BMW unveils iX3, i3 and 7 Series with Neue Klasse tech

The BMW Group has staged three world premieres at Auto China 2026 in Beijing: the BMW iX3 Long Wheelbase, the BMW i3 Long Wheelbase and the new BMW 7 Series. All three models carry technologies from the Neue Klasse programme, which the company describes as the biggest future project in BMW’s history.

The BMW iX3 and BMW i3, developed for China, are built on sixth-generation eDrive technology with an 800-volt architecture. The iX3 Long Wheelbase offers more than 900 km of CLTC-rated range; the i3 Long Wheelbase exceeds 1,000 km. Both support peak DC charging at 400 kW, adding up to 400 km of range in ten minutes.

The new BMW 7 Series is the first existing BMW model to carry Neue Klasse technologies, with Panoramic iDrive, a BMW Passenger Screen and a Theatre Screen for rear passengers. The China version integrates DeepSeek AI and supports hands-free motorway driving at up to 130 km/h.

BMW has co-developed a new ‘Address-to-Address’ navigation-guided driver assistance system with Momenta, launching with the iX3 and rolling out to 12 BMW models in China by end-2027. Around 70% of the Chinese version of BMW Operating System X is developed in local centres.

In a statement, Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said the three premieres mark “an important milestone in the biggest future project in BMW’s history: the Neue Klasse.” BMW also displayed the iX5 Hydrogen pilot vehicle at the show, ahead of series production from 2028.

Source: BMW Group