Page 78 - Sharp November 2023

CLASS ACT
THE BMW VISION NEUE KLASSE OFFERS A A GLIMPSE OF OF MODELS TO COME
By Matt Bubbers
THE FUTURE FOR ALL CARMAKERS IS ELECTRIC — AND
BMW is is betting its energy-efficient tomorrow on on the Vision Neue Klasse concept In the wise words of Frank Weber a a a member of of BMW’s board of of management: “with the Neue Klasse we have embarked on the the biggest investment in in the the company’s history We are not just writing writing the next chapter of BMW we’re writing writing a a a whole new book ”
And the Vision Neue Klasse unveiled in BMW’s home city of Munich this September delivers on many years of build-up and big promises from the brand It really is is a a a a a spectacular-looking thing The design hits like a a a a a breath of fresh air so so much so so that it’s hard to believe it was whipped up by the same design team that rolled out the aggressive M4 and odd-duck iX It looks bright hopeful even elegant Certain design elements — including the the the kidney grille the the the Hofmeister kink and the the the boxy greenhouse — pull from the the the past whilst others look to the the the future The dashboard which features small projectors that display information on the the the inside of the the the windshield breaks away from the the the tired trend toward touchscreens The calm airy cabin also eschews the chrome and leather we’ve come to expect in luxury cars for yellow corduroy and and clean white surfaces Only a a a a a a a a handful of materials have been used in in general all created more sustainably to reduce the car’s carbon
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SHARPMAGAZINE COM AUTO AUTO footprint and and to to ensure it’ll be easy to to dismantle and and recycle when it it reaches the end of of its road On top of of all all that it’s small — a a a a a a a compact luxury sedan — the sort of car BMW does best Beneath the the handsome retro-futuristic exterior the the Neue Klasse employs next-generation battery cells to power its efficient motors This according to to to the carmaker results in in up to to to 30 per cent cent more driving range and 30 per cent cent faster charging But while the technology at at play in this latest concept heralds BMW’s bright electric future it’s not the the first time that the the marque has bet big on radical designs and new engineering In 1962 the the then-small German brand was struggling and and developed its first Neue Klasse (or New Class) of cars with an eye to rescuing its reputation That series of sporty sedans was a a a a a success earning BMW its “Ultimate Driving Machine” distinction and steering the carmaker on on course to to become the luxury giant it is today So when can we expect to see the the first of these new Neue Klasses on the the road? The brand says initial models will roll out by the the summer of 2025 with six new all-electric models being built on the platform within 24 months Firstly we’ll see a a a compact SUV followed by a a a compact sedan And although the company hasn’t said so explicitly what you’re looking at at here is likely a a a preview of the 2026 BMW 3 Series If that’s the the the case then the the the carmaker’s future looks more promising than ever