BMW previews future SAV model with Vision Neue Klasse X

Thanks to the big investments made by the Quandt brothers in the 1960s, BMW recovered from its financial crisis of the 1950s and was able to set a course towards being the successful automaker in the premium segment today. That course could be said to have begun the with Neue Klasse (New Class) project which produced a series of all-new models beginning with the 1500 which went on sale in 1962.

This Neue Klasse established the identity of the brand which became known for sports sedans that were promoted as ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine’, the tagline used internationally although in Germany, it was ‘…aus Freude am Fahren’. This German tagline, used by to the mid-1970s, would be revived in the 21^st century in its English translation ‘Designed for Sheer Driving Pleasure’. This replaced the short-lived ‘Joy’ campaign that never quite clicked with BMW enthusiasts who, in any case, still saw their favourite car as the ‘ultimate driving machine’.

In 2023, as BMW moved further into the era of electric mobility, the company has started another Neue Klasse and begin a totally new generation of models. The new Neue Klasse was previewed in September last year a concept model known as the Vision Neue Klasse that showed the design direction for future models.

The Vision Neue Klasse has a sedan form and with SAVs (what BMW calls its SUVs) being as dominant, the designers have now come out with another concept model in that bodystyle – the Vision Neue Klasse X. This previews a new fully-electric SAV derivative on the new architecture which will go into production in 2025 at the BMW iFACTORY in Hungary.

Electric, digital, and circular
The main characteristics of the Neue Klasse – electric, digital, and circular – are expanded in this latest concept. The driving pleasure that forms the core of the BMW brand is taken to the next level with drive and chassis control developed specially for the new series which will use sixth generation BMW eDrive technology. Its sustainability concept also ensures responsible production, operations, disassembly, and recycling.

In combination with the 2-box profile of a BMW X model, the minimalistic design language developed for the Neue Klasse also represents a major leap forward in design. Vertically aligned LED units offer a fresh interpretation of BMW’s hallmark light signature.

At front and centre is the BMW kidney grille, reimagined as a 3-dimensional sculpture with vertically aligned and backlit contours. Together, the headlights and kidney grille create a lighting effect that is activated as the driver approaches the vehicle and continues in the interior.

The rear section is powerful and athletic, with lights that reach far into the centre providing a horizontal interpretation of the familiar BMW ‘L’ shape. Its 3D-printed elements are individually controlled with variable light intensity to convey a particularly expressive depth effect.

Flush glass surfaces and the bright Coral Silver exterior paintwork give the Vision Neue Klasse X a certain lightness. In the rear portion of the side windows, the brand’s signature Hofmeister kink is maintained, not through chrome edging but with a ‘reflective print’ that forms a transparent or reflective surface, depending on the viewing angle.

Four ‘super-brains’
A new type of drive and chassis control promises a superior driving experience that is tailored to individual needs. It is based on a new software stack developed in-house by BMW two out of four new ‘super-brains’ will take the driving experience in the Neue Klasse to a new dimension, says the company.

“Neue Klasse means BMW driving at an even higher level,” explained Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Development. “The BMW of the future will have 4 totally new ‘super-brains’: high-performance computers working smartly together on what, up until now, was processed separately. We developed the first ‘super-brain’ completely in-house. It integrates the entire powertrain and driving dynamics with up to 10 times more computing power. The second ‘super-brain’ will enable the next quantum leap in automated driving.”

“Going forward, we will combine 4 key control units in a single high-performance computer. The result will be more dynamic performance, more precision, more efficiency, and even more fun to drive,” added Weber.

Latest BMW eDrive technology
In the Neue Klasse, overall vehicle efficiency will reach a new level. The latest sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology has, in addition to improved e-drive units, new cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells with a volumetric energy density more than 20% higher than that of the prismatic cells previously used.

In combination with the transition to an 800V system, this will improve charging speeds by up to 30%. The sixth generation BMW eDrive also delivers up to 30% more range, with the Vision Neue Klasse X form having an impressive reduction in drag of about 20% compared to current BMW X models. New tyre designs and a special brake system for fully-electric vehicles also help increase overall vehicle efficiency by up to 25%.

More spacious interior
The fully electric vehicle architecture offers new possibilities for an even more spacious interior. It allows for a long wheelbase, short overhangs, and still retains classic BMW proportions. Large window areas and the panoramic glass roof flood the interior with natural light, creating and airy spaciousness that is complemented by textiles in warm colours.

confident driving experience. The steering wheel with multifunction buttons, Central Display with intuitive touch control functionality, and BMW Panoramic Vision, together with the advanced voice control of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, serve as the effortless and intuitive interfaces for human-car interaction.

BMW Panoramic Vision projects key information across the full width of the windscreen. It will be complemented in production models of the Neue Klasse by the enhanced BMW 3D head-Up Display. The Display is elegantly integrated into the instrument panel, providing both front passengers with optimal access to all infotainment functions. The colours shown are not only transferred to the ambient light, but also to the backlit textile surfaces of the instrument panel.

The Personal Sound Experience, presented for the first time with the new HYPERSONX WHEEL, opens up further possibilities. With this digital function, sound is generated in real time and adjusted with the tap of a finger on the HYPERSONX WHEEL.

‘More BMW than ever’
“Together with the BMW Vision Neue Klasse, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X showcases the breadth of our future BMW model line-up. The Neue Klasse reflects the variety of all the models that customers want today and in the future – from sports sedan, with all its derivatives, to modern SAV family,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW. “In this way, we are underlining that the Neue Klasse is much more than just a car or a specific concept; it is redefining the BMW brand – and, at the same time, will be more BMW than ever.”