When BMW last made a generation of “Neue Klasse” vehicles it was durring the 1950’s and 1970s with this first wave of vehicles helping to mold and transform the German automaker into the brand that we know today with these cars representing a bridge between the post war era and the early stages of the modern automobile.

With the strong pedigree that these early Neue Klasse cars have you know its a very big deal when BMW chooses to pull the moniker out of retirement to be used on production vehicles once again. This time, it’s for the company’s EVs and BMW just unveiled the spearhead model of this new initiative, the 2026 BMW iX3

What’s in a name?

The choice of name here is no accident with BMW clearly hoping to take advantage of the brand recognition the non-electric X3 enjoys which is evident in its place as one of the company’s strongest selling models. The iX3 will eventually be joined by other EVs, but for now, it offers a glimpse into what buyers can expect. This will include a new EV-focused platform dubbed the “Neue Klasse Platform” with the iX3 being the first production BMW EV to use it.

The new platform will also be a shift away from BMW’s current habit of making EVs on the same platform as their gasoline powered counterparts. The exterior styling is crisp and clean with the front fascia getting slender twin-kidney grilles which is a nod to original 1960’s BMW models and is also a welcome departure from some of the more cartoonish sized ones that have been used on other BMW models in recent years.

The iX3 is slightly longer than the gasoline powered X3 and the rear end gets distinctive taillights that move away from the long lightbars that other automakers have embraced. Meanwhile, the interior is radically altered with the traditional gauge cluster being replaced by a narrow display along the bottom of the windshield that shows vehicle speed and other relevant data.

Increased brainpower fuels new technology

The interior is also dominated by a hexagonal shaped touchscreen is powered by the new Operating X system but this appears to be a pure touch operated unit with the long-running iDrive control knob being axed. The iX3 is also the company’s first Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) which intergrates multiple vehicle functions together into one single computer. BMW says these computers are “Super Brains” and the iX3 has four of these digital brains on board.

BMW chose to not reveal formal performance numbers for the iX3 yet but the company did confirm the EV will use new in-house developed electric motors that axe permanent magents. The removal of these magnets helped them become 40 percent more efficient than before while also reducing weight and helping the company save costs in manufacturing them.

The lone exception to this information blackout was the 0 to 60 time with BMW saying the iX3 can make the sprint to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds before topping out at 130 mph. The iX3 will get 20-inch wheels standard but buyers looking for more bling can go for optional 21 and 22-inch wheels if they go for the M Sport package.

When can I buy one?

BMW didn’t reveal pricing either but the 2026 iX3 is scheduled to begin production in the first half of 2026 with the EV being built in a new plant in Debrecen, Hungary. U.S. production will commence shortly afterward and the first deliveries are slated to take place next summer.

The iX3’s arrival will put BMW to the test when it comes to achieving the next phase of its EV goals. The company is already the most successful German firm to enter the EV age and BMW has avoided many of the speed bumps and challenges that have plagued both Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.

However, the Neue Klasse architecture is largely unproven in real-wrold use and it will be interesting to see how such a software driven vehicle will hold up in the daily rigors of long-term use.