Back in March, the famous Art Car Collection started a global tour through five continents to mark its 50th anniversary. The last stop was Hungary, home to the new iX3 electric crossover. Of course, BMW didn’t miss the opportunity to present one of its kind of cars and the first modern model of the new class under one roof. A classic 1800 TI took part in the event at Millenáris Park in Budapest.
For the first time in Hungary, the original BMW Art Car caused a sensation at the trade fair. We are talking about the unique 3.0 CSL from 1975. The racing car number 93 was driven by Hervé Poulain at Le Mans, but did not finish the endurance race. However, the French racing driver was the visionary behind the BMW Art Car program. American artist Alexander Calder created the original Art Car, and the rest is history. No fewer than 19 vehicles followed, the latest being Julie Mehretu’s M Hybrid V8 last year.
While the stunning E9 may have stolen the show, the new iX3 certainly wasn’t neglected. BMW brought several examples in the M Sport package with different 22-inch wheel designs. Ocean Wave Blue dominated, but one vehicle wore a Space Silver finish.
The New Class electric vehicle, built on site at the new factory in Debrecen, went into series production a few weeks ago. European customers will be the first to get behind the wheel when deliveries begin next spring. The iX3 50 xDrive is the only version at market launch, but “40” models with rear- and all-wheel drive will soon be added to the product range. These cheaper iX3 variants come with a smaller battery compared to the 108.7 kWh package of the starting version.
The iX3 will be joined next year by a modern interpretation of the 1800 Turismo Internazionale. The i3 will be the company’s first new-class sedan of our time, carrying the traditional three-box formula into the future. In 2026, BMW will add a body style never seen in the old NK lineup: a crossover coupe. It was recently discovered that the very first iX4 is expected to launch later next year.
It’s a question of when, not if, before the first modern model in the Neue Klasse gets the art car treatment. Logic suggests it will be either a sedan or a coupe, but since the M Hybrid V8 only debuted last year, we’ll have to wait a while longer for the No. 21 rolling model.
