[Jason]

BMW reinvents itself: The BMW Vision Neue Klasse Concept

• A glimpse of the future for the BMW brand: electric, digital, and circular.
• Design pared down to key BMW-typical elements.
• Next generation of BMW iDrive as interface between real and virtual worlds.
• More efficiency and driving pleasure thanks to sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – September 2, 2023… With its lates design concept, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse, BMW is showcasing what the next generation of its vehicles will look like. “The BMW Vision Neue Klasse combines our ability to innovate in the core areas of electrification, digitalization, and circularity,” says Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “In this way, we are always able to stay two steps ahead of the future: The Neue Klasse is already bringing the mobility of the next decade to the roads in 2025 – and leading BMW into a new era.”

The Vision Neue Klasse, which will be unveiled for the first time in public at the IAA Mobility 2023 International Motor Show in Munich, embodies a clear design language, with expansive surfaces and a just a few distinctive lines, that has been pared down to the essentials. This approach accentuates signature features like the BMW kidney grille and the Hofmeister kink of the side window graphic, giving the design even more of a BMW feel. In the interior, the next generation of BMW iDrive guarantees a unique digital user experience that merges real and virtual worlds. Increased use of secondary raw materials, resource-efficient production, and a fully-electric drivetrain with sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology reduces the carbon footprint of the Neue Klasse across the vehicle lifecycle.

“30% more range, 30% faster charging, 25% more efficiency – the Neue Klasse represents a major technological leap that will take EfficientDynamics to new heights. The same applies to its design – which could not be any more futuristic,” says Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development. “With the Neue Klasse, we have embarked on the biggest investment in the company’s history. We are not just writing the next chapter of BMW; we’re writing a whole new book. That’s why the Neue Klasse will certainly impact all model generations.”

New BMW design language: clear, elegant, timeless

The exterior showcases design elements that will define the different Neue Klasse models. It is clear, elegant, timeless. The new fully-electric vehicle architecture also opens up new possibilities for the interior design. “The design of the Neue Klasse is typically BMW and so progressive it looks like we skipped a model generation,” explains Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design.

Powerful wheel arches, the inset greenhouse, and steeply forward-slanting “shark nose” front end are all characteristic BMW features. 21-inch aerodynamic wheels pay tribute to the classic cross-spoke design inspired by motorsports. At the same time, the almost monolithic vehicle body, with strong indentations at the front and rear, as well as large window areas, create a new aesthetic.

The luminous exterior paintwork in “Joyous bright”, with its subtle yellow hue, underscores the friendly, future-oriented personality of the BMW Vision Neue Klasse. Contrast is provided by black side skirts and bumpers. With a higher percentage of secondary raw materials and significantly reduced material variety, targeted improvements have been made to enhance circularity. An improved dismantling concept will also help optimize recycling of the vehicles of the Neue Klasse.

A fresh interpretation of the brand’s signature design elements, like the BMW kidney grille and double headlights, transform the vehicle’s front end into a single interaction area. A lighting effect with precise three-dimensional animation initiates intuitive interaction between the human and their vehicle as soon as they approach the car. E Ink elements in the lower portion of the side windows also feature in the exterior welcome scenario, directing attention to the sensor area that activates automatic door opening. Innovative technology similarly defines the design of the rear lights, with 3D-printed light elements that extend over several levels and are controlled in a targeted manner to create a unique impression of depth.

Providing vision: Next generation of BMW iDrive

Analogue operating controls have been reduced to a minimum in the BMW Vision Neue Klasse. Human-car interaction takes place through the BMW Panoramic Vision, the Central Display, and multifunction buttons on the steering wheel. The user experience is rounded out by the sophisticated voice control of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. In this way, the next generation of BMW iDrive offers a modern interpretation of the driver orientation typical of BMW.

As it did with the introduction of the BMW iDrive controller in the center console and the BMW Head-Up Display, BMW is once again leading the world with BMW Panoramic Vision, which will be available for the first time in the Neue Klasse. Information is projected at the ideal height into the driver’s line of sight and, for the first time, across the entire width of the windscreen. This innovation will complement the enhanced BMW Head-Up Display in the production models of the Neue Klasse.

In the next generation of BMW iDrive, both the driver and front passenger are able to interact with information displayed on BMW Panoramic Vision, creating a shared user experience. Drivers can move content shown on the Central Display to the BMW Panoramic Vision with a simple gesture.

A coordinated choreography between the ambient lighting and graphic elements of the Central Display and BMW Panoramic Vision enriches the user experience – which can also be customized using My Modes. In My Mode ‘Sport’, specific displays are set against a yellow background to support dynamic driving. The new BMW iDrive is based on a highly integrated software architecture that consolidates data related to the driving experience and infotainment with data from the vehicle’s electronics and electrical system and the BMW cloud. Interaction between human and vehicle can thus be tailored even more closely to the driving situation and individual needs, enabling a totally new perception of mobility.

Bright cord fabrics create a comfortable atmosphere inside the BMW Vision Neue Klasse. The light-colored instrument panel supports the steering wheel, which is flattened at the top and bottom, as well as the Central Display with Matrix-Backlight in the outline of a parallelogram. The front seats are attached to the floor by a single bracket, freeing up additional legroom in the rear compartment, where passengers can enjoy the spaciousness created by having two individual seats. The design of the interior, which is completely free of decorative chrome or leather, helps optimize the carbon footprint of the production process.

CO2-reduced production, sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology.

Manufactured at the new plant in Debrecen entirely without fossil fuels and with much wider use of raw and secondary materials produced with reduced CO2, the Neue Klasse will also provide significant impetus for resource-efficient individual mobility. High energy efficiency during the vehicle use phase will be ensured by optimizing weight, air and rolling resistance, as well as through intelligent heat management, especially for the electric drivetrain, using sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology.

In addition to highly efficient electric motors, major advances in the new BMW eDrive technology include newly-developed round battery cells, with more than 20% higher energy density than that of the prismatic cells used previously. The sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology will improve the charging speed for Neue Klasse models by up to 30%, in addition to boosting their range by up to 30%. As a result of all these measures, overall vehicle efficiency will increase by up to 25%.

Innovations guarantee signature BMW driving pleasure for future generations.

Electrification, digitalization, and circularity are the core elements of the transformation that is being actively shaped by BMW and began with the electrified models of BMW i. The BMW i Vision Circular highlights the tremendous potential that can be leveraged by systematically implementing a circular economy that reduces consumption of raw materials and lowers CO2 emissions. BMW i Vision Dee, on the other hand, shows how digital, human-centric technology can enrich the user experience.

All these topics are now coming together in the BMW Vision Neue Klasse, a vehicle that represents the whole range of technological innovations through which the BMW Group is demonstrating its future sustainability. The BMW Vision Neue Klasse signals the start of a new era of individual mobility that is rich in digital experiences, locally emission-free, and circular in the long term – guaranteeing typical BMW driving pleasure for generations to come.

VIDEOS

GALLERY

BMW Vision Neue Klasse Concept

BMW Vision Neue Klasse Concept Live

BMW Vision Neue Klasse Concept Design Process

[zuschnell]

Clean and simple design. Not really modern bmw design language as nothing these days is clean and simple from bmw. That said, it isn’t really attractive either, despite the nod to the 2002. The efficiency and range increases will certainly be interesting. Now with the new model 3 capable of over 400 miles per charge, any car not getting reliably over 300 miles per charge isn’t really going to be a contender. Really interested to see what the final specs will be in production form.

[VP007]

I really don’t like future cars looking so futuristic…🤷‍♂️

Great tech though!

[playswcars]

Reminds me of the E21, I think that's a good thing.

[M2 Ziggy]

I think it looks really good simple boxy shape like an e30 or 2002. An m car that uses these design elements could look amazing

I would however be sticking proper bmw roundels on top of the new one’s

[Alonso085]

I like it. Front looks great to me getting nice e30 vibes from the side view. The rear is a bit meh but overall I much prefer this design direction to the 7/XM design monstrosities

[Canuck335]

I like it. I would spend money on this car.
Much better than the cockroach shaped garbage they are currently turning out.

[hinckley]

In general, I love it. A clean, modern design with very nice retro touches. I especially like the interpretation of the traditional kidney grille that's far better than the over-wrought vertical kidneys of the 4, XM, etc. I would guess that this is very close to what we'll see as the next-gen 3 in a couple years.

There's a couple of form over function elements that I hope don't make it into production. The 12 o'clock steering wheel spoke will get in the way of viewing the display along the bottom of the windshield and the center console takes up needless space. Otherwise, it's the best new styling direction from BMW for many, many years, imo.

[Quadruple VANOS]

Here we go with the no leather to save the planet bs. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[snowbord3369]

Not my jam… love the glass box concept for the roof, interior is decent, dislike most everything else. Head/tail lights yuck, front end yuck, roof slope yuck, wheels yuck.

Somehow car companies have lost their minds with electric designs, merecedes eq’s are the ugliest luxury cars in the world and bmw looks to be following them down the same rabbit hole.

[Montaver]

Electric cars are all just homogenised appliances, at least BMW are trying something here with the classical nods to give it a hint of character. As an enthusiast though it points to a very bland and samey future for your standard car as basically all drivetrains are going to be the same.

[forcefed]

Show us the actual production car so we can see what the bean counters didnt approve of.

[Macphisto]

Finally a new BMW concept that actually has me going hmmmmm. I am definitely interested in the production version.

[Jason]

More videos and photos:

BMW Vision Neue Klasse Concept Live

BMW Vision Neue Klasse Concept Design Process

[bosstones]

Yeah...no. Wtf did I just watch in that video. lol. I think it meant goodbye Welt. I see a hodge-podge mix of homage (incl E21 & E24) but in a piece part way that doesn't work together. The only good thing is retention of the Hofmeister kink. For the rest, what isn't forgettable is memorable in an unflattering way.

[chicagofan00]

Can’t stand the direction towards a singular screen in the middle of the dash. Just leaves the interior looking too sterile. Not saying the interior needs to look like the cockpit of an airplane with screens and buttons everywhere but this for sure is just too minimal. I don’t like the Tesla Model 3 for the same reason…

[J-RO]

Its possible my next BMW will be my last.

[Tejas1836]

Originally Posted by Canuck335

I like it. I would spend money on this car.
Much better than the cockroach shaped garbage they are currently turning out.

LOL

[TomzBmw]

I’m a fan! Beautiful. And I enjoy more connections to my vehicles.

[WagonMaverick]

That looks like a giant magnifying glass that will fry my skin and cook my insides in this Texas heat. I do like the outside proportions though.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by WagonMaverick

That looks like a giant magnifying glass that will fry my skin and cook my insides in this Texas heat. I do like the outside proportions though.

That's likely a concept car thing. If a roof like that made it into production, it would include some sort of electro-chromatic darkening function. What I am disappointed in is the lack of an opening roof that seems to be becoming a "thing" across multiple manufacturers, including BMW.

[M3ZCPNYC]

It’s just different


You can come up on the boardwalk and meet someone like that in a split second and it can turn into a serious relationship like me and Janet see I met her a couple of weeks ago but we hooked up tonight together and I’m probably going to be with her for the rest of the summer you never know what’s going to happen you can stay together forever or it’s just different