The BMW iX3 is here, and the EV landscape may never be the same. Hear us out. The iX3 is the spearhead of BMW’s new era, the first product of the Neue Klasse family of vehicles, the culmination of an all-hands-on-deck effort by one of the world’s great automakers, and — if you ask us — the beginning of a new era for EVs in general.
Not only does the all-new iX3 put BMW ahead of the usual German luxury rivals when it comes to battery-powered vehicle, it puts BMW in contention as the new leader in the EV race. Until now, start-up brands have had an edge when it comes to driving range and tech, but not anymore.
And when BMW says “new era” they’re not kidding. The company’s CEO is on-record saying BMW will launch 40 new or updated models based on this Neue Klasse platform by 2027.
Wait, Really? The iX3 is a Big Deal?
Yes, really. It’s the most important BMW in decades. The might of BMW’s considerable engineering and design talent has been laser-focused on Neue Klasse series of next-gen EVs for years now. It’s probably been at least four years since we started hearing the ‘Neue Klasse’ name whispered in hushed, almost reverent, tones around BMW HQ in Munich.
“But, for me – and for all of us at the BMW Group – today’s premiere is truly a “once-in-a-lifetime moment”. When else do you get to re-imagine a brand like BMW from the ground up?” asked Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management at BMW AG, in September when the iX3 made its auto show debut.
The iX3 — and all upcoming Neue Klasse models, of which there are many — are clean-sheet designs. They’re smarter, more efficient, more sustainable, simpler to make, nicer to drive and look at, easier to live with, and more in line with what drivers need and want. That all starts with how the Neue Klasse looks.
BMW Design Makes A Course Correction
That starts with a fresh new design language that BMW describes as clear, distinctive and timeless. One look at the iX3 tells you it ushers in a break from BMW’s aggro big-grille era, which was controversial, to say the least.
BMW Group’s head of design, Adrian van Hooydonk, explained that big steps forward on technology can only happen hand-in-hand with big steps forward on design. “The BMW iX3 has a much bigger range helped by a very clean shape with excellent aerodynamics. In the interior you will find a new display concept that allowed us to clean-up the dashboards and completely redefine the driving experience,” said Hooydonk.
“The surfaces are very clean with only a few precise lines. The front-end shows a new interpretation of the BMW typical face in which we replace chrome with light,” he said. “At the same time, this has allowed us to design much cleaner and warmer interiors, creating very personal living environments.”
The cabin looks delectable. A projected screen just under the windshield — called Panoramic Vision — runs the full width of the car, displaying a customizable array of useful info. There’s still a central touchscreen, but (deep breath) the circular iDrive controller we’ve known and loved since the early 2000s is gone. RIP. Will we miss it? Almost certainly, yes.
But, BMW promises that, “Large Language Model (LLM) technology will also be gradually introduced to enable even more intuitive voice interaction in the future,” and, well, we hope that proves true.
Okay, Numbers. What’s the Driving Range of the iX3?
Real quick, the estimated driving range of the iX3 is up to 650 kilometres. (That’s huge.) And remember: this is BMW’s estimate based on the EPA test-cycle so, if anything, that’s probably a bit conservative compared to what the iX3 can achieve in real-world conditions.
Peak charging rate is 400 kW, which BMW claims is enough to recharge the battery from 10 to 80 percent in just 21 minutes. (And, be honest, most of your roadside stops for gas and coffee take about the same amount of time, right?)
What magic is this? No magic, it’s BMW’s sixth-generation EV architecture. Don’t forget that BMW was an early adopter of EVs, launching its totally-brilliant and criminally-underrated cult-classic i3 way back in 2013. To get geeky for a moment, BMW’s sixth-gen batteries are 20 per cent more energy dense than previous batteries.
How much does the iX3 cost in Canada? We don’t have prices yet — expect the company to make an announcement early next year — but we do know the BMW iX3 will arrive in Canadian dealership in mid-2026. So, mark your calendars.
How Fast is the iX3?
Dual electric motors in the BMW iX3 50 xDrive combine to generate 463 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, and 0 to 100 km/h takes 4.9 seconds. So, it’s not slow, but we know there are (much) faster versions in the works.
The dual motor all-wheel drive system actually uses two different types of electric motors. We’ll spare you the gory details, but the point is the new system reduces energy losses by 40 per cent, and is 10 per cent lighter.
But Does it Drive Like a BMW?
This, frankly, is a major open question and one that could make or break the iX3 in the long run. If BMW can’t get its EVs to drive with that quintessential BMW-ness — the feeling of precision and connection and a playful whiff of oversteer — then why buy a BMW EV at all?
Clearly BMW knows this too, which is why the company is touting something called The Heart of Joy. It’s one of four so-called Superbrains (read: central computers) in the car, but this one is responsible for how the car drives. It was developed in-house to make the iX3 handle like a BMW should, or so the company claims. We’ll get to find out soon enough how true that really is.
Early Results Show BMW Has a Hit on Its Hands
Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management at BMW AG, said in September: “We have started taking customer orders for the car, which have exceeded our expectations. Just looking at Europe, we see orders already extend several months into 2026 already. This confirms an exceptionally positive start for the vehicle.”
And, as mentioned, this is just the beginning. Next up is an all-new i3 sedan — an all-electric member of the 3 Series family — which is due next year. After that, there’ll be 40 new or updated models based on this Neue Klasse platform by 2027. BMW is swinging for the fences here, so you can bet we’ll be paying attention.
