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One cannot toss a BMW badge without encountering someone who holds a viewpoint on BMW’s recent stylings. Enormous visual advancements such as large grilles, divided headlights, and the entire XM have steered the automaker away from the sleek and uncluttered lines of its history. However, if you dare to glimpse what is in store, the BMW Vision Neue Kategorie makes its debut today as an electric sedan concept that provides a preview of how the brand’s upcoming generation of vehicles will appear and perform.
Featuring flat surfaces, large windows, compact overhangs, and a sharp trunk, it signifies another significant departure from BMW’s existing lineup of vehicles. The segmented grille at the front—can they still be termed as kidneys?—and the Hofmeister kink serve as the sole evident connections between the current and the forthcoming. It’s not nostalgic, but neither is it a shapeless form. Furthermore, it’s not precisely the next iteration of the 3 Series, although there will likely be some noticeable resemblances. Whether you adore it or detest it, and it’s improbable that anyone remains neutral, the sedan signifies a pivotal juncture for BMW.
“There are numerous enthusiasts who perhaps have concerns about BMW’s direction. We also aim to assure them that, even though we introduce many alterations, we do so not merely for the sake of change. We implement changes based on our perception of what people anticipate in the future,” shared BMW’s chief designer Domagoj Dukec. “We must, in some way, advance and provide alternative offerings. This is what the outline and the exterior should signify. Some aspects may potentially embody more BMW essence than some recent offerings.”
Foreseen by the i Vision Dee revealed at CES 2023 and the i Vision Circular from Munich 2021—notice the evident progression in the photo below—the strategy of the Vision Neue Kategorie is not without precedent. Transport yourself back to, say, 1968, step into a BMW showroom, and you’ll encounter the 2002, which integrated its headlights into horizontal grilles. Notably, the 2002’s front end featured distinct kidney grilles. Coincidentally, the 02-Series vehicles were part of the original Neue Kategorie family of cars.
From L to R: The Vision Neue Kategorie, the i Vision Dee from CES in January, and the i Vision Circular from Munich in 2021. BMW
The lofty windows mirror the 02-Series and allow more sunlight into the compartment, while level surfaces and precise angles indicate the onset of a new era in design at BMW. It’s the de-Bangle-ization of the design studio, aiming to reduce visual clutter and concentrate on the essential elements. This rationale also clarifies the absence of chrome, though the imminent prohibition on chrome plating by the European Union may have influenced this decision.
“When people observe the vehicle, even if they aren’t fans of BMW, they tend to find it easily comprehensible. They often describe it as simply a well-designed car,” he mentioned, pointing out the elegant, unadorned lines of the E30-generation 3 Series as a notable case.
The interior is equally uncluttered and straightforward. Despite the absence of traditional door handles, a rectangle at the lower portion of each window illuminates to guide entry. The interior design team at BMW seems to have drawn inspiration from Scandinavian minimalism rather than the stern austerity long associated with German vehicles. The Neue Klasse presents an intriguing blend of simplicity and complexity.
The iDrive controller is a thing of the past; its junction to heaven or hell is left to your judgment. A new user interface centered around a touchscreen and a panoramic head-up display known as Panoramic Vision now adorns the entire dashboard. Through a simple drag gesture, the driver and front passenger can transition a widget, like the navigation menu, from the touchscreen to the head-up display’s upper edge. BMW has already confirmed the integration of this technology into production models by the mid-2020s.
Obtaining drivetrain specifics from BMW proved futile. At this stage, all that is known is that the Neue Klasse is fully electric, indicating the absence of a traditional straight-six engine behind the distinctive headlights. The vehicle is constructed on an 800-volt framework with a modular foundation. Martin Hehl, a key figure in the development of BMW’s electric powertrains, implied that cars based on the Neue Klasse platform are expected to offer superior driving range compared to similar battery-powered models by leveraging advancements in thermal management and cell density. The team is particularly focused on enhancing range performance in cold weather conditions.
While exploring the Neue Klasse, a burning question lingered in my thoughts: Could this be the future iteration of the 3 Series?
“We could have opted to showcase an [SUV]. However, for such a significant transformation, one needs to elucidate all these adjustments, and embarking with a silhouette that’s universally clear is simpler. Hence, it’s a sedan. Although we had other choices,” he remarked. So, is that an affirmative or a negative? “Here, our intention is not to highlight a specific product; we are still discussing a visionary concept,” he clarified. Notably, he added that a concept tailored specifically to preview the next 3 Series would carry a distinctly different title.
prefer Idea 3 Series.
