2026 BMW 3-Series

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The Ultimate EV Driving Machine

Back in 1962, BMW stood the automotive world on its ear when it created and produced its Neue Klasse line of coupes and sedans. The German automaker had gone through a long financial crisis in the 1950s but the Neue Klasse vehicles were entirely new including an all new body style and engineering and new 1.6-Liter engine. Introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show as the BMW 1500 four-door sedan, the Neue Klasse "Beemers" were the forerunners of what has become known as the BMW Look. A shortened version became the iconic 02 Series.
 
Now, as the world turns to electric vehicles for the future of personal transportation, BMW has once again given birth to its Neue Klasse in the form of what may become the 2026 3-Series EVs. The concept car known as the Vision Neue Klasse was inspired by the lines of BMW's 1968 2002 model and debuted at the IAA Mobility Show in Munich, Germany last September.
The Vision showcases an entirely new design language for the entire BMW line for 2026 and beyond. Its retro futuristic looks might assure us that future cars don't have to be boring. Indeed, the front grille kidneys have been stretched across the whole front of the car's slanted hood, getting rid of the "Bucky Beaver" grille seen in recent years. The digitally lighted front-end pulses as if the car is breathing and the glass roof and large windows make you feel like you are out in the open.
 
Those windows feature a strip of e-Ink that lights up as you approach and serves as a clever, touch-sensitive door latch. To remind you that this is an electric car, LED lights abound all the way around including amazingly animated taillights. The concept vehicle sports video cameras in place of side mirrors and is shod in sleek 21-inch wheels.

The Next Generation of Cool
The Vision Neue Klesse tells us a lot about where BMW is going for the rest of this decade, offering more than a glimpse at the automaker's all-electric future. The EV system will utilize 800-volts and a new battery pack design that is said to offer 20 percent greater energy density. BMW tells us that vehicle range will be increased by nearly 30 percent compared with current standards thanks to higher-efficiency electric motors, better thermal management, and improved aerodynamics.

While we realize that The Vison is a concept car and many of its details may never be seen in the production vehicle, sitting inside this EV is a stunning experience. The use of glass all around and above you gives it a light and airy feeling. Four yellow corduroy bucket seats take us back to the 1960s, while the minimalistic controls slam us into the future.
A black panel stretches across the dash which BMW calls Panoramic Vision. This acts as a projection screen for the infotainment system that runs BMW's latest iDrive interface. A head's up display keeps you alert to your speed and range while a multi-function rectangular steering wheel recalls a future we imagined six decades ago on The Jetsons.

Actually, I wouldn't mind if the future were to look a bit like the world of the Jetsons. I like the idea of an automatic shower that does everything for you and even dresses you. Who wouldn't like a robot maid like Rosie? Now if we can only get our EVs to make that cool whirring sound like George's flying car.