Future Perfect
BMW Vision Neue Klasse X
Written by Andre James / Photos courtesy of BMW
BMW painted a bold portrait of the brand's future at IAA Mobility 2023, Germany's leading international automotive trade fair, unveiling the BMW Vision Neue Klasse (see the related article in our November/December issue). Building on this vision's aesthetics, technology, and sustainability, the company recently announced that the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, part of the Sports Activity Vehicles sector, will begin production at their plant in Hungary in 2025.
With vibrant colors, efficient dynamics, and a pared-down yet forward-thinking design emphasizing spaciousness and the joy of driving, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X presents a decidedly youthful and optimistic face.
"Neue Klasse means BMW driving at an even higher level," explains Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for development. "The BMW of the future will have four totally new super-brains: high-performance computers working smartly together on what, up until now, was processed separately. We developed the first super-brain completely in-house. It integrates the entire powertrain and driving dynamics with up to ten times more computing power. The second super-brain will enable the next quantum leap in automated driving. Going forward, we will combine four key control units in a single high-performance computer. The result will be more dynamic performance, more precision, more efficiency, and even more fun to drive."
The BMW kidney grille is notably reimagined as a three-dimensional sculpture with vertically aligned and backlit contours. The headlights and kidney grill operate in tandem to create a lighting effect that activates as the driver approaches the vehicle and continues in the interior.
A commitment to sustainability has led to several innovations. "Verdana," a wholly plant-based, mineral-based, and petroleum-free surface material, is used on the lower portion of the door paneling and in the center console. Maritime plastics, such as recycled fishing nets, are being utilized for the first time for injection-molded parts. Recycled mono-materials comprise the side skirts and front and rear apron attachments.
Inside the cockpit, the driver's slightly elevated seating position enables a confident driving experience. A redesigned steering wheel with multifunction buttons, a Central Display with intuitive touch control integrated within the instrument panel, BMW Panoramic Vision that projects key information across the entire width of the windscreen, and advanced voice control of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant enhance the human-car connection.
The sixth generation of BMW's eDrive technology represents its most efficient yet, with new and now round lithium-ion battery cells and a transition to an 800-volt system, improving charging speed and range by up to thirty percent. A ten-minute charge enables a range of up to 180 miles. A reduction in drag and a brake system optimized for fully electric vehnicles combine to incrase overall efficiency by up to twenty-five percent.
"Together with the BMW Vision Neue Klasse, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X showcases the breadth of our future BMW model line-up. The Neue Klasse reflects the variety of all the models that customers want today and in the future – from sporty sedan, with all its derivatives, to modern SAV family," says Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. "In this way, we are underlining that the Neue Klasse is much more than just a car or a specific concept; it is redefining the BMW brand – and, at the same time, will be more BMW than ever."