Have you heard of the Neue Kid in Klasse?
BMW’s two Neue Klasse concepts offer a glimpse of the future, combining a fresh design language, cutting-edge in-car technology, and improved powertrains. While BMW is heavily investing in its next generation of electric vehicles, it’s not leaving gasoline-powered cars behind. The automaker has confirmed that the Neue Klasse design will also extend to internal combustion engine (ICE) cars.
“The big push with EVs, these technologies and this design language, will transfer over the entire product portfolio, including our combustion vehicles. For the customer, it won’t be difficult—they will all get new, modern BMWs and they can choose the drivetrain,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW Group's design director, in an interview with Top Gear. He also mentioned that while the proportions of EVs and ICE cars will differ, the design language will be consistent.
The Neue Klasse concept, unveiled in 2023 and named after one of BMW’s most iconic models, stands out with its flat surfaces, large windows, short overhangs, and a futuristic take on BMW’s signature kidney grilles. It remains distinctly BMW, yet marks a clear departure from past designs. The Neue Klasse X concept, shown in early 2024, translates these design elements to an SUV profile. While it’s easier to make a concept look striking without the constraints of safety regulations and production limitations, BMW insists the production versions will remain faithful to the original designs. “The i3 and i8 stayed close to their concepts, and we’re doing the same here,” van Hooydonk added. “If anything, I think the production models will look better because they’ll be more compact.”
Domagoj Dukec, former head of design for BMW and current lead designer at Rolls-Royce, stressed that Neue Klasse is much more than a new look. It’s about rethinking how cars are made and perceived, from the materials used to the way they integrate technology and even the role they play in society. “Neue Klasse is about a transformation, making cars more accepted by society and politics. It’s much bigger than just aesthetics—we want to shift cars from being seen as ‘bad’ to ‘good,’” Dukec explained in an interview in September 2023.
We won’t have to wait long to see the first Neue Klasse models hit the road. The debut model, an SUV designed to replace the electric iX3, will arrive in 2025. A 3 Series-sized sedan is expected by 2026, with both built on a new platform exclusively for EVs. There’s no specific date for the first ICE Neue Klasse model, but BMW plans to launch five more Neue Klasse cars by 2028.
BMW’s Neue Klasse is more than just a fresh design—it’s a forward-thinking approach to the future of both electric and gasoline cars, offering drivers a modern experience, no matter which drivetrain they choose. Fresh design or not, this is a pretty wild change. This reminds me when the 2002 BMW 745 came out- the E65 chassis. It was completely different in a radical way from the previous generations.
领英推荐
We'll see if the public agrees with it or not, I suppose.
We're ready to service your European car- if you're looking for a fresh change of pace from the typical way you've had vehicle repair and service, come give us a try
832-797-9114