As the first series-produced model from BMW’s Neue Klasse, the BMW iX3 ushers in a new era of design, technology and electric performance. This fully electric Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) combines an all-new design language with sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology, delivering a range of up to 805 kilometres while setting new benchmarks for efficiency and capability.
A new look for a new era
The BMW iX3 is the first to introduce BMW’s new design language, with a more pared-back, characterful aesthetic. Its familiar SAV proportions are given a contemporary interpretation, from the vertically arranged BMW kidneys to the new light signature and flush glass surfaces.
Inside, the emphasis shifts towards space, comfort and a more immersive digital experience. The uncluttered cabin combines BMW’s driver-focused approach with generous room for all five passengers, while considered materials, atmospheric lighting and a panoramic glass roof create a space that feels as suited to long-distance journeys as it does everyday driving.
Your drive, reimagined
At the heart of the interior is BMW Panoramic iDrive, bringing together displays, controls, light and sound into a more intuitive driving experience. Information is projected across the width of the windscreen through BMW Panoramic Vision, while the Central Display and multifunction steering wheel put key functions within easy reach.
For all its digital intelligence, the new iX3 remains unmistakably focused on the pleasure of being behind the wheel. At the centre of its new electronics architecture are four high-performance computers, or “superbrains”, each dedicated to a different aspect of the driving experience, from driving dynamics and automated driving to infotainment and comfort. BMW’s ‘Heart of Joy’ control unit brings together the drivetrain, brakes, energy recuperation and steering, working with the car’s driving dynamics systems to deliver a more precise and responsive experience.
Electric, without compromise
Sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology brings a significant leap in electric performance. The BMW iX3 50 xDrive delivers 345 kW of power and 645 Nm of torque, with a 0–100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds and a WLTP range of up to 805 kilometres. Charging is equally ambitious: at an 800V DC rapid-charging station, up to 372 kilometres of range can be added in just 10 minutes, while a 10–80 per cent charge takes 21 minutes.
A more considered way forward
The Neue Klasse is also about looking beyond performance. BMW has applied a broader sustainability approach to the iX3, with the car’s product carbon footprint reduced by 34% over its life cycle compared with its predecessor. Around one third of the vehicle is made from secondary raw materials, while production at BMW Group Plant Debrecen is designed to operate without fossil fuels under normal conditions.
The beginning of what comes next
The new BMW iX3 is more than the latest addition to the electric line-up. As the first Neue Klasse model, it sets the tone for the BMW models that will follow, with the technologies developed for this new generation due to make their way into 40 new models and model updates in the upcoming years.
“The Neue Klasse is our biggest future-focussed project and marks a huge leap in terms of technologies, driving experience and design,” says Peter van Binsbergen, CEO BMW Group South Africa. “Practically everything about it is new, yet it is also more BMW than ever. Our entire product range will benefit from the innovations of the Neue Klasse – regardless of the drive technology. What started as a bold vision has now become reality: the BMW iX3 is the first Neue Klasse model to go into series production. We are not only bringing the next generation of one of our most successful fully electric vehicles onto the road, we are launching a new era for BMW.”
