March 19th update: Surprise, surprise! Official images of BMW's upcoming Neue Klasse X concept car have leaked ahead of schedule, giving us a sneak peek at the design of the next-generation BMW iX3.
From the leaked images, it's evident that BMW's next-gen SUV adopts a highly unique and bold design approach. The front fascia prominently features a closed-off design, with a significant departure from the conventional twin-kidney grille. Instead, it sports two large nostril-like openings, adding a touch of retro flair. Speculations suggest that the left and right sides house the headlights.
Actually, the production version of this car has already been unveiled. It's based on BMW's brand-new electric vehicle platform called Neue Klasse and is positioned as a midsize SUV. The vehicle will feature pure electric propulsion and is expected to come in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions. According to earlier reports, the car's range may reach around 580 kilometers.
Following this car, BMW plans to introduce 5 more electric models based on the Neue Klasse platform.
Leaked Images of Production Version of New Klasse X
Notably, in September 2022, CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited) officially announced a long-term agreement with BMW Group. It's been reported that starting from 2025, CATL will supply cylindrical batteries for BMW Group's "New Klasse" electric vehicle lineup.
According to the agreement, CATL will provide BMW with a new type of cylindrical battery with a standard diameter of 46 millimeters. These products will be manufactured in two battery factories located in China and Europe, with each factory capable of supplying BMW with an annual capacity of up to 20 gigawatt-hours.
BMW Group states that the new cylindrical cells, designed specifically for the electronic and electrical architecture of the "New Klasse" models, can increase the range by up to 30% (WLTP).
In comparison to the fifth-generation square cells, the sixth-generation cylindrical cells contain a higher nickel content in the negative electrode, reduced cobalt content, and increased silicon content in the positive electrode. Thanks to these improvements, the volumetric energy density of the sixth-generation cells will increase by over 20%.
The voltage platform of the "new generation" vehicle's battery, powertrain, and charging technology will also be elevated to 800 volts. This enhancement optimizes the energy supply at direct current fast-charging stations, enabling a significant increase in charging power with currents as high as 500 amperes. As a result, the charging time for high-voltage power batteries from 10% to 80% capacity will decrease by up to 30%.
