BMW’s new iX1 looks like a baby iX3 [Images] — SkimNews
![BMW’s new iX1 looks like a baby iX3 [Images]](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/BMW-new-iX1-spotted.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1400)
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- BMW's next-gen iX1 prototype was caught testing at the Nürburgring by @Wilco blok, wearing a Neue Klasse design that resembles a smaller iX3 and replaces the traditional oversized Kidney Grille with a slimmer, minimalist look.
- BMW plans to launch 40 new or refreshed models through 2027, and the iX1 skips a conventional mid-cycle facelift, going directly to a second-generation model built on the dedicated Neue Klasse EV platform rather than the current platform shared with the gas-powered X1.
- BMW already rolled out the 2026 iX1 eDrive20 and iX1 xDrive30 with WLTP ranges of up to 512 km (318 miles) and 417 km (259 miles) respectively — the Neue Klasse switch is expected to deliver gains in range, efficiency, and charging speed.
- The redesigned iX1 interior will feature a 17.9" central touchscreen, a newly designed steering wheel, and BMW's Panoramic Vision 3D Head-Up Display stretching across the dashboard.
- BMW confirmed at its September 29 Capital Market Day that a fully electric entry-level Neue Klasse sedan, expected to arrive as the i1, will launch in 2028 as a sibling to the iX1.
- BMW has no plans to bring the iX1 to the US, leaving the related new 2027 iX3 and i3 as American shoppers' entry points at $61,500 each.
Why it matters: By moving the iX1 to the dedicated Neue Klasse EV platform alongside the iX3 and i3, BMW consolidates its electric lineup on one architecture — but the iX1 won't come to the US, where the related i3 already starts at $61,500. European entry-level buyers get a more efficient base EV; American shoppers stay locked out of BMW's smallest electric SUV.
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