BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, electric SUV to be launched in 2025.

BMW is working on the next generation of electric vehicles, collectively called "Neue Klassen" (German for "new class"), the first of which is coming soon. It will be a sedan and SUV, and will be in the same segment as the 3 Series and X3.

The SUV will go into production in 2025, with the sedan to follow shortly after. Previously, the sedan was thought to be first.

BMW previewed the sedan last year with the Vision Neue Klasse concept and previewed the SUV on Thursday with the Vision Neue Klasse X concept.

Those expecting a recreation of the sedan concept's sleek front end will be disappointed; the SUV features BMW's signature new kidney grille, which stretches vertically in the style of the original 1960s Neue Klasse and 02 Series grille. The blacked-out grille presumably contains sensors for electronic driver assistance functions.

Other details are similar to the sedan, with designers using cleaner surfaces than those typically found on modern BMWs, plus a greenhouse with large window areas, including a panoramic glass roof, to allow light to pour into the cabin According to BMW, aerodynamic drag is also 20 percent lower than comparable current models, which should also contribute to the vehicle's range.

The Vision Neue Krasse X, like the previous Vision Neue Krasse, also signals the future design direction of BMW's interiors. The simplified interior is similar to that found in the Tesla, and BMW has stated that its aim is to reduce analog controls to a minimum. While some controls remain on the steering wheel, most of the interaction is handled by a central infotainment screen, voice assistants, gesture controls, and a heads-up display that spans the width of the windshield.

BMW calls the new heads-up display Panoramic Vision and says the system can project information at the ideal height for the driver's line of sight. According to BMW, the system can display necessary information, such as automated driving assistance alerts and navigation guidance, as 3D animations above the driver's line of sight.

A new feature previewed in Vision Neue Klasse X is what BMW calls the HypersonX Wheel. This is a digital feature that can create a personalized sound experience; BMW has not revealed details, but says the sound is generated in real time and can be adjusted with the tap of a finger.

The Neuklasse vehicle is being developed on a next-generation EV platform that promises increased power and efficiency, as well as fast charging with an 800-volt electric system. BMW's own drive and chassis control software should also ensure typical BMW handling characteristics.

The Neuklasse vehicle will also feature a next-generation battery with a new cylindrical cell (instead of the current prismatic cell design).

A prototype of a production version of the Vision Neue Classe X has already been spotted. This model is being developed alongside a redesigned version of the gasoline-powered X3. The electric SUV is expected to be called iX3, the name BMW uses for its current electric X3 sold abroad. Similarly, the sedan will likely be called the i3, the name already used for the electric version of the current 3 Series sedan sold only in China.

Production of the SUV was confirmed on Thursday as planned at a new plant BMW is building in Debrecen, Hungary, with a 2025 production start suggesting it will arrive in the US as a 2026 model. The Neue Classe EV will also be produced at plants in Germany and China starting in 2026 and in San Luis Potosi, Mexico starting in 2027.