BMW last year launched the 2027 iX3 to mark the start of a massive flood of next-generation electric vehicles collectively known as the Neue Klasse. The name, German for “New Class,” signals that BMW sees this rollout as just as significant as the original Neue Klasse revolution of the early 1960s. Back then, models like the 1500 and the 2002 helped define a sporty and dynamic identity for the brand, one that lasts right up until today.The new Neue Klasse generation aims to play a similar role for the electric era, introducing a fresh EV platform, a new design language, and next-generation software and battery technology that will underpin a wide range of future models. However, much of what is planned for the Neue Klasse will filter across to models with internal-combustion powertrains – and soon.Check out The Drop at our companion site HotCars for a chance to win the Vyper Elite Trio Package, a premium set of garage chairs! Get Ready For New Model Onslaught BMW At BMW's annual general meeting held this week in its hometown of Munich, CEO Oliver Zipse announced that 40 model launches are planned by 2027. It will be one of the most aggressive product offensives in the company’s history, and one that will also usher in the brand’s first fully electric M car. But more on that model later.Not all the launches will be for new next-generation cars, as many will be updates of existing ones, primarily those with ICE power. Some will also include different derivatives within a single model line, covering additional body styles and powertrains, for example. Camouflaged prototypes for many of the vehicles have already been spotted, helping paint a clearer picture of what’s in the pipeline. Core Models Arriving First BMW Some of the key launches we know of include a new BMW 3 Series debuting as soon as next week. It will include both ICE and electric options, the latter reviving the BMW i3 nameplate last used on BMW’s unloved electric city car. The two versions will ride on separate platforms, with the i3 adopting Neue Klasse design and architecture, and the ICE 3 Series using an updated version of the current car’s platform.Crucially, the i3 will also serve as the basis for the first fully fledged M car powered by batteries, arriving sometime in 2027. This iM3, or whatever it ends up being called, will introduce a new quad-motor powertrain developed by BMW M and capable of delivering up to 1,341 horsepower, though only about 700 hp is initially expected for the first M EV. For those with gas still in their veins, an ICE M3 with an updated version of the current car’s twin-turbocharged inline-six is also planned.CarBuzz/Valnet Another core model coming soon will be a next-generation BMW X5, due in the summer. This will use an updated version of the current X5’s platform, and includes plans for an electric iX5. Zipse also said there will be five powertrain types for the midsize SUV, including a hydrogen fuel-cell option arriving in select markets in 2028.Before the X5 arrives, BMW will unveil an updated BMW 7 Series in April during Auto Shanghai in Beijing. A teaser photo released this week hints at similar exterior styling, but spy shots suggest the interior will receive a significant revamp.CarBuzz/Valnet Other models spotted in testing include updated versions of the X1 and 5 Series, as well as a next-generation X7. While not confirmed by Zipse, most of these models are expected by 2027 – including, in the case of the 5 Series, an updated M5 sledgehammer. Tech Updates Across The Board Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet The Neue Klasse EVs introduce BMW’s Panoramic iDrive X interface, which we’ve already seen in the 2027 iX3. It replaces the traditional gauge cluster with a full-width head-up display at the base of the windshield, while a central touchscreen handles infotainment and other vehicle functions. The system integrates Amazon Alexa+ for most markets and supports over-the-air updates, which BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said the automaker will use to continuously improve various functions.Zipse also said BMW’s latest vehicles will feature enhanced electronic driver-assist systems, though he offered few details. For most markets the technology is being developed with Qualcomm, while in China BMW has partnered with local firm Momenta.Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet BMW last year delivered 2,169,761 vehicles, down 1.4% from the previous year. Even with the new models on the way, Zipse warned that BMW expects only to match that figure in 2026 due to multiple risks, including US tariffs, falling demand in China, and supply-chain issues linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
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