BMW Group Romania hosted the native debut of the brand new BMW iX3, marking the primary public look of a Neue Klasse mannequin within the nation. The occasion passed off in Bucharest the place journalists and invited friends got a better have a look at the upcoming all-electric SUV. The iX3 is the primary mannequin constructed on BMW’s all-new Neue Klasse platform, the inspiration for the model’s subsequent technology of electrical automobiles. Manufacturing will start in November 2025 at BMW’s new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, earlier than the SUV reaches European markets in spring 2026.
First Neue Klasse SUV
In contrast to the outgoing iX3, which was primarily based on the present X3 physique, the brand new model is a ground-up electrical design. Internally often known as NA5, it’s the primary SUV to make use of BMW’s new 800-volt structure and sixth-generation eDrive know-how. The twin-motor xDrive 50 model produces round 463 PS and 645 Nm of torque, enabling 0–100 km/h in roughly 4.9 seconds. Energy comes from a 108-kWh battery utilizing newly developed spherical cells with 20 % greater power density than earlier than.
Charging efficiency is one other main step ahead. The system helps 400-kW DC quick charging, permitting a ten–80% top-up in about 21 minutes, or roughly 350 kilometers (217 miles) of vary added in ten minutes. The WLTP vary is as much as 800 km (497 miles), whereas the EPA determine is anticipated to be round 400 miles (644 km).
The iX3 additionally helps bidirectional charging, that means it will probably energy residence units and even feed electrical energy again to the grid when appropriate programs can be found.
Design and Dimensions
The brand new iX3 is barely longer and wider however decrease than its predecessor, measuring 4,782 mm lengthy, 1,895 mm huge, and 1,635 mm tall, with a 2,897-mm wheelbase. The proportions give it a extra athletic stance whereas enhancing aerodynamics — the drag coefficient has dropped from 0.29 to 0.24. Design particulars observe BMW’s Neue Klasse language, previewed by the Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse X idea.
The kidney grille has been slimmed down and outlined by gentle as a substitute of chrome, whereas the headlights are extra angular and technical. On the rear, skinny horizontal taillights lengthen towards the roundel, creating a particular new signature. Flushed and retractable door handles, clean surfacing, and simplified contours scale back visible litter and assist the iX3 obtain higher airflow effectivity.
Minimalist Inside
Inside, the cabin is a whole departure from BMW’s present layouts. There’s no digital instrument cluster or rotary iDrive controller. As a substitute, a 17.9-inch central touchscreen handles practically all car capabilities, working BMW’s new Working System X. A second show, known as Panoramic Imaginative and prescient, tasks key driving data throughout the decrease fringe of the windshield, spanning from A-pillar to A-pillar. An optionally available 3D head-up show provides layered visible depth above it.
The steering wheel makes use of “shy tech” controls — buttons that illuminate solely when energetic — and the middle console retains just a few bodily switches for necessities like quantity, drive mode, and parking brake.
The Bucharest Debut
On the Bucharest occasion, BMW representatives emphasised that the brand new iX3 alerts the start of a serious product cycle. Attendees might examine the automotive up shut — its clear design, massive panoramic display screen, and minimalist lighting setup — parts that may outline the subsequent wave of BMW electrical fashions.
This native debut additionally underlines Romania’s rising position in BMW’s regional plans. With the Debrecen plant much less 50 kilometers away from the border, markets like Romania may very well be among the many first in Jap Europe to obtain the Neue Klasse SUV as soon as manufacturing ramps up. A few of the workforce on the Debrecen plant comes from close by border cities, permitting BMW to attract from a bilingual — and in lots of circumstances, trilingual — expertise pool.
[Photos: Radu Chindris / BMW Romania]
