According to BMW, the Neue Klasse is to become a central milestone in its more than 100-year history. What the Munich-based company is up to, why the euphoria is so great even before the market launch.
Munich - The electric turning point at BMW is taking shape: More and more information is becoming known about the premiere model of a new platform, which will be given a foretaste at the IAA 2023 in autumn. At the important motor show in Munich, the premium manufacturer is reportedly presenting a near-series model of the "New Class".
In terms of name, this will presumably be a successor to the BMW i3 - i.e. the model that is the first BMW model that was powered exclusively by electricity. However, the shape and dimensions are not comparable: An electric sedan is to be launched, which will be the 3 Series counterpart to attract customers. It will further intensify competition with Tesla for the crown in the electric segment, where companies such as VW, Mercedes and manufacturers from Asia are no less ambitious.
BMW i3: Successor will be an electric 3 Series - market launch planned for 2025
However, the next BMW i3, which is scheduled to be launched in 2025, differs significantly from the brand's current models: In terms of design, the electric 3 Series will clearly stand out from the manufacturer's current vehicles - and have little in common with the first i3 generation.
While the iX1 and the new iX2 models mean the placement of compact vehicles with electric drive in the portfolio, the BMW i3 (2025) is intended to propel the carmaker back to the top of the field in fiercely competitive competition. In addition, the new electric car from Munich plays an essential role in the plan for every second BMW in Europe to have an electric drive by 2030.
BMW plans 3 Series electric - including mega consumption and station wagon offshoot
The impressive thing about the electric 3 Series is not only the extraordinary design, but also the efficiency, if it goes according to the ideas of the executive floor: Tesla and various manufacturers from Asia (including Hyundai and NIO) threaten to outstrip the local car greats, which is why the powertrain in particular is being developed in such a way that range and consumption are to set new standards. A "completely new product offering" (original sound BMW) will be the project "New Class", there is talk of only 13 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometers, according to the Handelsblatt, citing internal sources.
According to the report, the BMW 3 Series Electric will later be accompanied by a station wagon version (presumably i3 Touring), which would undoubtedly delight many fans in Europe. An SUV (iX3?) is also scheduled to be launched in 2027 at the latest.
Focus.de speculates about the performance spectrum of the "New Class" that it ranges from 200 to 500 hp, and a later M version as the spearhead of the i3 is likely. Is the prognosis regarding an unregulated top speed above 250 km/h also realistic? We can be curious. While this is a classic aspect when announcing new models, the next-generation BMW i3 will see a technological leap in interior design.
+BMW study "i Vision Dee" at a car show in Shanghai in April: a preview of the upcoming i3 generation.
© VCG/Imago
BMW: "New class" with digital cockpit and next generation of infotainment
The cockpit in particular is expected to increase significantly in terms of digitization compared to the contemporary i4. Here, the focus will be on the Asian market, where the potential sales opportunities of the BMW novelty are highest. German electric cars and the associated infotainment have so far been unpopular in markets such as China. The i3 successor will use a newly developed head-up display that stretches across the entire windshield. As Focus explains, depending on the region, TikTok (China) or Google (USA) will play an essential role, and there will also be "over-the-air" updates that save workshop trips and thus time.
The BMW 3 Series Electric will be produced at the new BMW plant (iFactory) Debrecen in Hungary from 2025, before production is rolled out to other locations such as Munich (2026) and probably also Mexico. (PF)
