BMW Vision Neue Klasse Is a True Class Act
The future, for all carmakers, is electric — and BMW is betting its energy-efficient tomorrow on the Vision Neue Klasse concept. In the wise words of Frank Weber, a member of BMW’s board of management: “with the Neue Klasse, we have embarked on the biggest investment in the company’s history. We are not just writing the next chapter of BMW; we’re writing a whole new book.”
And the Vision Neue Klasse, unveiled in BMW’s home city of Munich this September, delivers on many years of build-up and big promises from the brand. It really is a spectacular-looking thing. The design hits like a breath of fresh air; it’s a dramatic turn from current design language to the point that it’s hard to believe it was penned by the same design team that’s responsible for the aggressive M4 or the bold and angular XM.
BMW Vision Neue Klasse
BMW Vision Neue Klasse
BMW Vision Neue Klasse
BMW Vision Neue Klasse
BMW Vision Neue Klasse
BMW Vision Neue Klasse
BMW Vision Neue Klasse
It looks bright, hopeful, even elegant. Certain design elements — including the kidney grille, the Hofmeister kink, and the boxy greenhouse — pull from the past, whilst others look to the future. The dashboard, which features small projectors that display information on the inside of the windshield, breaks away from the tired trend toward touchscreens. The calm, airy cabin also eschews the chrome and leather we’ve come to expect in luxury cars for yellow corduroy and clean white surfaces. Only a handful of materials have been used in general; all created more sustainably to reduce the car’s carbon footprint and to ensure it’ll be easy to dismantle and recycle when it reaches the end of its road. On top of all that, it’s small — a compact luxury sedan — the sort of car BMW does best.
Beneath the handsome, retro-futuristic exterior, the Neue Klasse employs next-generation battery cells to power its efficient motors. This, according to the carmaker, results in up to 30 per cent more driving range, and 30 per cent faster charging. But, while the technology at play in this latest concept heralds BMW’s bright electric future, it’s not the first time that the marque has bet big on radical designs and new engineering. In 1962, the then-small German brand was struggling, and developed its first Neue Klasse (or New Class) of cars with an eye to rescuing its reputation. That series of sporty sedans was a success, earning BMW its “Ultimate Driving Machine” distinction, and steering the carmaker on course to become the luxury giant it is today.
So when can we expect to see the first of these new Neue Klasses on the road? The brand says initial models will roll out by the summer of 2025, with six new all-electric models being built on the platform within 24 months. Firstly, we’ll see a compact SUV, followed by a compact sedan. And, although the company hasn’t said so explicitly, what you’re looking at here is likely a preview of the 2026 BMW 3 Series. If that’s the case, then the carmaker’s future looks more promising than ever.
