BMW’s new iX3 will ignite an ‘unprecedented’ EV ramp-up starting this year

BMW is gearing as much as launch its first Neue Klasse mannequin later this 12 months, promising 30% quicker charging and at the least 30% extra vary. Beginning with the brand new iX3, BMW says an “unprecedented ramp-up” is coming because it prepares to unleash over 40 new and up to date fashions by 2027.

BMW’s new iX3 will arrive by the tip of 2025

Though BMW Group deliveries fell 4% final 12 months with 2.45 million automobiles delivered globally, the German automaker is betting closely on its next-generation EVs to assist flip issues round.

“With the Neue Klasse, we’re implementing the most important future-focused undertaking within the historical past of our firm,” CEO, Oliver Zipse, mentioned on Friday.

BMW confirmed the primary Neue Klasse mannequin, the iX3 will debut later this 12 months. It would kick off “an unprecedented ramp-up” of over 40 new and up to date automobiles set to reach by 2027.

Commercial – scroll for extra content material

All will likely be primarily based on a brand new “Digital Nervous System” and “Coronary heart of Pleasure” superior ECU which is able to ship drastic enhancements in vary, charging speeds, effectivity and extra.

The digital nervous system is a brand new zonal structure consisting of 4 “super-brains,” or high-performance computer systems, that energy the whole lot from the infotainment system to the driving dynamics and self-driving capabilities.

BMW claims the brand new system offers over 20 occasions extra in-car computing energy than its present automobiles. The brand new ECU, Coronary heart of Pleasure, integrates the drivetrain and driving dynamics, rising total effectivity by as much as 25%.

Mixed with its sixth-gen eDrive know-how, BMW mentioned the superior new tech reduces vitality loss by 40% and weight by 10%.

BMW mentioned that utilizing cylindrical battery cells and an 800V system will ship “20% increased vitality density, 30% quicker charging and at the least 30% extra vary.” The corporate additionally goals to scale back battery pack prices by 40% to 50%.

Following the brand new iX3, BMW will launch the next-gen i3, an electrical sedan that’s anticipated to compete with the brand new Mercedes CLA EV and Tesla Mannequin 3.

Regardless of international gross sales slipping, BMW’s EVs remained the principle progress driver. With an all-electric automobile in each section, BMW offered over 426,500 EVs final 12 months, representing over 17% of complete gross sales. In Europe, EV share is now over 20%. At MINI, roughly one in 4 automobiles is electrical, whereas at Rolls-Royce, it’s one in three.

With its Neue Klasse automobiles rolling out, beginning with the brand new iX3, BMW expects EVs to account for over 50% of world gross sales by 2030.

Forward of its official debut, BMW gave us a better have a look at the extremely anticipated iX3 and i3 in the course of the remaining levels of testing (see the teaser).