The all-new BMW iX3, the first of BMW’s Neue Klasse generation of models, has been officially launched in Singapore, priced at $387,888 with COE.
BMW is stepping into a new era with its Neue Klasse (New Class in German) generation of cars, which aims to redefine the brand in the age of electrification and digitalisation.
The first production model to emerge from that Neue Klasse vision, the iX3, is now officially available in Singapore.
BMW aims to have the Neue Klasse models carve their own distinct identity within the greater BMW lineup, and the iX3 certainly meets the mark.
It features a unique design language that the brand says is a modern interpretation of BMW’s “original and enduring blueprint”, while paying homage to the original Neue Klasse sedans of the 1960s that played such a critical role in the company’s survival.
Highlights on the iX3 include a distinctive take on the iconic BMW double kidney grille, accompanied by a unique lighting signature that helps the car stand out.
The rear adds a touch of modernity with the slim ‘L’-shaped taillights that have been a common feature on recent BMW models, while the clean surfacing and subtle rectangular wheel arches are a nod to the larger BMW iX electric SUV that kicked of BMW’s current era of mainstream electrification.
Inside, the new iX3 enters a new dimension with its BMW Panoramic iDrive system, which incorporates the BMW Panoramic Vision setup that displays vital information across the full width of the windscreen.
It also comes with a BMW 3D Head-Up Display which can show integrated navigation and automated driving information, allowing the driver to keep his eyes on the roads.
The free-cut-design Central Display infotainment screen is also new, and the operating system within has been upgraded to allow for native access to popular apps like Spotify for music, YouTube for videos, as well as AirConsole for in-car gaming.
The iX3 50 xDrive model also comes with premium features like a 13-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system as well as a panoramic sunroof.
But it’s not just the iX3’s design where BMW has been making breakthroughs. The car rides on a newly-developed platform that has been engineered to integrate the high-voltage battery into the vehicle architecture as a structural component, allowing for significant weight savings.
The battery itself also has a new cell-to-pack design that sees its cylindrical cells integrated directly into the battery pack, which BMW says allows for a 20 per cent increase in energy density compared to its own fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology.
As a result, the launch model of the iX3 50 xDrive features a 108.7kWh battery, allowing for a claimed WLTP driving range of an impressive 805km. It can also take on a maximum DC charging speed of 400kW, allowing it to go from 10 to 80 per cent charge in just 21 minutes.
Power comes from a dual motor setup that BMW says have been optimised to reduce energy loss by 40 per cent over the fifth-gen BMW eDrive technology. With the two motors combined, total output is rated at 345kW/469bhp and 645Nm of torque, allowing the iX3 to go from 0-100km/h in just 4.9 seconds.
The new BMW iX3 xDrive 50 M Sport is now available in Singapore, and retails at a price of $387,888, inclusive of COE.
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