It looks like BMW mentioned the Neue Klasse just a few days ago but actually the company has been hard at work for quite some time now. The first time we heard the term “Neue Klasse” was earlier this year and coming January next year, we will see the Neue Klasse concept car.
BMW chose CES in Las Vegas as the venue for the unveiling, but we're sure there will be plenty of leaks well ahead of the date. The confirmation came during a Q3 earnings call when BMW's CFO said the company was actually bringing a Neue Klasse preview vehicle to the show.
The preview or vision vehicle as BMW refers to it, may not be a complete car - it may be just a rendering of the interior or vice versa - just the exterior or even just the silhouette, although vision vehicles tend to be more detailed than that.
The Neue Klass was decided when BMW threw out the idea of using an updated platform for gas and electric powered cars. The company decided that the replacement of the current UKL and CLAR platforms would be electric only – hence the name Neue Klasse. On a side note, the new platform will support a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain as well as battery power.
The new platform is even more flexible than the current one, allowing for different wheelbases and different body styles. The Neue Klass vehicle will definitely be more aerodynamic to increase the range and the proportions will be different - the company wants to maximize interior space.
The battery pack will use new cylindrical cells, and the 6th generation electric motor will be smaller and more powerful with increased efficiency. Put all that together and BMW promises a 30 percent increase in range when compared to current electric cars.
The Hungarian plant in Debrecen, which is currently under construction, will be responsible for building the Neue Klasse vehicles from 2025. The following year the Munich plant will start production as well after completing a complete re-fit. The first car from the Neue Klasse will be a sedan – most likely a new electric BMW 3 series with a sporty SUV to follow.
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