The BMW X3 Thread

New details about the Neue Klasse BMW iX3 emerge

BMW is almost ready to launch its next-generation electric vehicle, the 2026 iX3. This new model is built on the company's innovative "Neue Klasse" platform - a big step for the brand's electric ambitions, moving beyond adapting existing gasoline-powered cars and introducing a vehicle designed from the ground up as an EV. Leaked details provide a comprehensive picture of what to expect, from performance and technology to the sheer number of customization options.

Production for the European market will begin later this month at BMW's new factory in Debrecen, Hungary, with the iX3 50 xDrive being the first model off the line. North American and Asian markets will see their versions enter production in March 2026, followed by an expansion to the San Luis Potosí plant in Mexico in the second half of that year.

The initial model range will include the iX3 40, 40 xDrive, 50 xDrive, and a high-performance M60 xDrive. Two additional models, including the top-tier M60, will join the lineup in July 2026. Buyers will have a palette of colors to choose from, including Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Space Silver, Polarized Grey, Brooklyn Grey, Ocean Wave Blue, Smokey Green, and Fire/Vegas Red.

One of the most talked-about features is the Panoramic iDrive interface, a wide, dash-spanning screen first showcased in the Vision Neue Klasse concept. This will be standard equipment - a bold move from BMW. Complementing this is an Augmented View system and an optional 3D Head-Up Display, which projects critical information like speed and navigation directly into the driver's line of sight.

The iX3 50 xDrive, for which we have the most detailed specifications, measures 4,780 mm in length, 1,895 mm in width, and 1,635 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,895 mm. This places it firmly in the competitive mid-size electric SUV segment.

The 2026 iX3 offers a generous 520 l of luggage space, expandable to 1,750 l with the rear seats folded down. A welcome surprise is the addition of a 58-l waterproof and dustproof front trunk, or "frunk," adding a dose of practicality often missing in EVs from legacy automakers. The curb weight, without a driver, is a substantial 2,285 kg.

www.arenaev.com

New details about the Neue Klasse BMW iX3 emerge

The all-new 2026 BMW iX3 is nearing its debut - here we have put together every piece of information leaked ahead of its unveiling.
www.arenaev.com www.arenaev.com
 
BMW starts series production of electric motors for the Neue Klasse

Today, BMW has proudly announced the start of series production of the electric motors it will use in the Neue Klasse. These 'Gen6' motors will be made at the company's plant in Steyr, Austria, at least initially - the facility is said to be "the first production site" for them, not the only one.

Once made in Steyr, they will be shipped throughout BMW's production network. BMW originally announced that it was going to build the electric motors in Steyr three years ago, and now it's finally delivering on that promise.

Until 2030, BMW will have invested over €1 billion in the Steyr plant for the purpose of development and production expertise related to these motors. Thus, it will remain the BMW Group's leading location for drivetrains.

The plant has made ICE engines for BMW and Mini for 40 years, and now it's stepping into its new chapter, while continuing to make petrol and diesel engines in parallel. Around 1,000 employees will work in the new electric motor assembly. BMW says half of the Steyr facility's total workforce could be employed in e-mobility by 2030, "depending on global demand".

The next-gen iX3 50 xDrive will be about 20% more efficient than a Gen5 xDrive model, thanks to the new powertrain. When combined with a new high-voltage battery, this will enable a range of up to 800 km WLTP in the iX3 50 xDrive, the first Neue Klasse model coming.

www.arenaev.com

BMW starts series production of electric motors for the Neue Klasse

The first one will be the new iX3 50 xDrive.
www.arenaev.com www.arenaev.com
 
German EV showdown: Bold new Mercedes GLC and BMW iX3 to debut in September

There’s a German electric SUV showdown looming, and it starts at the IAA Mobility Summit in early September when the new BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology will be revealed to the world for the first time.

Not only will the two battery-powered midsize SUVs be direct competitors when they hit the market, but both will usher in new design and engineering eras for their respective carmakers.

The Mercedes GLC electric debuts a brand new design language for the firm's electric vehicles, with the softer lines of its current EQ models having faced criticism for their lack of imagination and identity.

To whet our appetites, Mercedes released a teaser image this week, showing the new upright, and more traditional-looking, ‘grille’ that will feature on its electric GLC.

 
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