2026 BMW iX3 (Neue Klasse): 400-Mile Range and 400 kW Charging

BMW is reviving one of its most meaningful names with a clear mission: build a dedicated electric vehicle platform that feels like a true BMW from the driver’s seat. Enter the Neue Klasse architecture and the all-electric iX3, a clean-sheet sport utility vehicle that sits alongside today’s gasoline X3 but is engineered only for electricity. It is the first of many models to come, and it is designed to move the brand forward without losing the traits that made people fall in love with BMW in the first place.

The headline figures are strong. In iX3 50 xDrive form, you get an estimated 400-mile range, 463 horsepower, and 473 pound-feet of torque from a pair of BMW-developed electric motors. The claimed 0 to 60 mile-per-hour time is 4.7 seconds and top speed is 130 miles per hour. Pricing is targeted around 60,000 dollars, which slots it about 10,000 dollars above the current four-cylinder X3 and roughly 5,000 dollars below the six-cylinder X3 M50—yet the electric vehicle brings far more instant shove and, of course, far better efficiency.

Under the skin is BMW’s first 800-volt electrical architecture, which unlocks seriously quick charging. On a capable direct-current fast charger, the iX3 can accept up to 400 kilowatts, adding about 230 miles of range in roughly 10 minutes. That places it among the quickest-charging electric vehicles expected in the United States and makes long trips feel far less complicated.

BMW also sweated the details you cannot see. The iX3 is the company’s first software-defined vehicle, consolidating countless control units into a handful of high-performance computers BMW calls “superbrains.” There are four in total. The most important is the “Heart of Joy,” which unifies powertrain, braking, steering, and suspension so the car can coordinate every input with greater precision. The result should be a calmer ride on rough pavement, sharper responses on a favorite road, and smarter energy use everywhere in between.

Driver assistance gets its own superbrain. Adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance are standard, and a hands-off highway system is optional. What stands out is how BMW says it manages control between human and machine: if you nudge the steering wheel or brush the brake, the system does not abruptly give up. It will let you make your move and then blend itself back in smoothly, aiming for less frustration and more confidence.

The hardware is equally forward-looking. BMW’s latest motors avoid permanent magnets and the rare-earth materials that come with them. The company says these units are 40 percent more efficient than before, 10 percent lighter, and 20 percent less costly to manufacture. Battery cells are said to be 20 percent higher in energy density. Power electronics are BMW-developed as well, and the iX3 will be the first BMW with the North American Charging Standard port. Bidirectional charging arrives, too, so you can power tools or small appliances from the vehicle, and a Combined Charging System adapter is included.

Chassis tuning stays true to the brand. Up front is a MacPherson strut setup; in back is a newly designed multi-link rear axle. Weight distribution is a near-ideal 48.6 percent front and 51.4 percent rear. Standard wheels are 20 inches, with 21- and 22-inch options in the M Sport package for those who like a bolder stance.

The design reads as modern BMW without shouting. Compared with the gasoline X3, the iX3 stretches a touch in wheelbase and overall length, yet it is tidier in several other dimensions. Slim, tall kidney grilles recall the classic Neue Klasse sedans, quad light signatures nod to brand heritage, and the tail avoids the full-width light-bar trend with distinct, wide lamps. Opt for the M Sport Professional package and the kidney grilles illuminate for extra drama.

Inside, the rethink is bigger. Instead of a conventional gauge pod, a slim, wide information panel at the base of the windshield shows speed and key data in your natural line of sight. The hexagonal center touchscreen runs BMW Operating System X. Tactile traditionalists will notice the iDrive knob is gone, but the cabin compensates with cleaner surfaces, quicker menus, and a more spacious feel.

Production begins at BMW’s new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, with United States production planned to start in the first quarter of 2026 and deliveries targeted for next summer. For a company that has sold electric vehicles on shared platforms with gasoline models for years, the Neue Klasse is the clean break it needed. The original Neue Klasse sparked a revolution for BMW. With the iX3 leading this new era, the company is aiming to do it again.