There are some big changes in the works at BMW and the Bavarian automaker is offering a clear sign of what’s coming in the form of the all-electric BMW Vision Neue Klasse X. It marks the first time we get to see what future versions of the company’s Sports Activity Vehicle line-up will look like.
The Vision X concept strongly reflects what production all-electric SAV models will look like.
One of the first major European brands to begin electrifying its vehicles, BMW will make a major leap in both design and technology with the upcoming launch of its Neue Klasse line-up.
Where it once planned to go with flexible platforms capable of using a variety of different powertrain technologies – from all-gas to all-electric – the Neue Klasse models will be exclusively EV when BMW launches production in 2025.
The Bavarian automaker previously revealed Vision prototypes showing off the new direction in store for its passenger car line-up. The BMW Vision Neue Klasse X focuses on the automaker’s upcoming Sports Activity Vehicles, including all-electric alternatives to the familiar X3 and X5 models.
A new direction
The upcoming iX3 is believed to be the first BMW SAV that will adopt the Neue Klasse platform and technology.
“The Neue Klasse reflects the variety of all the models that customers want today and in the future – from sport sedan, with all its derivatives, to modern SAV family,” BMW Chairman Oliver Zipse said in a statement accompanying these images of the Vision X. “In this way, we are underlining that the Neue Klasse is much more than just a car or a specific concept; it is redefining the BMW brand – and, at the same time, will be more BMW than ever.”
The Neue Klasse – or new class, if you prefer – is as close as you can get to a true, ground-up redesign, impacting just about everything short of the tires and windshield wipers. And we’re not so sure about them.
There’s a completely new platform specifically designed to be all-electric only. And Neue Klasse models will adopt an entirely new electronic control system that abandons the traditional “distributed computing” approach where, on a model like the current 7-Series, there can be more than 100 different microprocessors controlling individual components and functions. Instead, the new EVs will have a centralized control systems comprised of what BMW describes as “four new super-brains.”
New design direction
A closer look at the new design language of the Neue Klasse X line.
The Vision Neue Klasse X does pick up on some familiar BMW design cues, such as the iconic double-kidney grille. But here it adopts a narrow, vertical layout that’s more three-dimensional than on current BMW SAVs. That’s echoed by the new, vertically oriented headlights, as well by the rear lighting which include, for the first time, 3D-printed elements.
As with most modern EVs, the grille is sealed, since there’s no need to push air under the hood, the motors and battery pack mounted within the skateboard-like platform. Maximizing aerodynamics is key, and that includes the use of flush glass surfaces – including an all-glass roof.
Another classic BMW design cue, the Hofmeister kink of the back windows, is no longer framed by chrome but uses what is described as a “reflective print.” Depending upon the viewing angle, the automaker says, it can appear either transparent or reflective.
Overall, “The X models will always remain strong in character: monolithic, clean, and with a very distinctive vertical interpretation of the BMW light signature,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design.
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The Vision Neue Klasse X gets a virtually all-glass roof.
A new interior approach
The Vision Neue Klasse X adopts an equally radical approach to its interior design, starting with that all-glass roof which provides a light and airy feel for passengers.
The team led by van Hooydonk adopted a minimalist approach, with a broad, two-tone instrument panel dominated by a setback display running pillar to pillar. It presents a blend of digital gauges and, to the right, widgets that can be selected by the driver. (It’s a not entirely unique approach, echoing what Lincoln has done with the new Nautilus SUV.)
A second, pad-like display floats above the center console which features expansive storage. Additional information can be projected directly onto the windshield.
Multiple display technologies are used in the Vision Neue Klasse X concept.
As with the overall cabin, the Vision X features thin but well-bolstered seats that eschew traditional luxury materials, opting instead for sustainable fabrics and other materials. About 30% of the plastics used on the Vision Neue Klasse X come from reclaimed materials, such as discarded fishing nets.
A squared-off “Hypersonx” steering wheel with haptic-touch controls completes the picture. Along with the new display tech, BMW is showing off its new “Personal Sound Experience” which, it says, allows occupants to “enjoy their favorite sound on any trip. The sound, generated in real time and adjusted with the tap of a finger on the (steering) wheel, is an innovative contribution to the immersive and holistic user experience that transforms the interior of the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X into a personal experience space.”
Drivetrain
New batteries and an 800-volt electrical system will up the charging speed of BMW’s new EVs by 30%.
For the moment, BMW isn’t saying much about the drivetrain technology it will use in the Neue Klasse line-up.
The automaker does suggest it introduces its sixth-generation eDrive system, including more efficient motor and battery technologies. New cylindrical lithium ion battery cells, for example have 20% greater energy density than the prior-generation prismatic batteries.
By migrating from a 400 to an 800-volt electrical system, meanwhile, charging time is said to be 30% faster. Some earlier reports suggest the new models could add as much as 30 miles per minute using the highest-power public quick chargers currently available.
The new eDrive system also should deliver about 30% more range than before – though it also helps that BMW claims the Neue Klasse X design has reduced aerodynamic drag by about 20% compared to older X models. New tire designs, along with improved regenerative brakes offer still more improvements in energy efficiency.
Look for the first BMW Neue Klasse models to go into production in 2025.
As with today’s BMW line-up, a variety of different drivetrain options, including two- and four-wheel-drive packages, are in the works. So are high-performance M models.
Production plans
Look for BMW to begin rolling out the Neue Klasse in 2025, starting with the i3 and iX3 models.
“The first fully-electric SAV derivative on the new architecture,” said the automaker, “will go into series production at Plant Debrecen, Hungary, in 2025.
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