That is it, of us, you’re trying on the all-new 2026 BMW iX3, codenamed NA5. That’s proper, what you see right here will not be one more idea automobile, however a full manufacturing mannequin that may really go on sale very quickly. Let that sink in for a second.
This didn’t come with out warning, in fact. When the BMW Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse X was unveiled in March final 12 months, the then-head of BMW i Design, Kai Langer – who has lately left the place to affix Xiaomi, by the way – instructed me personally that the manufacturing model would look practically an identical to the idea. We’ve all heard this earlier than, so I instructed him I’d consider it once I noticed it. I shouldn’t have doubted him – sorry, Kai!
This additionally begs the query: now that the iX3 really appears to be like just like the idea automobile that preceded it, will the next-generation 3 Sequence (codenamed NA0 for the all-electric i3) look precisely like the unique Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse sedan from 2023?
However earlier than we leap the gun, let’s give attention to what’s in entrance of us within the right here and now. Sure, the iX3 appears to be like practically an identical to the idea, save for a number of particulars which were watered down. The engraved BMW emblems have been swapped out for normal badges as anticipated, whereas the digital digital camera aspect mirrors and wingtip-door releases at the moment are extra typical gadgets. The door handles how have a flush, self-presenting design, a primary for BMW.
It’s the bits they didn’t change which can be extra stunning. The tall and slender kidney grille (absolutely illuminated as “gentle replaces chrome”), the vast enclosed headlights, rounded and extra natural form, proper all the way down to the reasonably nondescript taillights (break up by the brand “hole” that’s replicated from the entrance finish), it has all survived the leap from idea to manufacturing. Simply take a look at the side-by-side photos above. Take notes, Subaru.
Dimension smart, the NA5 iX3 could be very near the most recent G45 X3, although they’re fully unrelated each visually and technically. The mid-sized SUV (or SAV, if you happen to insist on BMW parlance) measures 4,782 mm lengthy, 1,895 mm vast and 1,635 mm tall, making it marginally longer than the X3, however narrower and vertically shorter. Its wheelbase can be barely longer at 2,987 mm, whereas weighing 2,285 kg within the launch iX3 50 xDrive guise. The latter makes it round 350 kg heavier than the X3 20 xDrive.
The shock continues inside too. When you had proven me this inside yesterday and stated it’s of an actual manufacturing BMW, I wouldn’t have believed you – simply as I instructed Kai final 12 months. However no, the alien-looking steering wheel with 12- and 6-o’clock spokes, the parallelogram (not rhombus – sure, I aced maths at school) centre display and full-width instrument cluster on the base of the windscreen are all nonetheless right here. The wraparound format is unbroken too, although understandably the pumpkin color manner (which is an choice) has been sobered up.
The 17.9-inch centre display now runs the most recent Panoramic iDrive that includes BMW Working System X (I don’t suppose the Munich model can shorten it to OS X this time round with out risking a lawsuit from Cupertino). BMW says it’s extra person pleasant (although the on-screen AC vent adjustment says in any other case) and customisable than ever, with entry to music/video streaming apps, video games (it’s nonetheless attempting to make AirConsole occur) and productiveness capabilities.
A primary for BMW, the standard meter cluster behind the steering wheel isn’t any extra. This has been substituted with the Panoramic Imaginative and prescient show that stretches from pillar to pillar on the bottom of the windscreen. Like on the idea, this too is absolutely customisable, permitting the motive force to select from a wide range of widgets and select the place to show them. There’s additionally the brand new Clever Private Assistant avatar within the centre, maybe “impressed” by the Nomi interplay AI in Nio automobiles.
The upper placement of the reimagined instrument show is what has allowed BMW designers to undertake the unconventional steering wheel with vertical spokes. Look carefully and also you’ll see that the horizontal prongs aren’t really related to the rim, and also you as a substitute have little tabs/cutouts to wrap your thumbs round, à la the OG Proton Saga. The buttons function by way of contact, however with haptic suggestions.
Even with the full-width Panoramic Imaginative and prescient as normal, the BMW iX3 continues to be obtainable with a 3D Head-Up Show projected on the windscreen. Additionally on are customisable cabin ambient lighting (peeking by the material layers), a surprisingly modest 13-speaker Harman Kardon audio setup (helps BMW HypersonX soundscape for digital sounds) and a hard and fast panoramic sunroof. The glass ceiling doesn’t have a canopy, however BMW claims it has distinctive photo voltaic vitality filtering and 100% UV safety.
Past that, passenger room each entrance and rear is alleged to be considerably elevated over the previous-generation mannequin, with the rear bench now adopting the most recent sofa-like form and really feel we’ve seen on the 7 Sequence and XM fashions. The boot swallows 520 litres, with an added bonus of a 58 litre frunk beneath the bonnet.
However sufficient with the boring static stuff already, let’s speak tech. The NA5 BMW iX3 is constructed on a model new structure, being the primary of a whole household of future Neue Klasse fashions to come back. Neue Klasse is actually German for New Class, and it’s a time period that BMW has used as soon as earlier than. Again then, it described a pioneering collection of fashions within the Nineteen Sixties that successfully saved the BMW firm from its post-war monetary struggles.
For the trendy age, BMW as soon as once more claims to have taken a big step ahead with this vary or Neue Klasse automobiles, beginning with what we see right here. The numbers communicate for themselves: 800V structure (a BMW first), 108.7 kWh usable NMC battery, as much as 805 km WLTP vary, 400 kW max DC charging, and the flexibility to realize 372 km of vary in simply 10 minutes.
For a fast comparability, the outgoing iX3 had a 73.8 kWh usable battery capability, giving a 460 km WLTP vary. In order that’s 75% extra vary with a 47% bump in battery measurement. That’s progress proper there, and maybe a well timed reminder that EV know-how continues to be on a steep trajectory.
The massive leap is achieved by way of a mess of developments. The most recent sixth-generation BMW eDrive tech (Gen6) developed for the Neue Klasse household makes use of electrical motors with 40% much less vitality loss, whereas being 10% lighter and 20% cheaper to supply. Then there’s the brand new cylindrical cell design with 20% larger vitality density and 30% improve in charging velocity. Are you able to think about a magic petrol engine that may yield enhancements this drastic each few years? Completely not.
In iX3 50 xDrive type – discover the brand new naming conference, 50 xDrive as a substitute of xDrive50 making for clearer bodily badging – the electrical SUV will get two motors: a brand new asynchronous motor (ASM) on the entrance making 167 PS and 255 Nm, plus an electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) motor driving the rear axle with 326 PS and 435 Nm. Collectively, the overall system output is 469 PS and 645 Nm, with a 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds and a 210 km/h prime velocity.
The brand new 800V electrical structure additionally permits for a lot faster DC charging, as much as 400 kW. BMW claims the automobile can preserve the height charging price for so long as 5 minutes and in very best situations, yield a ten%-80% prime up in as brief as 21 minutes – that’s staggering for a battery this huge. Crucially, not like the new electrical Mercedes-Benz CLA, the iX3 helps older 400V chargers too. For AC, it has an 11 kW OBC as normal, plus an non-obligatory 22 kW improve.
Past motoring, the automobile additionally helps Car-to-Load (V2L), Car-to-Residence (V2H) and Car-to-Grid (V2G) capabilities. V2H virtually converts the automobile into a short lived storage machine for the photo voltaic vitality generated at house, whereas V2G permits prospects to combine their automobile into the ability grid.
Each V2H and V2G require using a brand new BMW Wallbox Skilled (DC). In contrast to what the identify suggests nevertheless, it’s not a compact DC quick charger in your house. As a substitute, it’s nonetheless technically an AC wallbox (as much as 22 kW) that enables the iX3 to discharge as much as 11 kW again into the housing energy community. Whether or not this will probably be obtainable and even work in Malaysia stays to be seen, in fact.
After which we get to the driving dynamics a part of all of it. “Virtually every thing about it’s new, but it is usually extra BMW than ever,” stated Oliver Zipse, chairman of the Board of Administration of BMW AG. Core to the model to the purpose of being synonymous with it’s “Sheer Driving Pleasure,” coincidentally a tagline coined for the unique Neue Klasse again in 1962. The brand new Neue Klasse is claimed to uphold that declare greater than ever, regardless of it being absolutely electrical.
It makes use of one thing hilariously named the Coronary heart of Pleasure, a driving dynamics administration know-how “superbrain” answerable for the drivetrain, brakes, vitality recuperation and steering sub-functions, processing info as much as ten instances quicker than typical management items. Even with normal passive spring and damper setup, the brand new iX3 drives and steers uniquely like a correct BMW – effectively, in accordance with BMW at the very least.
It stops even higher than a typical BMW, apparently, with one thing known as Gentle Cease, enabling the “smoothest stopping course of ever achieved by a BMW.” Fascinating truth, BMW says the iX3 will use its brake vitality regeneration system as much as 98% of all braking in on a regular basis driving, as a substitute of utilizing its bodily brakes.
On the autonomous driving entrance, the brand new mannequin helps the next degree of hands-free driving by way of its Motorway Assistant function. With it activated, drivers can take their palms off the steering wheel for lengthy durations on open highways, with out being nagged on to carry the steering each couple of minutes. Metropolis Assistant can be new, serving to the automobile recognise and cease at visitors lights when wanted, and driving off once more on inexperienced.
So there you go, a concise abstract (belief me, that is as brief as I could make it – the press launch is 58 pages lengthy!) of the all-new 2026 BMW iX3 NA5. What to do you consider its appears to be like and tech, do remark under!
GALLERY: 2026 BMW iX3 50 xDrive M Sport
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