BMW'S NEUE VIEW

With its latest design concept, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse, the company is showcasing what the next generation of its vehicles will look like.

Written by Andre James

Unveiled to the public for the first time at the IAA Mobility 2023 International Show in Munich this past September, BMW says its Vision Neue Klasse embodies a clear design language, with expansive surfaces and just a few distinctive lines, that have been pared down to the essentials. “The BMW Vision Neue Klasse combines our ability to innovate in the core areas of electrification, digitalization, and circularity,” says Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “In this way, we are always able to stay two steps ahead of the future: The Neue Klasse is already bringing the mobility of the next decade to the roads in 2025 – and leading BMW into a new era.”

The minimalist monolithic approach accentuates signature and subtly reinterpreted features like the BMW kidney grille, steeply forward-slanting “shark nose” front end, and the Hofmeister kink of the side window graphic. Distinctive wheel arches frame 21-inch aerodynamic wheels that pay tribute to the classic cross-spoke design inspired by motorsports. Paintwork in “Joyous bright,” a subtle yellow hue, underscores the cars approachable, future-oriented personality and contrasts the black side skirts and bumpers.

A lighting effect with precise three-dimensional animation initiates intuitive interaction between the car and the driver as soon as they approach the car. E Ink elements in the lower portion of the side windows also feature in the exterior welcome scenario, directing attention to the sensor area that activates automatic door opening. Innovative technology similarly defines the design of the rear lights, with 3D-printed elements that extend over several levels and are controlled in a targeted manner to create a unique impression of depth.

In addition to highly efficient electric motors, major advances in the new BMW eDrive technology include newly developed round battery cells, with more than 20% higher energy density than the prismatic cells used previously. The sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology will improve the charging speed and boost range for Neue Klasse models by up to 30%, and increase overall vehicle efficiency by up to twenty-five percent.

Inside the next generation of BMW iDrive guarantees a unique digital user experience that merges real and virtual worlds. Analogue operating controls have been reduced to a minimum. With BMW Panoramic Vision, which will be available for the first time in the Neue Klasse, information is projected at the ideal height into the driver’s line of sight and, for the first time, across the entire width of the windscreen, allowing both the driver and passenger to interact with the information displayed.

A coordinated choreography between the ambient lighting and graphic elements of the Central Display and BMW Panoramic Vision enriches the user experience – which can also be customized using My Modes. In My Mode ‘Sport’, specific displays are set against a yellow background to support dynamic driving. The new BMW iDrive is based on a highly integrated software architecture that consolidates driving experience and infotainment data with data from the vehicle’s electronics and electrical system and the BMW cloud.

Bright cord fabrics create a comfortable atmosphere inside the cabin. The light-colored instrument panel supports the steering wheel, which is flattened at the top and bottom, as well as the Central Display with Matrix-Backlight in the outline of a parallelogram. The front seats are attached to the floor by a single bracket, freeing up additional legroom in the rear compartment, where passengers can enjoy the spaciousness created by having two individual seats. The design of the interior, which is completely free of decorative chrome or leather, helps optimize the carbon footprint of the production process.

“30% more range, 30% faster charging, 25% more efficiency– the Neue Klasse represents a major technological leap that will take EfficientDynamics to new heights. The same applies to its design–which could not be any more futuristic,” says Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development. “With the Neue Klasse, we have embarked on the biggest investment in the company’s history. We are not just writing the next chapter of BMW; we’re writing a whole new book. That’s why the Neue Klasse will certainly impact all model generations.”