Car Calendar
Receive notifications about upcoming cars
No account yet?
What you get with a free account
- Follow the premieres of the cars you care about - all in one place
- An e-mail when a car you follow is revealed
- Follow more premieres with a single click
- Free and no spam
Already have an account?
BMW iX1
Technical description:
Model: iX1
Body type: compact electric SUV / crossover
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive for base versions; dual-motor xDrive all-wheel drive variants
Battery: BMW sixth-generation technology, cylindrical cells replacing prismatic cells, roughly 20 percent higher energy density
DC charging: faster charging, figures not released
Platform: Neue Klasse
Don't miss the BMW iX1 reveal
Leave your e-mail and we'll let you know about the premiere and new details on this model.
Next, you'll create a free account. No spam.
What's new
The next BMW iX1 is expected to debut in 2027 as a model based on the dedicated Neue Klasse electric platform, rather than as an electric derivative of the combustion X1. A camouflaged prototype carrying the internal NB5 code has been tested at the Nürburgring. The main change sits under the body, because the current iX1 still relies on X1-based hardware.
The nameplate will stay, but the technical basis changes completely. Today’s iX1 is described as an X1 with its engine replaced by batteries and electric motors. The next generation separates itself from that approach and moves to a platform created around electric packaging.
The prototype uses compact crossover proportions and carries visual cues from the new iX3. At the front, the kidney grille stands more upright and the headlights are slimmer. At the rear, BMW has reshaped the tailgate and fitted wider taillights that appear to span much of the vehicle’s width.
Flush door handles are fitted to the test car, although they will not be used everywhere. The long-wheelbase version for China is expected to retain BMW’s older semi-enclosed handle design. The reason is regulatory, as China’s safety rules ban pop-out handles.
Specifications and technology
The move to the Neue Klasse platform changes the drivetrain layout of BMW’s smallest electric SUV. Entry versions are set to be rear-wheel drive rather than front-wheel drive. Dual-motor xDrive variants with all-wheel drive will sit higher in the range.
That is the opposite of the current iX1’s layout, which uses a front-drive platform adapted for electrification. With the new architecture, BMW no longer has to fit electric components into a structure shaped by combustion engines and transmissions. The split gives the electric model its own technical direction.
BMW’s sixth-generation battery technology is part of the package. Cylindrical cells replace the current prismatic cells, with roughly 20 percent higher energy density. That should bring better range without necessarily installing a larger and heavier battery pack in a compact vehicle.
Faster charging is also included in the upgrade, but BMW has not released exact figures yet. Inside, the cabin gets iDrive X with Panoramic Vision projecting information across the base of the windshield. A central touchscreen replaces what remains of the physical controls, and the steering wheel follows the unusual design already seen in the iX3.
- dedicated Neue Klasse electric platform,
- rear-wheel drive for base versions,
- dual-motor xDrive variants,
- cylindrical cells replacing prismatic cells,
- roughly 20 percent higher energy density,
- iDrive X cabin with Panoramic Vision.
Markets, prices and availability
The second-generation iX1 is expected to debut sometime in 2027. BMW appears to be skipping the usual mid-cycle LCI update for the electric model and moving straight to a new generation. That makes the electric iX1 a separate development line rather than a simple companion to the X1.
The combustion-powered X1 will follow a different path with gasoline, diesel and plug-in hybrid variants. It is expected to receive a conventional facelift with Neue Klasse styling cues while keeping its existing front-drive-based architecture. The split is deliberate, allowing BMW’s electric and combustion ranges to evolve on different platforms.
For now, the iX1 is the smallest and most affordable BMW model planned to receive this treatment. It may not remain in that position for long. A smaller, cheaper electric model for Europe is planned for 2028, possibly the long-rumored i1 hatchback known internally as NB0.
BMW has not confirmed prices, battery capacity, official range figures or exact charging numbers. The available information points to better range and charging than the current iX1, while the outgoing car remains tied to architecture BMW has already chosen to move away from.
Verdict
The next BMW iX1 looks like a much deeper change than a routine redesign. A dedicated platform, rear-wheel-drive base layout and new battery cells would make the 2027 model a clear technical break from the current X1-derived electric SUV.
Create account
What you get with a free account
- Follow the premieres of the cars you care about - all in one place
- An e-mail when a car you follow is revealed
- Free and no spam
Log-in
Please log-in to subscribe!