- A pre-production prototype of the 2026 BMW iX3 was spotted in the wild.
- The latest batch of spy shots reveals the lighting signature of the electric SUV.
- BMW’s first Neue Klasse production offering will hit the market in 2025.
Our spy photographers caught one of the pre-production prototypes of the upcoming BMW iX3 Neue Klasse SUV, shortly after it rolled off the production line in Hungary. The fully electric model goes through the latest stages of development testing ahead of its market launch in 2025.
The BMW iX3 Neue Klasse made its spy debut in November 2023, but early prototypes were fitted with provisional lighting units. The new prototype is fitted with the production headlights and taillights, revealing a modern LED lighting signature. This was the last missing piece of the puzzle, as the bodywork of the SUV has already been uncovered in recent patent drawings.
More: 2026 BMW iX3 Neue Klasse Renders Patents Into Reality
The new prototype was also photographed with the hood open. Unlike other EVs, the BMW iX3 doesn’t appear to have a frunk, with the space being occupied by mechanical components. We can also see the iX3’s pop-out door handles, which are less futuristic than the fin-shaped solution of the Vision Neue Klasse X concept. Judging from earlier spy shots, these will likely find their way into the larger iX5.
The wheels of the prototype suggest that this is one of the lesser versions of the BMW iX3. Our spy photographers suggest that the wheel diameter of the production model will be between 18 inches and 22 inches depending on the trim. The larger size will likely be reserved for the performance-focused offering by BMW M.
The new BMW iX3 will be the first production model to adopt the Neue Klasse styling language before it gets applied to the automaker’s entire range of combustion and electric models. The iX3 will be followed by the i3 sedan, the similarly-sized 3-Series, and the new generation of the X5/iX5, which are set to debut in the coming years.
The Neue Klasse underpinnings are compatible with single and dual electric motors, rumored to produce anywhere between 300 and 600 hp. Furthermore, a new generation of batteries is expected to bring a 30% improvement in charging speed and range, taking the latter to a maximum of over 800 km (500 miles).
BMW recently stated that series production of its first Neue Klasse SUV will begin in late 2025.
