BMW iX3 50 xDrive: We Drove the First Neue Klasse Prototype!

The Neue Klasse designation has a long history at BMW. At the dawn of the 1960s, the Bavarian manufacturer launched a new class of mid-size cars that were bound to revolutionize the brand’s catalogue. Today, it’s making a comeback. And this time with electrification, and SUVs (of course!).

It was under the watchful eye of a team of engineers based at the Miramas test track in the south of France that The Car Guide was given the opportunity to test drive the first-born of this new Neue Klasse platform: a well-disguised electric prototype of the BMW iX3 50 xDrive.

• Also: BMW’s Next-Gen Electric SUV to Be Called iX3, Here’s When It’ll Debut
• Also: BMW Vision Neue Klasse X Previews Future BMW Electric SUVs

Looks and Style... Coming Soon!

BMW made it clear early on in the new Neue Klasse adventure: the platform could not only accommodate electric powertrains, but eventually hybrids and good old combustion engines. A wise move, since the uncertain times in which we live call for maximum flexibility.

For now, the Neue Klasse is sticking to electric propulsion. And as you can see from the photos, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive we put to the test doesn't reveal much of its physique. One could imagine the lines of the Neue Klasse X concept in the front, with the traditional kidney-shaped grille (whose format doesn't seem out of proportion), flanked by headlight clusters containing signature oblique beams. The rest is left to the imagination.

The interior, covered with thick blankets that conceal its various aspects, isn't very revealing either – as the finishing touches are often the last to be attached. However, the engineers have made sure we could interact with the parallelogram-shaped central screen, as well as the Panoramic Vision “screen”. The latter, which runs the full length between the two A-pillars, is in fact a gigantic heads-up display projected onto a blackened section of the windshield.

The system will be installed in no fewer than fourteen BMW models by 2027, and displays data in forms of widgets selected by the driver in the central screen. Clean and unobtrusive, it doesn't impede on the driver's field of vision like a traditional head-up display. The interior is enhanced by a few analog buttons here and there, notably on the steering wheel with bears a rather unusual design. The cabin's heating and cooling is provided by a heat pump, which we hope will be efficient in Canadian weather.

Power and Predictability

Our iX3 50 xDrive guinea pig was armed with a pair of electric motors whose combined output is roughly estimated at 400 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. The size of the battery powering these two units was not disclosed. However, BMW says it has the potential to deliver up to 600 kilometres of range on a single charge according to the EPA's cycle. Sounds promising!

On the road, performance is on a par with that of any 400-hp electric car. Fast, linear... nothing out of the ordinary, mission accomplished in terms of delivery. But what really catches the attention are the “mechanical” chassis choices. Firstly, BMW opted for electrically assisted mechanical steering - which is not the trend among manufacturers of high-end electric cars. While it proved a little fuzzy in comfort mode, with a hint of numbness in a straight line, dynamic mode proved far more communicative than a purist-dreaded steer-by-wire steering.

Secondly, BMW has opted for a traditional coilover suspension system supported by a hydraulic component. Pneumatic technology is proliferating in the world of high-end EVs, because of its responsiveness in compensating for the pronounced body movements of these heavyweight vehicles. However, it often sacrifices predictability and feedback.

Hence, the iX3's suspension is true to the brand's DNA, with good body control while giving the driver unsimulated feedback. As a bonus, a traditional suspension is always more reliable and less expensive to replace than an air suspension.

Moreover, the fact that the iX3 remains composed on rough pavement demonstrates the dexterity of the chassis team, who has calibrated the arsenal to balance comfort and sportiness in a vehicle handicapped by the weight of its battery. True, this mechanical philosophy is strongly supported by computers that modulate the electric motors in corners to accentuate the impression of control, but these intervene strategically to give free rein to the driver's maneuvers.

Finally, we were able to put our iX3 50 xDrive's charging speed to the test on a 400kW charger. Surprisingly, our guinea pig devoured all the 400 kW the charger had to offer, and did so for over 10 minutes before dropping to 200 kW. These unprecedented charging powers suggest that BMW has designed a battery conditioning system that surpasses the industry leaders. We'll have to see how it works when the Canadian winter takes hold of its battery cells, but for now, the engineering team deserves a round of applause.

AI-Supported Technologies

This cooperative philosophy between vehicle and driver also extends to driving aids. For example, adaptive cruise control is now more tolerant, allowing the driver to slow down or accelerate without completely deactivating itself. A semi-autonomous driving system is also available, allowing the driver to maneuver more freely when desired, as is a more intuitive, intelligent and easy-to-activate parking aid.

These technologies work thanks to a series of radars and cameras whose data streams are processed by a 20% more powerful processor than that found in the BMW i5, and which incorporates not only its own water-cooling system but also an artificial intelligence component that uses rule-based and generative algorithms. One of these cameras is pointed at the driver at all times, assessing their physical state and attention. We thwarted it by wearing sunglasses - a maneuver that didn't please the system, which deactivated our adaptive cruise control system.

A Potential Class Leader?

With its record-breaking charging technologies and cutting-edge electrical performance, a mechanical, purist-oriented chassis and artificial intelligence that seems to understand that the driver always wants to be in control of his vehicle, BMW is trying to set itself apart and perpetuate the brand's heritage with this Neue Klasse. The missing pieces of the puzzle are important ones, however, as we’re eager to find out more about the pricing strategy for this new class of bimmers.

The iX3 50 xDrive is due to be unveiled in Munich in September, with Canadian sales scheduled for the second quarter of 2026.