The long-awaited BMW Neue Klasse platform has at last produced its first production SUV, a second-generation iX3. The electric SUV will be launched in the world market in 2026 and will be a radical change in design and engineering that will not resemble the styling controversies of recent years of the BMW brand, and will take technology and efficiency to unprecedented heights.
The iX3 will cost between approximately USD 60,000 (₹53 lakh approximately) and will compete with rivals such as the Tesla Model Y Performance and iX M50 xDrive made by BMW.
Powertrain and Performance
The iX3 will come in the 50 xDrive option at launch with a dual-motor AWD. The combined motors make 463 bhp and 645 Nm, which allows a 0-60 mph run in 4.7 seconds with a top speed of 209 km/h.
The battery provides a range of up to 644 km (WLTP), and the 800 V electrical architecture provides 400 kW DC charging, also providing an additional 370 km of range in just 10 minutes. Other variants in future will be single-motor RWD and sportier M Sport.
Measurements and Usability
The new iX3 is 4,783 mm long, 1,895 mm wide and 1,636 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,898 mm. Its predecessor is longer and bigger, and has up to 861 litres of boot space (expandable to 1,841 litres) and 57 litres of frunk. The aerodynamics is also enhanced, and the drag coefficient has decreased from 0.29 Cd to 0.24 Cd.
Design and Interior
The Neue Klasse styling restores smaller kidney grilles, reminiscent of the traditional BMW 2002 series, instead of the enormous grilles of the later models. The gloss black accents, LED headlights, flush door handles and illuminated grille options make it look futuristic but elegant.
The interior feature is the Panoramic iDrive, which is a 17.9-inch infotainment display that has a pillar-to-pillar display and an optional 3D head-up display.
Technology and Software-defined features
BMW describes the iX3 as a software-defined car and is constructed with four high-performance computing systems. The supercomputer known as the Heart of Joy controls the drives, steering, braking systems and energy recovery, and a different computer controls the advanced driver assistors, making the SUV as smart as it is fast.
The 2026 BMW iX3 is taking the shape of one of the key actors in the high-end EV market with its combination of range, design, and digital-first interiors.
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