Growing German industry flexes its muscles

BMW has just revealed its new iX3 SUV at the Munich motor show, as the first member of its ‘Neue Klasse’ of EVs. These cars are critical for the company’s future – just as the original ‘Neue Klasse’ of mid-sized saloons was back in the early 1960s, when BMW found itself under serious financial pressure.

- By KRIS CULMER

It was the 1961 Frankfurt show where the public first saw a Neue Klasse saloon, giving a “tremendous reception” to the “very elegant and well-appointed”, Michelotti-designed 1500. “If the estimated price of £760 [£14,650 in today’s money] and dry weight of 1005kg can be maintained, its success seems assured,” reported Autocar.

Also new on the BMW stand was the 3200 CS luxury coupé, designed by Bertone and powered by a 160bhp 3.2-litre V8, costing £2650 – serving as a striking contrast to Munich’s popular miniature 600, at £622.

Yet it was Volkswagen that was the centre of attention, with its own new 1500. Also known as the Type 3, this was the first all-new car from Wolfsburg since the seminal Type 1 ‘Beetle’, conceived way back in the 1930s. “The VW 1500 is undoubtedly very cleverly conceived, and the standard of finish is very high,” we said – but we did fear that the poor refinement of an air-cooled engine couldn’t cut it in the 1.5-litre class, especially when at £567 it cost a bit more than its Ford and Opel rivals.