BMW iX3

Second-generation electric SUV is a technological step ahead of its combustion-engined X3 sister On sale Early 2026 Price from £60,000 (est)

- STEVE HUNTINGFORD

NEUE KLASSE. IN recent years, BMW has shown off a couple of concept cars that use this name. And you don't need an A-Level in German to realise that it translates to 'new class'. But given the stepchange in design and technology those concepts showcased, what might come as a surprise is how much next year's new BMW iX3 resembles them.

True, the prototype versions we've just tried were all wearing camouflage. However, their infotainment screens give the game away by showing pictures that depict the iX3 as a dead ringer for the Vision Neue Klasse X concept.

That means the front end harks back to BMWs of the mid-1960s through to the '80s, with two small 'kidney' grilles centred in a panel that runs the full width of the car. But instead of the round headlights of old, there are angled lightbars, while stripped-back body lines also help to create a modern look.

Then there's the iX3's technology, which includes an all-new control and display layout that was previewed in the concepts and is called Panoramic iDrive. It includes a trapezoidal central touchscreen that leans towards the driver to bring it within easier reach. And instead of a traditional instrument panel, driving information is shown on a wide, customisable strip that runs below the base of the windscreen. Further information (including augmented reality sat-nav instructions that show you where to turn) can be projected onto the windscreen in your line of sight.