The new face, platform, and pretty much everything about the BMW Neue Klasse SUV has been observed and tested by the public in Germany, the home nation of the automaker. Or, perhaps more properly, this is the latest chapter in the story. The heavily camouflaged BMW Neue Klasse (New Class) electric SUV that you see here is expected to go into production in 2025 or thereabouts. Even though it’s completely covered with various vinyl wrapping, it’s evident that this upcoming model will be very different from the production X3, which is comparable in size to the prototype, that is now on the road.
This next model, which should not be confused with the iX3 that is sold in some other regions of the world, is most likely going to be branded as the iX3. It will undoubtedly be available with several power levels and be appropriately badged. The i4 electric car expands the lineup with eDrive35 and eDrive40 (single-motor rear-wheel drive) and xDrive40 and M50 (dual-motor all-wheel drive) versions. The current BMW iX SUV is available in xDrive50 and the more potent M60 versions. A comparable trim range is anticipated for the iX3.
It’s possible that the visible aspects of the bodywork are just as fascinating as the hidden details. The form of the SUV’s fascia and grille, which are quite similar to the Vision Neue Klasse concept sedan that we last saw looking classy (sorry, couldn’t stop ourselves) a few months ago, is the clearest visual cue that this is the Neue Klasse. It’s likely that two vertically orientated kidneys sit front and center, surrounded by wider wings that may or may not be flush with the rest of the face. We can’t say for sure though. We’re not sure at this stage what is real bodywork and what is camouflage. The front corners are flanked by wide-set headlights, however, it’s unlikely that these lighting clusters are in final production form.
Without stylistic accents like sloping rooflines or heavily punched-out fenders, the rest of the machine has a rather muted appearance from a profile perspective. It appears that this isn’t a base model because of the flush-mounted door handles, big blue brake calipers, and sufficiently broad wheels. Although we are unable to look inside, we know it is filled with cutting-edge screens. It will likely be a few more years until this electric SUV is produced, thus we will likely continue to see these cars in camouflage driving about in public.
