The concepts that anticipated the iX3 SUV and the i3 saloon in the Neue Klasse family. Photo: BMW Group
BMW is taking Neue Klasse technology to 40 models by the end of 2027
BMW is preparing 40 new or updated models by the end of 2027, and they will gradually take on technologies developed for Neue Klasse. The figure does not mean 40 completely new electric cars. The count includes both launches and facelifts, including models with other types of propulsion.
The first car built on the new electric architecture is the BMW iX3 SUV, produced in Debrecen, Hungary. The second is the BMW i3 electric saloon, which entered production in Munich in 2026. The rest of the range will receive, depending on the model, the new interface, electronic architecture, control systems and elements of the design language.
What Neue Klasse actually brings
For electric cars, the main change is the sixth generation of the eDrive system. It uses an 800-volt architecture and cylindrical cells with energy density 20% higher than the previous generation, according to BMW data.
In the case of the iX3, the manufacturer quotes a maximum range of 805 km WLTP and DC charging at up to 400 kW. In ideal conditions, ten minutes at a compatible station can add up to 372 km of range calculated on the WLTP cycle. On-road figures depend on version, temperature, speed, tyres and the battery’s starting level.
Neue Klasse also brings an electronic architecture based on four central computers, which BMW calls “superbrains”. They group functions that were previously spread across several control units. One of the computers, named Heart of Joy, coordinates propulsion, braking, energy recuperation and part of chassis dynamics.
The company says the new architecture’s processing power is more than 20 times greater than the current generation. Wiring is about 600 metres shorter and 30% lighter. These figures come from BMW and describe the technical configuration designed by the manufacturer, not the results of an independent test.
Neue Klasse does not mean that all BMWs become electric
The Neue Klasse platform itself was conceived for electric cars. BMW will, however, use some of its technologies on models that are not built on this platform. By the end of 2027, the company wants the new generation of interfaces and electronic systems to reach the entire range, regardless of propulsion.
Among the elements that can be transferred are BMW Panoramic iDrive, the BMW Operating System X and the Panoramic Vision display at the base of the windscreen. Updated models can also receive the new exterior style without adopting the battery, motors or 800-volt architecture of an iX3 or i3.
A future facelift of a petrol or plug-in hybrid model can therefore be included in the 40 launches and can look close to Neue Klasse cars, without automatically becoming a model built on the dedicated electric platform.
BMW has accelerated iX3 production in Debrecen
On 30 July 2026, BMW chief executive Milan Nedeljković announced that the Debrecen plant had produced 50,000 iX3 examples since series production started. The factory introduced the second shift earlier than planned, and BMW was approaching the threshold of 100,000 orders for the model.
The manufacturer also opened orders early, at the beginning of June, for the launch edition of the new i3. Orders for the regular range are scheduled to start at the end of September 2026.
The pace matters because BMW has to introduce the new technologies in a short interval and in several plants. The iX3 is built in Debrecen, the i3 in Munich, and versions adapted for the Chinese market will be produced in Shenyang. A plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, will also join the Neue Klasse production network.
The Munich plant will produce only electrics from 2027
BMW has invested about €650 million in converting the Munich plant for i3 production. The company intends the factory to build exclusively electric cars from the end of 2027.
This change concerns the Munich plant, not all BMW factories and not the entire global offer. The manufacturer continues to sell combustion and hybrid models, and the timetable differs by plant and region.
What the plan means for a buyer in Romania
For anyone considering a new BMW in the next two years, the Neue Klasse name has to be checked at the level of each model. A car built on the dedicated platform can have the Gen6 battery and 800-volt charging; an updated model may take on only the interface, electronics or design.
Exact equipment, range, charging power and price must be compared in the configurator of the version available in Romania. The announcement of 40 models does not guarantee that each will reach the local market at the same time, and it does not indicate 40 completely new names in the range.
Frequently asked questions
How many BMW models will receive Neue Klasse technology?
BMW talks about 40 new or updated models by the end of 2027. The number includes launches and facelifts, not only completely new models.
Will all 40 models be electric?
No. The Neue Klasse architecture is dedicated to electric cars, but the interface, electronics and design elements will also be extended to models with other types of propulsion.
What are the first Neue Klasse models?
The first is the BMW iX3 electric SUV, produced in Debrecen. The second is the new BMW i3, an electric saloon produced in Munich and different from the old i3 hatchback built between 2013 and 2022.
What range does the BMW iX3 have?
BMW quotes up to 805 km WLTP, depending on version. Real-world range can be lower and varies with temperature, route, speed and equipment.
Will current BMW cars receive these functions through a software update?
Not all of them. Some software functions can be updated remotely, but the 800-volt architecture, central computers, wiring and Panoramic Vision require hardware installed at the factory.
