BMW has previewed the production iX3’s front-end design ahead of its official unveiling at the 2025 Munich Motor Show later this week. The electric SUV will be the first production model built around BMW’s Neue Klasse platform, which the automaker plans to use for its future battery-electric vehicles.

The preview came through a few frames posted to BMW’s Instagram account. Although the images stop short of revealing the entire vehicle, they show the design direction BMW intends to apply across its upcoming lineup, beginning with the next-generation iX3.

A smaller, illuminated kidney grille

The most visible change is at the front. BMW is moving away from the oversized kidney grilles used on several recent models and returning to a smaller, more vertical interpretation. The shape is intended to echo the original 1962 Neue Klasse, tying the new EV’s styling to one of the company’s historic design eras.

The kidney grille is illuminated, while the headlights appear to flow directly from its outer edges. BMW says this front-end treatment will become a hallmark of future models, making the iX3 an important first look at the brand’s next design language rather than a standalone styling exercise.

Neue Klasse platform and electric range

Underneath the new design, the iX3 will introduce the full production version of BMW’s Neue Klasse mechanical layout. The platform was developed specifically for battery-electric vehicles and focuses on improving efficiency while maintaining BMW’s driving dynamics.

BMW has previously indicated that the iX3 should deliver around 400 miles of range in the US. Buyers will have rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations to choose from, and a more powerful M Sport version is also expected.

The available information does not yet include final output figures, battery capacity, pricing or detailed performance specifications. BMW is expected to provide those details at the vehicle’s formal debut.

New cabin technology arrives with the iX3

The exterior is only part of the change. The iX3 will also introduce an entirely redesigned interior, including the first production application of BMW’s Panoramic iDrive dashboard.

The new interface is arranged across two distinct levels, creating a more futuristic cabin layout. It is another sign that the iX3 is intended to establish the technology and design themes for BMW’s next wave of EVs.

BMW’s full reveal at the 2025 Munich Motor Show should clarify how closely the production SUV matches the concepts that previewed the Neue Klasse direction. For now, the illuminated grille, streamlined headlights and EV-specific platform mark the iX3 as the first major step into BMW’s next electric era.