by Spy photographers appear to have captured the fully updated electric BMW iX1 model. The car is expected to debut in 2027 and will receive a whole range of technologies from the Neue Klasse architecture. This crossover follows the larger iX3 model and will inherit its Panoramic iDrive system from it.
Updated Exterior Design
The current generation BMW iX1 will be four years old in May, but it is expected to undergo radical changes with the arrival of the Neue Klasse platform version. This promises to be a radical departure from its predecessor.
Photos taken at a charging station show a completely new front end with a narrow “double kidney” radiator grille. It is accompanied by LED headlight units that strongly resemble those installed on the iX3.
Slightly lower, a wide central air intake grille can be seen, which lacks the vertical element present on the larger model. The bumper also looks quite streamlined, which should improve the car’s aerodynamics.
Side and Rear Sections
Continuing the review of the body’s side sections, pronounced wheel arches and streamlined lines are noticeable. Flush-mounted door handles and familiar BMW window styling from other models also catch the eye.
The rear is well camouflaged, but a new trunk lid with a license plate niche moved closer to the bumper is visible. The model also received a flatter spoiler and generally more rounded shapes.
Interior and Neue Klasse Technologies
The Neue Klasse design philosophy continues inside the cabin, which is equipped with the Panoramic iDrive system. It includes a pillar-to-pillar windshield display panel, as well as a separately positioned multimedia system, presumably with a 17.9-inch diagonal.
In other details, a new center console with a gear selector and controls can be made out, which seem to be directly borrowed from the iX3. It’s difficult to discern additional details, but the photo shows that the crossover has a camera mounted on the rearview mirror.
Technical Commonality with the iX3
It was initially believed that BMW was preparing a facelift for the X1 lineup on the Neue Klasse architecture, but apparently, this is a completely redesigned iX1. This suggests that internal combustion engine and electric versions will go their separate ways, similar to the X3 and iX3 models.
Consequently, the connection between the iX1 and iX3 will be deeper than just external similarity, and the two models will likely share much in terms of technical aspects. This should include an 800V architecture, battery packs with cylindrical cells, and efficient electric motors.
A clearer idea of what to expect from the newcomer can be formed after BMW presents additional iX3 versions. So far, the public has only been shown the 50 xDrive all-wheel-drive variant with two motors producing a combined 463 hp and 645 Nm of torque. This model is also equipped with a 108.7 kWh battery, providing a range of up to 805 km in the WLTP cycle.
The arrival of the new iX1 on the Neue Klasse platform could be a key moment for BMW in the compact electric crossover market. Increasing the technical distance between versions with different types of powertrains allows the brand to more purposefully develop the electric model itself, optimizing it for the requirements of modern battery technologies and systems. This could also lead to more pronounced individuality in design and characteristics, which ultimately benefits the end consumer looking for a true electric car, not an adaptation of a conventional model.
