2027 BMW iX3 Debuts as First of the Neue Klasse Models

To say the 2027 BMW iX3 is “all-new” would be an understatement. It’s the first of the Neue Klasse models, which simply means “New Class” in German and represents a fundamental change in design and technology for the brand.

The last time we had a Neue Klasse sedan was in the 1960s, and it gave rise to many of the BMWs we know today, like the 3, 5, and 7 Series sedans. 

Think of Neue Klasse as the next evolution of the brand. Head of Neue Klasse, Dr. Mike Reichelt, says it’s like the 2027 BMW iX3 has skipped a generation and is a preview of things to come. Even the way the iX3 is made will be different, incorporating much greater use of sustainable materials and production processes, including an all-new facility in Debrecen, Hungary, where it will be produced.

Clean Production

The facility is BMW’s cleanest to date and operates without the use of fossil fuels by taking advantage of solar energy, thermal storage, and the use of a fully electric paint shop, the first of its kind. It results in two-thirds less CO2 emissions and will be a big player in the company’s plans to reduce its carbon footprint by 90 per cent by 2050. Eventually, the rest of BMW’s production facilities will be retrofitted with the tech used in Debrecen.

Concept-Like Looks 

The new iX3 looks very similar to the Neue Klasse X concept revealed in 2024, with simple lines, monolithic surfaces, and an emphasis on the wheels, according to BMW. The new double headlight signature and refreshingly small kidney grilles framed in black are reminiscent of the original Neue Klasse sedan from the 1960s. It’s a dramatic change from the last iX3, which wasn’t available in Canada.

Things get even more concept-like inside, starting with the square steering wheel, the massive 17.9-inch centre screen, and the new panoramic iDrive display at the base of the windshield. It’s actually a light projection that spans the width of the dashboard and is split into sections.

All information critical to driving, like speed and range, is in front of the driver. A new AI-enabled virtual assistant is in the middle, and there are six slots that can be customized with a number of widgets, like weather or performance gauges.

Notably, the iDrive rotary controller, a fixture in many BMWs since it was first introduced in the 7 Series in 2001, is no longer being used. The company says the latest version of iDrive is simplified and more user-friendly, with fewer steps required to activate functions or features.

The Latest in EV Tech

The iX3 is the first BMW to use an all-new 800-volt electric architecture that includes its sixth-generation e-drive electric motors and battery.

The 2027 BMW iX3 will arrive in a dual-motor 50 xDrive version to start, with a combined 463 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque fed by a 108-kWh battery that uses all-new cylindrical cells. The cells are arranged directly into the battery without being separated into modules, which BMW says saves weight and aids in cooling the cells. The pack also forms the floor of the vehicle, another space and weight-saving measure. The battery pack has a 20 per cent higher energy density, can be charged up to 30 per cent faster, and affords up to 30 per cent more range compared to the last generation. There’s also a 50 per cent reduction in emissions when producing the cells.

Range on a full charge is estimated at 643 km, which would put the iX3 at the top of its class, and thanks to the 800-volt architecture, it can charge as fast as 400 kW, provided you use a charger rated to deliver that. That means up to 350 km in 10 minutes or a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 21 minutes. 

Sixth-Generation Powertrain

All new, more efficient, and more powerful electric motors will be equipped on the new iX3. The powertrain, which is much better integrated into the chassis, combines the motor, transmission, and power electronics into one compact package. The new inverter uses silicon carbide in its construction, which powertrain engineer Stefan Ortmann says, “greatly reduces conversion losses when converting the battery’s DC power to AC power” required by the motors. It ultimately means improved efficiency for the customer.

Driving Pleasure Still a Big Part of the Equation

With all this talk about efficiency and sustainability, one thing was made clear, and that is BMW is still in the business of offering sporty driving dynamics, and it will remain core to the brand. The iX3 will be governed by four supercomputers that replace the dozens of computer modules typically found in a modern vehicle. There’s the main “core” brain, one for the automated driving features, one for the infotainment and one specifically for driving functions, which BMW named the “heart of joy.”

It combines the powertrain, energy recuperation, brakes, and steering, and can process information 20 times faster than previous systems. The company says that, along with a much more rigid platform and sophisticated suspension, the iX3 will form a “symbiotic relationship” with its driver.

Pricing for the new iX3 isn’t available just yet, but production will begin this fall and the first cars are expected to arrive at dealers in the summer of 2026.