BMW's Next-Gen iX1 Spotted Testing on Neue Klasse Platform — SkimNews
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- BMW's next-gen iX1 was spotted testing at the Nürburgring by @Wilco blok in camouflage, revealing a slimmer, minimalist front end that trades the traditional oversized Kidney Grille for a Neue Klasse look resembling the new iX3.
- The new iX1 will be built on BMW's dedicated Neue Klasse EV platform rather than the current platform shared with the gas-powered X1, delivering improvements in driving range, efficiency, and charging speeds.
- BMW introduced the 2026 iX1 eDrive20 and iX1 xDrive30 earlier this year with WLTP ranges of up to 512 km (318 miles) and 417 km (259 miles), respectively.
- The iX1's interior will get a Neue Klasse overhaul including a 17.9″ central touchscreen, a newly designed steering wheel, and the Panoramic Vision 3D Head-Up Display stretching across the dashboard.
- BMW plans to launch 40 new or refreshed models through 2027, with the iX1 among them; the automaker has no plans to sell the iX1 in the US, where the iX3 and i3 now start at $61,500 each.
- BMW revealed at its September 29 Capital Market Day plans for a fully electric entry-level Neue Klasse model arriving in 2028, expected as the i1 sedan sibling to the iX1.
Why it matters: The iX1's shift to a dedicated Neue Klasse EV platform marks BMW's move away from sharing architecture with the gas-powered X1, promising meaningful range and efficiency gains over the current model's 512 km WLTP benchmark. US buyers are excluded — BMW's American EV lineup starts at $61,500 with the iX3 and i3, leaving no sub-$60K BMW EV available stateside.
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