These New BMWs Are Far More Important Than You Realise

Jack gives an overview of BMW's two Neue Klasse and explains why these concept cars are so much more significant than your average fanciful design study. Is this the moment BMW goes all in on electric?

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Everything Electric LONDON, ExCel London - 28th, 29th & 30th March

Everything Electric NORTH, Yorkshire Event Centre - 24th, 25th & 26th May

Everything Electric CANADA - Vancouver Convention Centre - 6th, 7th & 8th September

Everything Electric SOUTH - Farnborough International - 11th, 12th & 13th October

Everything Electric EUROPE - RAI Amsterdam - Date Announcement Imminent

#BMW #neueklasse #electriccar #5series #3series #ix3 #ev #electricvehicles #battery

[xastephen]

I'm not sure how they managed to find enough 1970s lemon-yellow corduroy pants in the thrift store to make that interior. Whoever did their shopping that day deserves a bonus. But whatever the final car ends up looking like, if they continue with no physical controls it won't make my short list. Yay buttons and stalks. Boo touch screens. And voice control just... no. If I need to talk to my car it better make snappy comebacks and help me fight crime.

[jati]

For me it's the first time in a long time that I find a new BMW exciting and I used to be a BMW fan. I like this retro futuristic, minimalistic design. I'm sure the actual cars will look less flashy and more boring. But I hope they retain the general design language on the outside. The inside looks to me like pure phantasy and I hope that's what it's meant to be. Physical buttons have a use. Please don't make Tesla's mistake and put style and cost savings above usability and safety … And by the way: I love the mix of jokes and facts in these videos :D They are entertaining and informative at the same time.

[bluesteve]

As a current i3s owner, this is the first new design from the marque that I would be excited to trade for. I find the saloon to be quite attractive.

[Psi-Storm]

They used cameras for the side mirrors, because it looks cooler from the outside but then didn't add monitors for them in the inside because that always looks terrible.

[francisa]

Why they discontinued the i3, one of the most appreciated and sold EVS was a mystery, not even an updated version.

[whodatcatt]

Wow, that grill is so so so much better.
I really like the concept of the full width front screen heads up display.
The rest of the interior really looks cheesy

[Diffusion]

I really hope they look like this! Current BMW design has completely lost its way, sadly

[andreaszachariah]

BMW Neue-Klasse.. "the day BMW stopped half-arsing EVs, and went full-arse"... That is a quote for the ages!
Ditto needing to apologise to neighbours for the iX and i7 WTF design buffonery... or buttonless/switchless cabins.

[Frstee]

wow they aren't super ugly on the front anymore and actually look nice. I still think it needs a minimum amount of buttons and dials for often used things like climate controls and turn signals, the rest can be incorporated into the screen

[hahtos]

Well, at least it doesn't have the pig-ran-into-a-wall front grille they have now....

[thumper]

Nice one Jack, the saloon rear/side profile reminds me of the CSi from the 70s. As for those all important ‘principles’, this is what turned me from the past to the future, a mindset change they adopted with the i3. I’ve had 20 BMWs over 45 years, but now I drive an i3S and will never buy ICE again.

[phsyco]

Ahh.. But do they have the optional indicators?

[johnnyonline]

I think it looks brilliant. The new design language is a huge improvement.

[thewheelieguy]

The are the Vision Neue Klasse concepts, I'm amazed no one has mentioned the original Neue Klasse models that set the template for all of the classic models of the 60s through the 80s into the 90s.

From Wikipedia: The BMW New Class (German: Neue Klasse) was a line of sedans and coupes produced by German automaker BMW between 1962 and 1972. These models ensured BMW's solvency after the company's financial crisis of the 1950s and established the identity of BMW automobiles as sports sedans.

[Crazy_Worlds]

Cool. Not sure about the ‘beach towel’ interiors though, and please keep physical buttons and stalks for the basic controls.

[antoniopalmero]

Classic mirrors work 100% of the time, every time .

[gothmog]

I love my i4s HUD - don’t need binnacle or central screen for much, the HUD is my main info display. Expanding this is a really good idea and mitigates much of the switch to large central touchscreens. Would still like some physical buttons for vital stuff though and please please keep the indicator stalks.

[Captck]

...But it's a concept, so I doubt it'll look anything like that when it hits production, just like they always do! Critiquing is pointless until it's an actual thing and not a bunch of pixels we're looking at.

[gregp.]

Finally new dedicated EVs and EV platform(s) from BMW. Love my quirky 2019 i3 (42.2kWh 120 Ah battery, no range extender). Had it for 6 months.

[roscoecoltrane]

From the outside, I’m getting a retro vibe with the styling - back to the days before SUVs existed. This can only be a good thing!