New class Ushers in a completely fresh design language for BMW. We have seen the two vision concepts that drive the IX3 due later this year or the i3 in 2026. Before the limousine arrives in production disorders, the concept celebrates an unexpected comeback as the driving experience.
Actually, it is more than just a static concept. The electrical limousine has developed into a “roll -test”. We have already described the monstrous quad engine drive train in detail, so we highlight something else here. BMWblog was close to the VDX to discover a subtle change compared to the concept of 2023 vision new class.
The original concept had no conventional door handles because BMW sensors integrated into the doors. The doors opened electrically when recognizing. This enabled the designers to draw a clean and smooth profile that was not interrupted by annoying door handles. The German luxury brand did things differently for the subsequent VDX. The front doors are opened with the wing door mounted on the belt and repeats the seeing vision of NEE class X.
While the crossover concept also had this unusual door attachment on the back, the VDX integrates the rear door handle into the Hofmeister kink. “Hidden” back door handles are far from a novelty; The Alfa Romeo 156 had it almost 30 years ago. The difference is that you cannot see the door handle because the belt line hides it.
As much as we like this nice idea, the chances are good that the new limousine of the electric 3 Series will no longer have. There are already spy shots of the new class sedan with the usual pop-out door handles. BMW also left the winglets the new class X on the bottom of the cutting room. Instead, we saw prototypes of the 2026 IX3 with flushing door handles.
Nevertheless, the rethinking of door handles is to show that BMW is still interested in experimenting with styling. But fans of the Bavarian brand have complained about other parts of the design, and new class gives the impression of a revolution and not an evolution. Regardless of whether this is good or bad, we have to wait for the first production models. The car manufacturer, based in Munich, has already clarified that the NK styling is also rubbing on gas cars. In fact, we recently learned that people have a hard time say which car is ice and which EV is.
