here will follow in the next generation Neue Klasse BMW i3 Series EV so this is a very important car for the brand.
BMW actually used the Neue Klasse brand name before back in the 60’s and it was a marketing success so I guess its no surprise it has been reinvigorated for today’s cars.
Probably the biggest news about the new iX3 is the claimed WLTP range of a whopping 805 KM. Like all these claims expect a bit less in real world driving but BMW seem very confident the new iX3 will mange close to this in reality. Only a full road test will tell as generally I have found no EV’s match the results from the WLTP tests when used in the everyday driving environment.
The exterior has as you can see here a somewhat retro look and in general I think the new look works well.
The interior however is a real revolution and a big departure from previous BMW designs. Initially I am not so sure I like it. Its quite minimalist and from a company previously known for some of the most ergonomic and attractive dashboards of old this new set up seems somewhat over the top. The central infotainment screen is oddly shaped and the full width digital display which BMW call Panoramic iDrive would take a bit of getting used to. The equally quirky looking steering wheel with a plethora of haptic feedback “buttons” is all new right down to its shape.
All of the cars tech is powered by BMW’s System X which is in essence a lot of computers that co ordinate with each other to manage all the cars functions. Via the System X software you can download apps, video games, music and even Zoom.
The Neue Klasse iX3 has completely new battery technology with clever new cylindrical cells and 800 volt technology. This new battery is lighter by some 10% and has 40% less energy loss than previous BMW batteries. BMW claim that when charged at a high power charger it can deliver up to 372 km of range in just ten minutes. This would also be a game changer in the EV world!
The current iX3 came in for quite a bit of negative comment over the poor quality of some of its interior. Items such as hard touch plastics and an overall feeling of a drop in quality were regular comments among reviews and indeed buyers. I am glad to report it seems BMW listened as initial impressions are for now at least that they have addressed that issue. While many of the cars materials both external and internal are recyclable the quality does feel up to the standard we would expect from BMW.
Inside there is plenty of room and a large load area accessed via the electric rear tailgate.
So overall then though we have not driven the car yet as it was a static launch the new iX3 is certainly bristling with new tech the most important of which is the battery tech that allows for the potential of an 800km range. All the other infotainment type technology while impressive is not exclusive to BMW.
We will reserve our full verdict until after we drive it. But this game changer may well become the benchmark for future EV’s. Lets wait and see!
The launch cars will arrive in Ireland in the first week of March 2026 but are available to order now with prices starting at €73,925.