All-Electric 2026 BMW iX3 Marks Beginning of New Chapter for Automaker, is First to Ride on Neue Klasse Platform

BMW has just unveiled the 2026 iX3, a fully electric SUV that marks the start of a new era for the German brand. This is the first car to ride on the Neue Klasse platform and a statement of where BMW is going.

BMW’s design team, led by Adrian van Hooydonk, has given the iX3 a look that feels like a modern take on the brand’s heritage. It draws inspiration from the 2002 Series, with a vertical kidney grille and sleek twin LED headlights up front. Sculpted air intakes and glossy black accents replace the chunky plastic cladding found on many SUVs, making it cleaner and more refined. The drag coefficient is now 0.24, down from the previous iX3’s 0.29.

From the side, the iX3’s rectangular shape and sharp lines give it an athletic stance. The Hofmeister kink is still there, but the overall profile is more modern than traditional. At the back, the horizontal taillights stretch inwards, almost meeting at the BMW badge, with a recessed section mirroring the roof spoiler’s shape. It’s 188.3 inches long, 74.6 inches wide and 64.4 inches tall with a 114.1 inch wheelbase, slightly bigger than the previous iX3 and with a bit more room inside. If you want more flair, the M Sport package adds a body kit, 20- to 22-inch alloys and blue or red brake calipers depending on the trim.

The iX3’s interior feels like a glimpse into the future, starting with the massive 17.9-inch central screen angled towards the driver that anchors the dashboard. It’s paired with BMW’s Panoramic iDrive, a pillar-to-pillar display projected across the base of the windshield. This runs on the new Operating System X and has crisp graphics and intuitive controls. You can drag and drop widgets to customise the display and there’s a 3D head-up display option that adds navigation and driving data with spatial depth. Physical buttons for wipers, volume and gear selection remain, striking a balance between digital innovation and practicality.

Comfort is key, with a five-seat layout made possible by the EV-specific platform. The rear seats fold to expand the cargo space from 30.4 cubic feet to 65 cubic feet and there’s a 2 cubic foot frunk for storing charging cables. Optional extras like a 13-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, panoramic moonroof and three-zone climate control add to the experience. The seats, available in sustainable Econeer fabric or premium Merino leather, combine modern design with long distance comfort. BMW’s HypersonX soundscape adds unique driving sounds to the mix without overwhelming the senses.

Underneath its shiny surface the iX3 debuts BMW’s sixth generation eDrive system on an 800-volt architecture. The iX3 50 xDrive, the launch model, has two electric motors – one synchronous at the rear, one asynchronous at the front – producing 463 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque. This propels the SUV from 0-60mph in 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 130mph. You can switch between Sport, Efficient, Silent and Personal modes to suit your mood – performance or smoothness.

The battery has a usable capacity of 108.7 kWh and an EPA estimated range of 400 miles, 497 miles under WLTP testing. Charging is a highlight: at 400 kW DC fast chargers the iX3 can add 230 miles of range in 10 minutes or 10-80% in 21 minutes. Bi-directional charging allows vehicle-to-load, vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid functionality so you can power devices, homes or even sell energy back to the grid. An intelligent charging flap which opens automatically when it detects your intent.

Four high-performance computers, called “superbrains”, are the iX3’s digital backbone. The “Heart of Joy” superbrain handles driving dynamics, processing inputs for the drivetrain, brakes and steering up to 10 times faster than traditional systems. This means precise handling, smooth stops and 98% of braking done through energy recuperation, reducing wear on physical brakes. Another superbrain manages advanced driver-assistance systems, enabling hands-off highway driving and automated parking with 20 times the processing power of older BMWs. The “Symbiotic Drive” system blends driver inputs with autonomous features seamlessly so it feels natural.

Coming to US dealerships in summer 2026, the iX3 50 xDrive starts at around $60,000, beating out competitors like the Audi Q6 e-tron and Porsche Macan EV for price while offering similar or better range and tech. Production begins in November 2025 at BMW’s new Debrecen facility, with a China-specific long-wheelbase version following in 2026 from Shenyang. More variants, including a rear-wheel-drive model and an M version, will be added to the lineup to meet all needs.