The first model to kickstart BMW’s Neue Klasse era will be the all-new iX3, which is set to make its debut at the upcoming IAA Mobility show in Munich next month. In a recent release focusing on the start of series production of the electric drive systems that will go into Neue Klasse models, the German carmaker revealed the iX3 50 xDrive will be the upcoming iX3’s first variant.
Full specifications will only be provided on debut day, but the iX3 50 xDrive with its eDrive Gen6 electric drive system is claimed to offer significant improvements over the Gen5-powered iX3. “Energy loss is reduced by 40%, costs by 20% and weight by 10%. All this makes a significant contribution to the approximately 20% increase in overall vehicle efficiency”, explains Martin Kaufmann, SVP of global powertrain development at BMW AG.
On the main purpose of the release, BMW says the eDrive Gen6 system is the first fully-electric drivetrain to be produced at its Steyr site in Austria. Between the project launch in 2022 and 2030, BMW is investing over one billion euros (about RM4.9 billion) to expand development and production expertise for electric drive systems at the Steyr location.
The facility will manufacture the rotor, stator, transmission and inverter found in the integrated eDrive system, while the housing for the electric motor will be cast at the company’s Landshut plant in Germany. Electric drive components from Steyr will be assembled on two news lines and follow the principle of a modular system, enabling greater flexibility when dealing with different powertrain configurations.
The second-generation iX3 with the Gen6 system is said to enable a range of up to 800 km following the WLTP standard. Thanks to an 800-volt electrical architecture, it supports DC fast charging up to 400 kW and can gain over 350 km of range with just 10 minutes of charging.
GALLERY: 2026 BMW iX3 prototype
GALLERY: BWM eDrive Gen6 series production at Plant Steyr
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