- The next-generation NB5 BMW iX1 crossover has been spied in Austria.
- Styling appears to closely match that of the recently revealed iX3 SUV.
- A launch is expected in 2027 for the 2028 model year.
Test season in Europe is drawing to a close, but BMW's engineers are still hard at work in the Austrian Alps as they evaluate a prototype of the next-generation iX1 all-electric crossover (internally codenamed NB5). Completely covered in camouflage and fitted with several sensors, the prototype our spies have captured here is clearly a long way away from being ready to launch, but we can still see some clear hints of what will be changing compared to today's U11 iX1. As part of the Neue Klasse family of next-gen vehicles, however, the biggest changes will be invisible to the naked eye.
Styling Changes Aplenty Will Set The Next iX1 Apart
SH Proshots/Autoblog
Like the BMW iX3 revealed earlier this month, the iX1 will draw its styling influence from the Vision Neue Klasse concepts. At the front, that means tall, narrow kidney grille elements will interrupt the shutline of the hood and extend down into the middle of he fascia. Either side of these kidneys will be slim headlights in a full-width mask-like strip, while the lower fascia will house a relatively small intake grille for radiators and other cooling elements.
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At the rear, the license plate is far lower than it is on the current X1 and iX1, now finding itself near the lower edge of the tailgate. The taillights are almost completely obscured by camouflage, but it's clear that these will stretch across the rear fascia as on the iX3, with the BMW roundel separating them in the middle. As for the foil-covered wheels, these are only in place for testing and data collection purposes, and we wouldn't read into their design much.
The Biggest Changes Will Be Technological
SH Proshots/Autoblog
This Neue Klasse era is more than just a new approach to styling. With the latest, sixth-generation BMW eDrive tech on board, this iX1 will boast new round battery cells with higher energy density, and these will power more efficient electric motors that are expected to provide in the region of 380 miles of range, though this figure may well improve by the time the iX1 is launched. That's expected to be sometime in 2027 for the 2028 model year, by which time the iDrive X with Panoramic Vision system will be commonplace in Bimmers of all sorts. Our spies captured a glimpse of the display as this prototype passed by, but again, the iX3's new features provide us with a better idea of what to expect. Future spy shots will give us more clarity, and we can look forward to prototypes of other Neue Klasse-based vehicles for more context in the coming months.
SH Proshots/Autoblog