There is a widespread misunderstanding that concept cars always dictate the styling of production models. This is not quite true, at least not all the time. In some cases, a car manufacturer completes the production design before showing the concept. BMW presented the vision of new class X more than a year ago, but that doesn’t mean that the styling of the IX3 came afterwards. The design team probably included in the production look long before the concept of the concept of the concept in March 2024.
So it is inaccurate to say that the new IX3 is derived from Vision NEE class X. It is more likely that it is the other way around. Aside of the chicken or eier egg debate, the electric crossover still looks like a futuristic concept car that made it on today’s streets. This has a place in the silver color and a somewhat subtle M sports package.
The optional kit adds a little more aggressive bumper, but you will no longer find any more Madges on the fenders. BMW also removed the “I” from the kidney grille as part of its more comprehensive efforts to remove the design in the era of the new class. The 22-inch wheels are the largest for the IX3 and wear discrete M logo.
BMW has described the IX3 as if it were skipping an entire generation. Regardless of whether you agree or not, it cannot be denied that the “Na5” looks out of the outgoing “G08” immediately. Even if the radical styling takes time to get used to it, the hardware upgrades are clear. With 500 miles (805 kilometers) on one load per WLTP, the fear of the range could finally be a thing of the past.
Sleeker i3 could do even better next year. According to BMW, its sixth generation batteries can deliver up to 900 kilometers (559 miles) in a future model. It remains to be seen whether this is the limousine or an even more aero-friendly body style. In both cases, Munich clearly intends to consider the reach of the range.
The IX3 in the new BMW work in Hungary has the new class rollout of NEE class. The start begins with a single version, the 50 XDrive, although more come. A less powerful 40 XDRIVE is already confirmed, which is connected by a 40 SDRIVE input model with rear wheel drive. These “40” versions use a smaller battery than the 108.7 kWh package in the 50 XDrive and therefore offer less reach.
Hopefully BMW will also expand the color palette because the options are limited at the start. So far, the only true colors have been fire red/vegas red, eucalyptus green and octicular blue besides the usual shadows of black, white, silver and gray.
[Photos: www.qr-photography.com]
