The Vision Neue Klasse X brings the aesthetics, technology, sustainability, and philosophy of BMW’s Neue Klasse to the Sports Activity Vehicles sector. The first fully electric raised derivative of the new architecture will go into series production at Plant Debrecen (Hungary) in 2025.
BMW first presented its future vision with the Neue Klasse concept at IAA 2023, in the guise of a sedan. The Neue Klasse X now applies this vision to the future of its X SUV models. The Neue Klasse is founded on three main characteristics – electric, digital and circular.
The design of the Neue Klasse X combines a clear exterior design language with a bright and spacious interior. Special lighting and sound effects enabled by the next generation of iDrive enhance the intuitive digital user experience. It will feature an enhanced drive and chassis control system designed to deliver an enhanced driving experience that is tailored to individual needs. It is based on a new software stack developed in-house by the BMW Group that will help the vehicles of the Neue Klasse to deliver a smooth drive at all times.
“The BMW of the future will have four totally new super-brains: high-performance computers working smartly together on what, up until now, was processed separately,” explains Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development.
“We developed the first super-brain completely in-house. It integrates the entire powertrain and driving dynamics with up to ten times more computing power. The second super-brain will enable the next quantum leap in automated driving,” Weber continues. “Going forward, we will combine four key control units in a single high-performance computer. The result will be more dynamic performance, more precision, more efficiency and even more fun to drive.”
In combination with the two-box design of a BMW X model, the pared-down design language developed for the Neue Klasse also represents a major leap forward in both exterior and interior design. With its increased ground clearance, the fully electric vehicle architecture offers new possibilities for an even more spacious interior.
It allows for a long wheelbase, short overhangs and classic BMW proportions. Large window areas and the panoramic glass roof flood the interior with natural light, creating an airy spaciousness that is complemented by textiles in warm colours.
Vertically aligned LED units offer a fresh interpretation of BMW’s hallmark light signature. The BMW kidney grille is reimagined as a three-dimensional sculpture with vertically aligned and backlit contours. Together, the headlights and kidney grille create a lighting effect that is activated as the driver approaches the vehicle and continues in the interior.
The rear lights reach far into the centre, providing a horizontal interpretation of the familiar BMW L shape. Its 3D-printed elements are individually controlled with variable light intensity to convey a particularly expressive depth effect.
Flush glass surfaces and the bright “Coral Silver” exterior paintwork give the Neue Klasse X a certain lightness. In the rear portion of the side windows, the brand’s signature Hofmeister kink is realised not through chrome edging, but with a “reflective print” that forms a transparent or reflective surface, depending on the viewing angle.
Inside, the slightly elevated seating position ensures a confident driving experience. The redesigned steering wheel comes with multifunction buttons. The Intelligent Personal Assistant has advanced voice control. The Panoramic Vision projects key information across the full width of the windscreen. It will be complemented in production models of the Neue Klasse by the enhanced BMW 3D Head-Up Display.
The Central Display is elegantly integrated into the instrument panel, providing both front passengers with optimal access to all infotainment functions. The colours shown are not only transferred to the ambient light, but also to the backlit textile surfaces of the instrument panel. The Personal Sound Experience is presented for the first time with the new Hypersonx Wheel. It generates sound in real-time and is adjusted with the tap of a finger on the Hypersonx Wheel.
The Neue Klasse, in addition to the latest, sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology, also debuts new round lithium-ion battery cells with a volumetric energy density more than 20 per cent higher than that of the prismatic cells previously used. In combination with the transition to an 800-volt system, this will improve charging speed by up to 30 per cent – allowing vehicles to charge enough for a 300-kilometre range in just ten minutes.
The sixth generation of BMW eDrive also delivers up to 30 per cent more range. When it comes to aerodynamics, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X boasts an impressive new top figure: with drag reduced by 20 percent to a comparable model in the current line-up. New tyre designs and a special brake system for fully electric vehicles help increase overall vehicle efficiency by up to 25 per cent.
The Neue Klasse X’s production was designed with a focus on sustainability. A completely plant-based, mineral-based and petroleum-free surface material “Verdana” was developed for the interior. It will be used in the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X in the lower portion of the door panelling and in the centre console. Maritime plastics are also being utilised for the first time for injection-moulded parts. In selected components, this secondary raw material, which is obtained, for example, from discarded fishing nets, already accounts for 30 per cent.
The choice of materials and construction methods enable easier disassembly of components and improved recyclability. The side skirts and front and rear apron attachments are also produced from recycled mono-materials. In this, the new design concept follows the principle of the BMW i Vision Circular presented in 2021, which relied extensively on mono-materials to optimise recyclability.
“The Neue Klasse reflects the variety of all the models that customers want today and, in the future, – from sporty sedan, with all its derivatives, to modern SAV family,” says Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “In this way, we are underlining that the Neue Klasse is much more than just a car or a specific concept; it is redefining the BMW brand.”