With its two Vision Neue Klasse concept cars, BMW has given a good overview of what the brand’s future generation of electric cars will be, both in terms of style and technology. But priority will likely be given to SUVs over sedans.
It’s a fact, electric sedans are more efficient than SUVs for obvious aerodynamic and weight reasons. And this also applies to thermal cars. With the advent of the electric car, sedans are making a comeback. BMW i4, Volkswagen ID.7, Mercedes EQE… This segment that was said to be dead and buried by SUVs is coming back to the forefront, particularly for reasons of practicality and efficiency.
This does not signal the end of the SUV, however. Proof of this is that BMW will launch its new range of electric cars, the “sixth generation of BMW cars” according to the brand, with an SUV, in this case the production version of the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X that we were able to approach a few weeks ago. This model, which announces the future BMW iX3, gives an overview of the style of future 100% electric BMWs and those which will be based on the Neue Klasse platform which will arrive in 2025.
Two thirds of BMWs sold are SUVs in certain regions of the world
In the scheme of things, we might have expected that the BMW i3, which will be the production version of the Vision Neue Klasse concept presented at the last Munich Motor Show and which we were also able to approach, would be the standard bearer of the brand for all new electric cars. But this will not be the case, since the propeller firm will first launch the SUV before the sedan.
In an interview given to BMWBlogFrank Weber, head of research and development at BMW, gave some clues about the manufacturer’s future schedule, and contrary to what one might have thought, the iX3 will be launched before the i3 for the simple reason that “Half of BMW sales worldwide are crossover vehicles. In some regions of the world, the ‘X’ range represents “up to two thirds of sales, while the brand’s SUVs are often leaders in their segment”.
The future BMW iX3 will arrive on our roads in 2025 and will be produced at the Hungarian factory in Debrecen. The BMW i3 will arrive a year later and will be manufactured in Bavaria. Not all models will be assembled in Europe, several products based on the Neue Klasse platform will also be manufactured in China, Mexico and Regensburg depending on the markets.
Electric BMWs will go further, but without bigger batteries
For these new BMWs, the engineers played on several factors to maximize autonomy, starting with the control of consumption with work carried out around the engine, aerodynamics, weight, tires, fuel management. air conditioning and electrical system.
With solid-state batteries planned for 2030, within the brand we will find lithium-ion batteries, but compared to the current BMW iX3, the future model promises between 25% and 30% less consumption. In fact, this could bring us to a WLTP approved consumption of around 13 kWh per 100 km, and undoubtedly even less for the sedan.
Enough to offer a range of more than 600 km, compared to around 470 km for the current version. Recharging should also be faster, with 10 to 80% achieved in around fifteen minutes, compared to around 25 minutes currently.