5 Minutes
BMW's Neue Klasse Vision Moves Upmarket — and Digital Artists Are Ready
BMW is steering into a pivotal era. After the recent reveal of the second-generation iX3 in September 2025, the brand's Neue Klasse design and EV architecture are poised to reshape nearly its entire lineup — from compact SAVs to flagship models. Digital artist Andrei Avarvarii has taken that brief and produced an unofficial 2027 BMW iX5 render that imagines the X5's all-electric counterpart wearing the Neue Klasse language.
From iX3 to iX5: evolution, not a copy
At first glance the CGI project looks like a larger iX3, but the concept aims for cleaner proportions and improved aerodynamics over the compact model. Key Neue Klasse signatures remain: an upright, vertical kidney grille reinterpreted for EV needs, slim vizor-style LED headlights, and horizontal taillights with vertical elements. Yet the render adds subtle refinements — reduced kidney dimensions, narrower headlights, a more sculpted bumper and twin-element rear LEDs — that give the imagined iX5 a slightly fresher stance.
"It's the same language, scaled with restraint," says the artist's commentary on social platforms. That restraint may matter: BMW needs buyers to embrace the Neue Klasse aesthetic across mid-size crossover and premium segments, otherwise its EV transition could face resistance.
Design highlights and interior preview
The fan-made design focuses on visual tidiness and small luxury cues that could help the iX5 feel more premium than the iX3. Notable features in the concept include:
- Flush, fully hidden door handles for cleaner surfaces
- Smaller, vertically oriented kidney grille optimized for cooling and sensors
- Thinner LED headlamps and a sharper front bumper treatment
- Distinctive dual-element taillights and a simplified rear profile
Inside, the render imagines BMW's new Panoramic Vision interface — a single, wide display architecture that folds digital instrumentation and infotainment into one seamless panel. This aligns with BMW’s push toward a more digital-first cabin experience across Neue Klasse models.
Powertrain line-up: breadth over specialization
The artist’s imagined roster for the iX5 is broad: conventional gasoline, plug-in hybrid, pure battery-electric, and even a rumored hydrogen variant arriving around 2028. While the production strategy is still subject to BMW’s roadmap and market demand, this multi-powertrain approach helps the brand cover global regulatory and consumer preferences as it transitions to EV-focused platforms.
Estimated (hypothetical) specs often discussed in enthusiast circles:
- Platform: Neue Klasse-based EV architecture (rumored)
- Drivetrain: AWD and RWD options likely for different trims
- Battery: scalable pack options for 250–350+ miles WLTP/estimated ranges
- Special variant: hydrogen fuel cell model possibility by 2028
Market positioning and why the iX5 matters
The iX5 will be pivotal for BMW. Unlike niche models, mid-size crossovers sell in large numbers and shape brand perception. If customers accept the Neue Klasse form language and the new EV chassis in a mainstream vehicle like the iX5, BMW will have cleared a major hurdle in its electrification strategy. If not, the risk is a prolonged transition period and the need to refine the design language further.
Quote: "If the iX5 convinces buyers, half the Neue Klasse battle is won; if it doesn't, BMW will have to listen and adapt."
Final thoughts
Remember: these renders are unofficial and imaginative. They provide a useful glimpse into how BMW’s next-generation X5 could interpret Neue Klasse principles when translated into a larger, more premium electric SUV. Whether the production G65 iX5 will look this restrained — or more daring — remains to be seen. For now, the concept is a tidy, aerodynamic take on BMW's next design chapter and an interesting yardstick against the real 2026 iX3.
Highlights:
- Digital concept imagines a cleaner, more aerodynamic iX5
- Retains Neue Klasse signatures with subtle upscale tweaks
- Potential powertrains: ICE, PHEV, BEV and hydrogen by 2028
- iX5's reception could make or break Neue Klasse adoption
For enthusiasts and prospective EV buyers, the hypothetical iX5 render is a conversation starter: will BMW scale Neue Klasse refinement up effectively to the mid-size SUV class? The answer will guide the brand’s next several model years.
Source: autoevolution
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