By Otsile Kadiege

Last year, BMW unveiled the Vision Neue Klasse sedan at the 2023 IAA Munich Motor Show. The concept model gave us a glimpse of the brand’s future design philosophy and technology. This year, the automaker lifted the veils off yet another Vision Neue Klasse concept in ‘Sports Activity Vehicle’ form dubbed the Vision Neue Klasse X Concept. Like its sedan sibling, the Neue Klasse X sheds some light on BMW’s future design language and technology.

Modern meets classic

Starting off with the design, the Neue Klasse X Concept boats a bold and athletic look with some design cues paying homage to classic BMW cars like the 02 Series. Some exterior highlights include vertically aligned LED units, a BMW 2002 inspired snout with backlit contours, a stamped BMW badge on the bonnet and tailgate, large alloy wheels and BMW’s signature Hofmeister kink on the D-pillar with a “reflective print” that forms a transparent or reflective surface, depending on the viewing angle.

At the rear, the Neue Klasse X Concept sports large taillights that reach far into the centre and feature 3D-printed elements which are individually controlled with variable light intensity to convey a particularly expressive depth effect.

Futuristic interior

Inside, the Neue Klasse X Concept is equally futuristic thanks to a minimalist, two-tone sustainable interior with next-generation technologies like a newly designed multifunctional steering wheel, a Central Display with intuitive touch control functionality and BMW Panoramic Vision which projects key information across the full width of the windscreen. It will be complemented in production models of the Neue Klasse by the enhanced BMW 3D Head-Up Display.

The Neue Klasse X Concept also debuted the brand’s new Hypersonx Wheel. BMW says, with this digital function, car occupants can enjoy their favourite sound on any trip. The sound, generated in real time and adjusted with the tap of a finger on the Hypersonx Wheel, is an innovative contribution to the immersive and holistic user experience that transforms the interior of the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X into a personal experience space.

Sixth-gen eDrive technology

The future X model will make use of BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive technology. According to BMW, this offers improved e-drive units, a new and now round lithium-ion battery cells, with a volumetric energy density more than 20 percent higher than that of the prismatic cells previously used. In combination with the transition to an 800-volt system, BMW further adds that this will improve charging speed by up to 30 percent – allowing vehicles to charge enough for a 300-kilometre range in just ten minutes. The sixth-generation of BMW eDrive also delivers up to 30 percent more range.

When it comes to aerodynamics, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X boasts an impressive new top figure: with drag reduced by 20 percent to a comparable model in the current line-up. New tyre designs and a special brake system for fully-electric vehicles help increase overall vehicle efficiency by up to 25 percent.

Availability

The first fully-electric raised derivative on the new architecture will go into series production at Plant Debrecen (Hungary) in 2025.