With styling cues that are reminiscent of the BMW iX3, revealed last month, and a host of other details on the camo vehicle, it looks as though the iX1 is going to move from its previous, front-drive-based U11 platform to the Neue Klasse modular architecture (with the codename NB5), gaining a rear-biased propulsion system in the deal.
Looking Like A Member Of The Family
Squinting past the psychedelic camouflage wrap, there are some clear resemblances to the Vision Neue Klasse X concept car as well as the production-ready iX3. For starters, the subcompact crossover has the same narrow, upright BMW kidney grilles as its siblings, which themselves take inspiration from the BMW 2000 sedan and legendary 2002 two-door sportster. The next-generation iX1 also has narrow, upturned headlamps with four angular lighting elements, again aping the larger iX3. The camo does a good job hiding the bodyside contours, but we can make out bold, flat-faced wheel arches akin to the iX and other BMW electric SUVs.
Around back, the iX1 is very smooth indeed, with a nicely contoured rear end that relocates the license plate mounting position to just above the bottom of the liftgate. The taillights look a bit larger than the slim, angular units on the iX3, giving the entry-level EV its own personality. Our sources also suggest that instead of full-width lighting elements, the iX1 will have a small break in the middle where the BMW badge will live.
Zooming in on the interior as the iX1 drove past our intrepid spy photog, we can make out a compact-car application of the company's iDrive X infotainment system, including a narrow screen at the base of the windshield that spans the width of the dashboard. The system includes reconfigurable widgets that theoretically will allow the driver to place all of their preferred data on the dash itself, using a smaller, rhomboid touchscreen to handle lower-priority adjustments like audio and climate controls.
The New State Of The Art
BMW's latest modular architecture, which will also appear under the skin of the next-generation X5, will give the entry-level iX1 some pretty impressive statistics. The Gen6 batteries found in all Neue Klasse EVs make use of cylindrical cells with a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC or NiMnCo) chemistry, making them more power-dense and easier to package without needing separate cell modules. That will make the batteries lighter and more compact than those found in the current, not-for-U.S. iX3.
Furthermore, the battery itself will slot into the NB5's structure via the Neue Klasse's pack-to-open-body construction method. The battery pack will become an integrated part of the floor, improving body rigidity and increasing interior room. The design also reduces weight, achieving better range without sacrificing performance. Given the current iX3 can travel between 259 and 270 miles in WLTP testing, we think the next-gen version will do around 350 miles at least (translating to an EPA figure of 300 miles if it comes to America).
As for when and if that happens, BMW has its hands full with future product, planning an onslaught that includes the launch of the iX3 and the debuts of the next-generation 3 Series and X5. We might even get a whack at the combustion-powered, Neue Klasse–based BMW M3 before too long, so we'll be surprised if the iX3 arrives before 2028. If we have to wait for the entry-level EV, at least we'll have plenty of distractions.
