BMW iX3, the test of the Neue Klasse: how it goes, electric range, price, versions

When it comes to electric cars, the pioneering approach has always characterized the philosophy of BMW: in 2013, with the project theintroduced the i3a car that is totally outside the box, with a carbon body and a design that is different from the rest of the range. Then came the era of multi-energy platforms: a compromise that allowed the Bavarian company to ride a still immature electricity market, adapting the platform Clar (Cluster Architecture) for thermal and electrical. Today we change pace. There Neue Class it’s not just ainnovative architecturebut a real declaration of intent. Future BMWs will be different in terms of mechanics, but with a common stylistic language. The first, highly anticipated, is the iX3: Segment SUV Dbattery-powered sister of the X3, but also something much deeper. Because if it is true that at first glance it may seem like yet another Sport Utility Vehicle, this car hides a vision. It is the beginning of a new era for BMW in which technology is no longer a whim, but a tool to make the car more rational, efficient and – why not – desirable.

1 Design: a new face

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The style of Neue Class it is immediately recognisable. The front is a contemporary reinterpretation of the double kidneynow stylized, vertical, inspired by the historical Neue Class that is, the family of Bavarian sedans from the 1960s of which we still find traces today in the architecture and design of the thermal models of the Elica. THE LED light clusters they are clearly set into the bodywork and animated during ignition. The lines are tense and geometric, sculpted, with a classic but not too nostalgic balance and without gratuitous special effects. The rear is consistent: angular and clean, without too many frills. And the same goes for the side, massive and without ribs. Only the trim levels curated by M Performance allow themselves some freedom, such as additional aerodynamic appendages and 22-inch diamond-cut wheels. On all other cars, the cleanliness of the lines reigns supreme.

2 Elegant and innovative technology

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The passenger compartment opens onto a technological but sober environment. The new iDrive comes to life through one oblique screen 17.9 inches, which recalls the orientation of the dashboard towards the driver typical of old BMW cockpits. But the real star is a second slim full-width display called Panoramic Visionvisible under the windshield, just below the bonnet line. This system reflects key information such as speed, navigation or adas through a mirror placed under the windscreen, making it readable without taking your eyes off the road and without reflections of sunlight. The steering wheel, with an elliptical shape as standard, is also available in the sportier M version. In both cases it has a particular appearance and appears almost suspended. The controls are touch, but the real leap is given by the integration between touch, voice commands and visual inspection: for the first time the car understands where we are looking and can interpret it as input. The materials, almost all recycled or sustainable, do not give up the sense of solidity and quality expected from a BMW. The only elements that are out of place in a high-class and technological interior are the turn signal and windshield wiper levers, which are very light and economical to the touch.

3 Autonomy, battery and super… computers

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Instead of multiplying modules and control units, the architecture Neue Class focuses on a radical simplification: four suns super computers they manage the entire car, simplifying wiring and optimizing costs and logistics, because they are produced by the same supplier. But above all, this makes communication between the control units faster, allowing a better interconnection between the driving dynamics and the thermal efficiency of the batteries. The battery is structural, integrated into the frame: 112 kWh gross (108.9 net), with high energy density cylindrical cells – the size of small 25 cl cans – immersed in fluid and foam for cooling and to increase safety. The package is unique, without separate modules: in the event of a failure, the damaged cell does not compromise the entire system. The system operates at 800V and allows recharges at 400 kW: 10 minutes are enough to recover enough energy to travel 370 km. The declared autonomy, in the WLTP mixed combined cycle, is 805 kmbut in our test we estimated that with inefficient and decidedly brilliant driving, it is possible to exceed 500 km without problems. The iX3 supports bidirectional charging: It can power devices, other cars, send energy back to the grid or even act as a home battery.

4 Symbiotic assistance

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The new generation driving assistance systems are among the most advanced on the market. What BMW calls “Symbiotic Drive” it is capable of managing advanced partial autonomous driving, but the difference is in the behaviour: when the driver intervenes out of caution (on the brake or on the steering wheel), the system does not deactivate but accepts the corrections and adapts to human intervention, remaining active. Lane changing can be activated simply by looking in the mirror: one camera on the mirror internal interprets the intention and independently initiates the maneuver if conditions permit. The iX3 also has an effective function automated parkingwhich however requires 40 cm of margin per side and is activated via LEDs on the steering wheel. The car recognizes obstacles at 360°, ensuring precision and safety in manoeuvres. All controls can also be integrated via smartphone and smartwatch.

5 The heart of the guide

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It’s still a BMW. And in fact driving pleasure is a key point of the project. The system Heart of Joy it is one of the architecture’s four supercomputers Neue Class: manages steering, suspension, torque control and powertrain response, ensuring engaging dynamic behavior. With two electric motors (one per axis) for a total of 489 HP And 645 Nmthe iX3 accelerates from 0 to 100 in 4.9 seconds. But the real strength is in its progressiveness: always fluid, never brutal, consistent with the idea of ​​mature sportsmanship. On the roads between Malaga and the Ascari circuit, the iX3 proved stable, precise and responsive, despite its significant weight. Most daily braking (up to 98% according to BMW) is handled by regenerative braking, which recovers up to 230 kW: in our 135 km road journey, made up mainly of climbs and accelerations, we consumed 49 kWh, but we recovered 20 kWh, for a total of 29 kWh with a consumption of approximately 22.3 kWh/100 km. But this wasn’t a consumption test, on the contrary we put the engine and chassis to the test. To do this we were on the track, among the curves of Ascari circuitthe regeneration was assisted by the mechanical brakes only in the most decisive braking sections. The high travel speed, the way in which the chassis hides the obvious weight and the communication of the steering suggest that if these are the basics, a future M version could offer real emotions.

6 Prices and versions

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The new BMW iX3 2025 marks a turning point for the European electric: it is advanced, well made, competitive in price and, above all, pleasant to drive. It demonstrates that you can make a battery-powered car that is rational, sustainable and desirable without giving in to technological excesses for their own sake. In a landscape where hi-tech risks becoming folkloreBMW responds with quality, rigor and engineering intelligence. And this time, the electric seems themore sensible alternative: the iX3 50

7 Pros and cons

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Below you can find the strengths and weaknesses of the new BMW iX3 found during the road test carried out on Spanish soil.

• Pleases: Aesthetically satisfying and truly useful technology, driving pleasure like a real BMW;
• Don’t like it: Lower quality details (such as the indicator and windshield wiper levers) that are out of place in a high-class interior.