Driving Neue Klasse: Behind the wheel of BMW's next-gen EV
The iX3 cometh.
A special Wednesday update on the Substack today because it's a big day. After years of concepts, teases, and even more than a few deep-dive articles written by yours truly, I finally got a chance to go behind the wheel of BMW's next-gen EV architecture.
It's been called Neue Klasse up to now, but as of today, we can start talking about the iX3, as that's what the company will call the first EV that will be released on that platform. It won't be formally unveiled until September, but I recently got a chance to take the thing for a spin, an EV that promises 400 miles of range and ultra-fast 400 kW charging.
Suffice it to say, my first impressions were good. The iX3 not only has a new battery architecture and revised motor design, but a wholly new digital framework powering everything from stability control to adaptive safety. I was really impressed by everything this SUV has to offer.
For The Verge, I dig into the next-gen architecture that makes this possible, including a new active safety system that's designed to not try and wrestle control from you but instead work with you to make driving safer and less stressful.
For Edmunds, I focused on the driving dynamic piece and how BMW's new Heart of Joy raises the bar from a fine motor control standpoint, creating a car that can stop so smoothly you don't even know when its wheels have stopped turning.
There'll be much more to come, but I wanted to send this out now because I'm excited to see this come to market. Between this and the new Mercedes-Benz GLC, also coming later this year, it's looking like a good fall for EV buyers.
BMW iX3 prototype drive: your next-gen EV is nearly here - The Verge
2026 BMW iX3 Prototype First Drive: The Joy of Stopping - Edmunds