The long-awaited debut of the 2026 BMW iX3 has arrived, heralding the debut of a new design language and a new generation of BMW cars.
Previewed by last year’s BMW Vision Neue Klasse X concept, the production version features a more restrained version of that car’s surface treatment, with a few changes, swapping the sill-mounted door handles for door-mounted items.
The front grille features an illuminated version of the kidney grille, bisected by two horizontal lightbars and incorporating two main sealed beams with sabre-tooth LED elements. This will be the defining down road graphic (DRG) of BMWs going forward.
Compared with the outgoing, Chinese-sourced ‘G08’ iX3, the drag coefficient has been reduced from 0.29 to 0.24. Range and charging has improved significantly too, with up to 800km of WLTP range thanks to a new, 800V, software-defined architecture.
This will also encompass the ‘Heart of Joy’ electronic dynamics protocol – aimed at infusing BMW EVs with the kind of fun experience drivers have come to expect from the blue-and-white roundel. It also includes Active Driving Assistant Plus with what BMW calls ‘Symbiotic Drive,’ elevating the ADAS experience to new levels.
The maximum charge rate has increased substantially to 400kW, meaning 372km of range can be added in as little as ten minutes.
Inside, the Panoramic iDrive interior with windscreen projection and a virtual companion are just some of the radical changes you’ll find. Previewed at CES 2025 in January, the new interior features a unique four-spoke steering wheel, 17.9-inch touch-screen and 3D HUD.
Boot space has improved to 861 litres when the rear seats are upright, or1841L when they are flat. There is also a 57-litre frunk.
The new model will be manufactured at a new facility in Debrecen, Hungary, and available from next year.
A camouflaged i3 sedan also made its way onto the stage. It’ll be its turn next year, before it is joined by combustion 3 Series variants shortly after. CEO Oliver Zipse revealed that no less than 40 models will debut by 2027, with the ‘Neue Klasse’ aesthetic eventually spreading throughout the range.
