Klasse act: 2025 BMW iX3 Neue Klasse previewed as German car brand says it’s on track to launch its Tesla Model Y beater

The next generation ‘Neue Klasse’ 2025 BMW iX3 is being readied for launch.

To prove it, BMW released pictures of its near production-spec mid-size Tesla Model Y-rivalling SUV ahead of its late 2025 launch.

The bad news is the car in question is still heavily camouflaged, so it’s difficult to tell how faithful it will remain to the Vision Neue Klass X that was revealed earlier this year, but we expect its striking looks to carry over.

Revealing the next BMW iX3 at its production home in Debrecen, Hungary, BMW said the purpose of the new tease is to highlight that trial production has already kicked off at its completely overhauled plant.

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The reason for the early build is to test the logistics and production process to optimise the facility ahead of the ‘real’ car being being built for customers, ensuring quality will be top rate.

Key the success of the Neue Klasse family of EVs will be its new tech that will see BMW switch to Tesla-stye cylindrical battery cells.

The upgraded BMW facilities at Debrecen, Hungary where the Neue Klasse iX3 electric SUV will be manufactured from 2025
The upgraded BMW facilities at Debrecen, Hungary where the Neue Klasse iX3 electric SUV will be manufactured from 2025

The new cells’ chemistry and construction, along with their 800-volt configuration, will enable very fast DC charging. It’ll take just 10 minutes to add 300km of driving range.

Reduced overall energy consumption will contribute, as well. Incremental improvements to the efficiency of the electric motor and its control and cooling systems.

BMW has already stated that energy consumption will reduce by between 20 to 25 per cent, compared to current BMW EVs. This should translate to vehicle-only energy consumption of around 11kWh/100km, or about 13kWh/100km

Following the introduction of the BMW iX3’s late next year, production of the Neue Klasse sedan, named the BMW i3, will begin in Munich in 2026. Then a year later in 2027 Neue Klasse production will be expanded to the car-maker’s Mexican plant.

BMW Neue Klasse X concept.
It’s unclear how close the 2025 production car will remain to the BMW Neue Klasse X concept (pictured)

By 2030 more than half of BMWs total sales will be EVs and to enable it to achieve that aim, by 2027 it will have introduced at least six Neue Klasse models.

BMW will continue to roll out its new generation combustion engines for markets and consumers not ready to transition to electric vehicles.