BMW is gearing as much as launch its first Neue Klasse mannequin later this yr, promising 30% sooner charging and at the very 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 yr with 2.45 million autos 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 largest future-focused venture within the historical past of our firm,” CEO, Oliver Zipse, stated on Friday.
BMW confirmed the primary Neue Klasse mannequin, the iX3 will debut later this yr. It is going to kick off “an unprecedented ramp-up” of over 40 new and up to date autos set to reach by 2027.
All shall be based mostly on a brand new “Digital Nervous System” and “Coronary heart of Pleasure” superior ECU which can 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 all the pieces from the infotainment system to the driving dynamics and self-driving capabilities.
BMW claims the brand new system gives over 20 occasions extra in-car computing energy than its present autos. The brand new ECU, Coronary heart of Pleasure, integrates the drivetrain and driving dynamics, growing general effectivity by as much as 25%.
Mixed with its sixth-gen eDrive expertise, BMW stated the superior new tech reduces power loss by 40% and weight by 10%.
BMW stated that utilizing cylindrical battery cells and an 800V system will ship “20% increased power density, 30% sooner charging and at the very least 30% extra vary.” The corporate additionally goals to cut 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 world gross sales slipping, BMW’s EVs remained the primary development driver. With an all-electric automobile in each phase, BMW offered over 426,500 EVs final yr, representing over 17% of complete gross sales. In Europe, EV share is now over 20%. At MINI, roughly one in 4 autos is electrical, whereas at Rolls-Royce, it’s one in three.
With its Neue Klasse autos 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 more in-depth have a look at the extremely anticipated iX3 and i3 in the course of the closing phases of testing (see the teaser).
