2026 BMW iX3 Prototype Drive: BMW Hits the Reset Button
Every now and then BMW hits the reset button. One of the most significant examples was the E65-generation 7-series introduced for the 2002 model year. That car's bustle trunk and upturned nose courted controversy, as did its novel controls, including the first iDrive. But it also brought an innovative new engine.
This iX3 represents another major direction change, which BMW has dubbed the Neue Klasse, or New Class. This model displays a shift in styling language, a new body in white with a more structurally efficient incorporation of the battery pack, a new electric architecture that supports 800-volt operation, a unique interior that dispenses with the normal instrument cluster, and BMW-designed central computers to improve performance of all electronic systems. Reset indeed!
BMW
Unfortunately, the cars we drove were camouflaged, so our comments on the Neue Klasse styling are based on the various concept cars previewing the design. Judging by those, the overall shape of the iX3 seems blockier than typical BMWs, though from the rear, the narrower greenhouse above the wider lower body looks decidedly athletic. The traditional Hofmeister kink at the back edge of the rear windows is still vaguely recognizable, though much more generic than usual. The headlights appear as two simple diagonal slashes on each side, with perhaps the outer portion being the DRL and the inner part the headlight. The new look does sport twin kidney grilles smaller than the monstrosities of late, though they may be illuminated to bolster their visual presence.
BMW did not release dimensions for the iX3 but said that overall length and width would be very similar to the current X3. However, without the need to fit an inline-six under the hood, the wheelbase is extended by several inches, leading to more interior space. We found great legroom in the back seat, and BMW suggested that passenger space was similar to a current X5.
For an EV, the electrics are always a central focus, and the iX3 has an 800-volt battery pack with about a thousand cylindrical cells. BMW didn't provide details, but we reckon that they're arrayed in five parallel packs of roughly 200 cells each. The total capacity of the pack is likely around 130 kWh.
BMW
BMW is promising excellent performance with this system and expects an EPA range estimate of 400 miles. Even more impressive is the ability to add about 200 miles of range in 10 minutes using an 800-volt, 400-kW charger. In a demonstration, when an iX3 with 7 percent of battery capacity was plugged in, the estimated range initially increased by about one kilometer every second at 400 kilowatts. Of course, the charging rate quickly slows as the battery gains energy, and after 10 minutes, the intake was reduced to about 250 kilowatts.
That's great, but 800V/400-kW chargers are exceedingly rare in America, particularly along the rural freeways where they are most needed. But they represent the optimistic charging future and when they arrive, the iX3's NACS charging socket will take advantage.
To most drivers, the biggest surprise in the iX3 will be its Panoramic Vision concept. Instead of a cluster of gauges on the dashboard directly in front of the driver, the iX3 has a roughly two-inch high display at the base of the windshield that extends pretty much from A-pillar to A-pillar. The digital speedometer, the battery charge in percent, along with the estimated range are presented directly in front of the driver. To the right of this you'll see six modules, each of which are configurable at your pleasure.
There's also a large trapezoidal screen on the dash, supposedly to bring some key buttons in the upper left corner closer to the driver's right hand. It's a touchscreen, of course, but you can also control the display using a four-way multifunction control on the right spoke of the steering wheel. The left spoke has the controls for cruise control and other ADAS functions. There's also a head-up display that likely will be optional.
Though a radical departure, this scheme works pretty well. The panoramic display is easy to see and read and—with its proximity to the windshield—requires less eye deflection to monitor than a conventional cluster. The center display, running a Google operating system, also seems logically organized. We particularly like that there is a row of HVAC buttons along the bottom edge of the screen that are always visible, so you can make immediate changes to your comfort setting without tediously sifting through various menus.
Enes Kucevic Photography
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Car and Driver
Though the "Heart of Joy" branding was often referenced during our presentations, our old favorite "Ultimate Driving Machine" was occasionally mentioned. A great driving experience has typically characterized BMWs, and the new iX3 is no exception. Our first stint behind the wheel was on public roads around BMW's Miramas test track in Southern France.
The iX3 displayed the eagerness and instant throttle response we've come to expect from EVs. It's not one of the two-second-to-60-mph wonders, but with dual motors sending about 400 ponies to its four wheels, the car feels plenty quick. BMW is claiming a sub-five-second sprint to 60 mph.
Great brake feel was another immediate highlight. The pedal felt firm, with just a bit of initial softness to help you brake smoothly, and we couldn't sense any transition between the regenerative drag and the friction brakes.
The ride felt taut, and the body never moved sloppily. The French roads were far from smooth, but their bumps were more rounded than the potholes and mismatched pavement slabs we encounter in America, so we'll withhold final judgment until we drive one on home turf.
Then we had a few sessions on various handling circuits at the Miramas track. Following a quickly driven M4, the iX3 felt frisky and playful. The steering was nicely weighted and very accurate, though it doesn't provide much feedback. But the chassis balance was excellent, and in Sport mode, which allocates more of the power split to the rear motor, you could easily balance the car with the accelerator in hard corners.
BMW
BMW engineers credit some of this performance to the "Superbrain" computer that combines the braking, stability-control, and traction-control functions. By not relying on a data buss to communicate between these various computers, the powerful and liquid-cooled Superbrain can react more quickly to dynamic changes and improve the car's response. We can't vouch for the details, but the car felt great during hard driving.
In addition to this Superbrain, the iX3 has three other Superbrains. One controls the automated driving functions, another runs the various displays and entertainment and navigation systems, while the fourth runs the basic vehicle systems such as climate control, locking, lighting, and the like. All told, consolidating these operations with the Superbrains saves nearly 2000 feet of wiring, numerous fuses, and about 30 percent of the weight of the control electronics systems, as well as using 20 percent less energy.
The production version of the iX3 will be unveiled at the IAA Mobility show in Munich in September. Production will start at a new plant in Debrecen, in eastern Hungary, later in 2025, and by the end of the year, the iX3 will go on sale in Europe. We're expected to get it in the second quarter of 2026. The price is unknown at this point but will likely be a little higher than the equivalent X3, which starts at $51,125 for 2025.
A reset like this is always a shock to the BMW world. The one ushered in by the 2002 7-series was roundly criticized initially, but 7-series sales did not suffer. The iX3 reset appears to provide more good things than that 7-series did, so unless the camouflage on these pre-production cars was masking some hideously misshapen design, the reset represented by the Neue Klasse should enjoy much better acceptance.
Reviewed by
Csaba Csere
Contributing Editor
Csaba Csere joined Car and Driver in 1980 and never really left. After serving as Technical Editor and Director, he was Editor-in-Chief from 1993 until his retirement from active duty in 2008. He continues to dabble in automotive journalism and WRL racing, as well as ministering to his 1965 Jaguar E-type, 2017 Porsche 911, 2009 Mercedes SL550, 2013 Porsche Cayenne S, and four motorcycles—when not skiing or hiking near his home in Colorado.
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