BMW is developing a new series of electric vehicles known as the Neue Klasse, having showcased two initial models—the Vision Neue Klasse sedan and Vision Neue Klasse X SUV concepts—over the past year.
According to the company’s design chief, Adrian van Hooydonk, these concepts are not just limited to electric vehicles; they will also influence the designs and technology of future gasoline-powered cars, as he stated in an interview with Top Gear published on Thursday.
“The big push with EVs, these technologies and this design language, will transfer over the entire product portfolio including our combustion vehicles,” he mentioned.
He noted that while there will be minor variations in proportions tailored to their specific powertrains—particularly with regards to the interior due to the need for a transmission tunnel in gasoline models—the overall aesthetics, feel, and technological features will be consistent across the range.
In his conversation with Top Gear, van Hooydonk asserted that the production versions of the Vision Neue Klasse and Vision Neue Klasse X would closely mirror their concept counterparts, comparing their design fidelity to the earlier i3 and i8 models and their prototypes.
“You know how close the i3 and i8 were to their concept cars, that’s what’s going to happen here,” he remarked.
The Vision Neue Klasse X hints at a compact crossover, likely to be named iX3, which is slated for release in 2025 as the first EV in the Neue Klasse lineup. Camouflaged prototypes have already been sighted testing on roads.
BMW Vision Neue Klasse
Following this, a production variant of the Vision Neue Klasse concept, presumably labeled i3, will be launched in 2026. This model is expected to bear a striking resemblance to the forthcoming gasoline-powered 3-Series, anticipated around 2027.
Among the cutting-edge technologies debuting in the first Neue Klasse vehicle is a user interface that will utilize head-up displays alongside steering wheel controls. There will be two head-up displays: one for crucial driving information and another dedicated to the infotainment system. Additionally, a touchscreen will be positioned at the center of the dashboard, although the digital instrument cluster currently found in BMW’s lineup may be phased out.
Regardless of the powertrain type, the vehicles will incorporate a significant proportion of recycled materials, aiming to minimize their overall environmental impact.
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