BMW iX3 & The Neue Klasse Design: Retro Cool, Futuristic Fresh, and Finally Getting Me On Board
Alright folks! Buckle up, because I’m about to talk cars with a smirk on my face and a nerdy glint in my eye: the new Neue Klasse era at BMW is creeping up, and not only do I kinda dig it, I love it. Yes, after years of half-loving their design shifts, this one has hooked me. Here’s why.
A Blast From the Past (And Why I’m Here for It)
Remember when BMWs looked like they meant business? I’m talking late 60s/early 70s models, the skinny kidney grilles, the two big round headlights, purposeful proportions. Then came the E30/E34 era in the 1980s: crisp lines, serious stance, quad headlights (angel eyes) driver-centric cockpits. That’s the era I really loved, and an era that many, many BMW lovers look back at fondly. Somewhere in the mid-2010s though, the design mojo slipped. BMW got a bit…eh…lost. Big grilles, cheaper, less premium surfaces, and interiors that shouted digital overload.
Enter the Neue Klasse. According to BMW, this is “the re-definition of the BMW brand and the whole new model generation…with a new design language, and next-level driving pleasure.” The new language is described as “clear, reduced, characterful…accentuat[ing] the brand’s distinctive design characteristics in a modern interpretation.”
In plain English: they’ve flicked the conveyor belt of overly busy design, and brought back presence with purpose. I see the nods to the E30/E34 era more than the raw ’60s machines: clean surfaces, defined lines, proper proportions, not just big, chunky SUV shapes trying to look like a spaceship.
Why the iX3 (and this design) Feels Like the Right Move
The new iX3 is essentially the first production car wearing this Neue Klasse badge of design, and you can read the clues: upright front end, smaller vertical kidney grilles referencing the classic Neue Klasse of the ’60s. The side profile shows fewer messy lines, more deliberate shaping. The interior? BMW calls it a “modern experience” with wrap around, digitally focused forms, floating instrument panel and door trim flowing together.
And yes, it took me a while to warm up to the “beaver teeth” grilles of the current M3/M4 generation, but now? I accept them, even like yearn for one (M4, Manual, Verde British Racing Green, Bronze Wheels, Tartufo Interior…ahh…sorry). That means the Neue Klasse has serious game if I’m happy, and I’m excited for what’s around the corner.
The Future: What I’m Watching (and Hoping For)
• Next-generation sedans: Yes, the new 3-Series and 5-Series (combustion, hybrid or electric) are rumoured to adopt this design language soon.
• Interior boosts: Better materials, smarter UX, fewer legacy buttons. BMW themselves say they want to “translate the new styling into the interior design as well as quality materials.” (There’s your cue, BMW)
• Full portfolio rollout: The Neue Klasse design is “rolled out across the entire range..including internal combustion, hybrid and electric” models.
• My dream: A next-gen M3 or M4, rocking Neue Klasse cues, manual (please), lightweight, driver-focused, bringing old-school power and new-school polish.
My Humorous Two Cents
• There’s something satisfying about seeing those small vertical kidneys again, like BMW saying: “Yes, we remember who we are.”
• Rather than slapping more chrome and bigger grilles (looking at you, random SUV sea of sameness) they’re editing design, less noise, more voice.
• From a car guy who loves the shifting, the connection, the feel: this design says driver-first, not look-at-me-but-also-check-your-phone.
• If Ford and others did face-lifts disguised as revolutions (cough Mustang), BMW is doing a realreboot. Not just pretty lights and badges, a renewed identity.
The Verdict
I’m cautiously optimistic. A design shift is nothing without substance, and yes, this is still early days. But I believe this Neue Klasse design is a massive step in the right direction that BMW desperately needed. I’m comfortable saying: yes, I’m excited about the future. And if you’re reading this - BMW, the challenge now: follow through with quality, feel and driver engagement. The design is there. Let’s see the soul catch up.