BMW and Mini, thermal or electric models on an à la carte menu
This is Munich, Neue Klasse coming up
by M.Mam.
3' min read
3' min read
Among the many automotive groups that have revised their timetables regarding the farewell to combustion engines is not the BMW group. In fact, it has never specified when it would have a 100 per cent electric range while reiterating that it would continually evolve its heat engines, electrifying them with 48 V hybrid and plug-in technologies. This is also confirmed by the new BMW 1-series and X3, along with the new generation of the M5 that has become a plug-in hybrid with 727 horsepower.
Loyalty to combustion engines moves in parallel with the development of many electric models, which, since the launch of the current 7 Series, have immediately entered the new ranges of many BMWs. The same path has been followed by the Mini brand, which this year completed a complete renewal of its range. In fact, the new Mini hatchbcak is offered in both non-electrified thermal engine versions produced in Oxford, England, and electric versions made until 2026 only in China with a joint venture with Great Wall Motor on a specific architecture, just like the new five-door Aceman that has a range punctured only by electric models. Instead, both the Ice and Bev versions of the new Countryman come out of the BMW plant in Leipzig, Germany.
Among the few exceptions are the new generations of the 1-series and the X3 suv, because their electric variants will be part of the Neue Klasse family line-up debuting in 2025. A project that will revolutionise BMW's offerings not only by introducing a sophisticated platform for electric cars, but also with the sixth generation of battery-powered powertrains, innovative in that they have cylindrical instead of prismatic cells, and with unprecedented hydrogen systems developed in collaboration with Toyota.
In addition, the Neue Klasse concept will also include cars with petrol and turbo-diesel engines with the canons of a new stylistic course for which the design team has been strengthened and new technologies aimed at semi-autonomous driving, safety and digitalisation. The first electric BMWs in the Neue Klasse will be the iX3 SUV, a saloon and a station wagon of comparable size to the 3 Series.
Meanwhile, BMW is marketing the fourth generation of important models for fleets such as the 1 Series and X3. The new compact saloon comes with a range on sale at prices starting from 37,000 euros in which the 48 V 120 mild hybrid versions with 170 horsepower petrol and 120d turbodiesel with 163 horsepower and the non-electrified 118d diesel with 150 horsepower and M135 xDrive with 300 horsepower coexist.
