FIRST LOOK: BMW Vision Neue Klasse X - BMW Design Back On Track?
BMW is about to go back for the sake of its future, plundering its fabled design language from the 1960s to clothe its new generation of oh-so-crucial electric vehicles - and this SUV concept is our latest glimpse of what’s to come.
It’s the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, a follow-up to the Vision Neue Klasse saloon we saw in 2023, and together the pair of concepts show how BMW’s new-but-old design ideas will evolve onto different bodystyles.
Top Gear Magazine’s Jason Barlow has been to see both Neue Klasse models, so let him be your guide to what the future holds for BMW as the company redefines itself for the electric era.
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
04:25 Chat With Kai Langer
08:56 Interior
13:49 Neue Klasse X
17:45 Conclusion
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So, what do you think? Is BMW design back on track?
Completely derailed into the weeds
It’s absolutely hideous. 🙈
looks like shit tbh
I love it, especially the grill and the rear. It pays hommage in a very nice and respectful way. The new cars are gonna be a hit, at least for me.
Errrr. No.
It genuinely looks better than their latest designs. BMW should either do designs with curves (like the F90 M5, F83 M4) or just commit to sharp angles. Because BMW’s current line-up is somewhere in the middle and features the unproportional messes like the latest 5er, M2 and X2. The problem with the latest designs have just never been the grilles. The entire cars were out of proportion and uncohesive. It the new Neue Klasse brings back cohesion in their designs, then I’m happy.
Definetely not, the bmw iX looks a lot better
no way, current suvs looks so much better than this sunglasses face
Yea I actually really like the sedan. It reminds me of that Nissan retro concept car that came about around a decade ago. The IDX.
Great point. I was thinking the same but couldn't put a finger on it. It wasn't the grill per se but the proportions and the curves not going with each other. Like each bit of the car was designed in isolation.
@@mortensenvick5711 hell no
Bring the Round headlights back! The two light bars could be from any other car maker. The 'angel eyes' were a BMW design icon.
No this actually works with the full design
I agree with you 100%. Kidney grill + Quad angel eyes = BMW Angel eyes are BMW's identity. LED technology has advanced, so they can now implement Angel eyes aerodynamically.
The old BMW's was ugly as ....
The second I saw Kai and his man bun it all made sense.
🤣😂😁 If there is a stereotype designer look, thats him!
More so a Doberman cut off tail than a man bun. Also that shawl looking thing.
I have never been to a cars and coffee and someone said, you know what’s my favorite car, a 1962 BMW 5 series. NEVER. Just make the grille just a little wider. 🤏
Man bun and granny shawl = Euro-designer.
Sprockets SNL skits IMMEDIATELY came to mind.
Trollers, after big ass kidneys now we get skinny ones :))
Well that's how they were in the old days to be fair, nobody seemed to mind back then
Did you not see the reference to the original ones from 1962? Same style kidneys
It’s almost comical how BMW introduced new models with giant kidney grills, and now this mini kidney grill. This undermines consumer faith in a cohesive automotive design language of a brand. There should be a proportionality which looks “right” in the eye of the beholder. No one should look at a vehicle and say that it “looks good except for the disproportionate grill”.
@@JDMJosh1990Just one thing. It’s not 1962 anymore. 😂
Electric cars don’t need giant grills
Thanks for the bigger windows, BMW. I hope you start a trend.
Compare to iX or XM or 7er/i7, this is WAY better design, simple, traditional looking, and still classy.
Less ugly you mean?
XM? Isn’t that a Citroen?
The only car that is almost as ugly as the XM is the new 7 series.
"traditional looking" "still classy" "simple" Mate, you need a new pair of glasses
@@RockSolitudem8 you need to learn what an opinion is
I don't tend to like BMWs and loath their current range...but this...well, credit where it's due, is a great deal more cohesive and appealing.
¨great deal¨ when it will be around 100k fully specced with 400km of real world range lol
@@senoow4215Reading comprehension much? A great deal more cohesive> looks much more like a solid, single vision. Value was never mentioned.
@@senoow4215 i Promise you it‘s got way more Range that that 🤫😉
@@senoow4215 I think the subtleties of the English language might be eluding you. 'Great deal', in this context, is a synonym of 'a lot'. It is not a reference to pricing or capabilities.
@@johannm7794 not in winter conditions, seems like the wltp is around 600 at best ..
The new front grill gives me e30 vibes.
No shit sherlock
TAKE IT BACK! noting in present BMW design isn't even close to the masterpiece M3 e30 which is the most iconic shape they ever made BUT it does look better than the XM abomination tho edit: my poor spelling lmao
@@ronay9536cope, it looks cool
Yess thank you
@@ronay9536 cuz you are living on hating BMWs?
Love it, bold, well proportioned, yet continuing to be brave enough to be different. Loving this new design language.
I feel like I have been watching Top Gear's KZhead videos for the past few years waiting for this exact moment. No, not the moment that BMW does the inevitable and does another big U-turn on design, but the moment that Mr. Barlow's excellent editorial work is carried over to the videographic medium. Thank you, whoever made that call.
A perfect example of what attention to detail and proportions can do to a car. Loving that low beltline too - hate the tank-style windows. His thoughts on window design is spot-on. The Vision Panoramic Display is very much in the same line as the instruments of the Renault Avantime, but for the 21century - love that too. Refreshing that neither car is designed to look agressive - finally they can just be good-looking...
Feel the same mate... Look specious and made in a way... wanted to drive in the nature... like the holiday started before you reached the destination. It is so open to the world... Something that are trting to accomplish, but actually BMW nailed it. It's special !!
This is sooo much better than their recent designs.
Now I can confirm BMW lost their Minds
😭🤣🤣😅😅
Absolutely horrible design, it looks like the Chinese took all good car designers from Germany.
haven’t heard that line before! How creative.
Looks more like a tesla, but not quite there yet
😂😂the rhomboid screen.. can i have a laptop with rhomboid screen? That would be genius.
Wow I can't wait to see this on actual cars, it looks incredibly good!
:))))) dream on... u NEVER will
Huge step forward with these designs. For all the futuristic boldness in the design, the cars still look cohesive, calm and restrained.
Wouldn't call the raised cockpit dash "genius" since Honda did the same many many years ago
it's not a raised dash. it's a projection onto the windscreen glass
@@heistkev what I meant is the usage of that same space for information. It’s not “genius” regardless of the technology used.
@@valensi1988wasn't Renault even earlier? :)
possibly true, but since they dont sell globally who cares. You've got to sell all over the world with the US being a mandate to truly influence all of car culture. Not participating in the 1st or 2nd most lucrative and populous market in the world is just not an option if you want to be known worldwide. @@TheTom2302
Not nearly as well.
@TopGear I think you need to do some research on what a supercomputer is...
On the other hand, there was a time not so long ago you cell phone could have occupied that space.
In car sense, this is a super computer. Car firms have only just realised they need to up their computer chip game and integration.
@@TheSakuragihanimichi Yeah, an ARM A53 is quite advanced compared to some vintage and obscure processors they’ve been using, but this doesn’t make it a supercomputer
Lmaaoooo
Also... Thinking that multiple dedicated processing units close to the device they control is causing delays, but sending the signal to a single device far away is not. 😂
How right you are to put a "?" at the end there
Haven't really bonded with a lot of new BMW designs but this... I actually love the Neue Class designs. Reminds me of the appeal my OG M2 has for me - beautiful design without being too aggressive. I can't stand how aggressive cars look these days so this is refreshing. Bravo to the designers! These are going to look fantastic on the road.
Why can't we have normal cars...WHO ARE YOU..WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE buying all these SUV type vehicles.
I'm not a SUV buyer, but at least in this case there is a sedan. Also EVs are bulky by nature and producing EVs is enforced by regulations (especially for large manufacturers), so in my opinion EVs are never normal, traditional cars. But yeah, there are way too many people buying SUVs.
How is this an SUV? And why would we want to have to bend our old knees to get into a car? The raised height makes perfect sense.
Chinese people I guess
Ferrari F40 is better than both of them combined. Check-mate @@karlk.6819
THAY KILLED THE F90 M5 FOR THIS ????????????????
So I need to keep my f90 till the end of time
Its the only good looking car left in their range. For the love of god look after it.
😂😂
I wish BMW would just go back to round headlights and hockey stick tail lights
at least the grille has the right proportions... even if it's not chrome anymore.
Rabbit or Chipmunk comes to mind.
😂... Now i can't unsee it
I think the design is fantastic. Really like the use of glass to open up the environment. I’d have one
BMW still can’t get their front ends to look right but the rest of the car looks great.
Facts
I cannot think of an EV that has its front end looking great though. Maybe the Tycan, but that is it.
The upswept headlight shape is just completely un-BMW. A BMW grille shouldn’t smile.
Ioniq 5. Period. @@sebastiantevel898
@@sebastiantevel898 new macan is quite nice too
I really love the design language of these Neue Klasse concepts, I just really hope they will deliver a product that has some resemblance of this.
Same they got that old skool heritage going on and it's an approach in the right direction kinda retrofuturistic..just some added rifenment for the final product maybe proper air intakes and a more sculpted all around rear and body etc..proper added lights where necessary they're almost there
@@adriansmith2295 old school heritage. SUVs were invented 20 years ago
@@okieg8960 Old skool heritage as in design brother SUV's those I know were around from awhile but BMW's design is another thing
Technology is advancing rapidly in mobility, necessitating designers who can keep pace with this evolution. Electric cars must distinguish themselves from combustion vehicles in their design. I am particularly impressed by BMW's Neue Klasse approach; their new interior and exterior designs are innovative and hold great promise. 👀
Where are the buttons?
Agreed. It's illegal for me to text while driving, but going through 3 submenus to change the temperature is somehow okay?
Actually look better than the current cars they’ve got
That reminds me of the "you'll get used to it", excuse for poor designs.
@@krane15 It is the lesser of two evils tbh
Yea if you’re blind
@@Snakyy1 Damn bruh
hard to get any worse
I hope they release these cars instead of just being concept car. This is so much better then the latest previous generations that could be described as: low tech, stupid lines and confusing. I had one of the most expensive ones, i know. Sold it and got tesla and never look back.
I like the current treatment of their badge. Would love to see how it all comes together when its actually on sale.
Driving BMW for 20 years. Looking for an alternative now.
This is definitely a better design direction than the monstrosties we've had the past couple of years
Where is the side mirrors inside screen??! Where can you see what happening outside?!
That sedan looks absolutely stunning
I think it looks like a Lynk & Co
BMW designers, please stick to some sort of simplicity. These already look much better than the current cars
Love the focus on creating a bigger greenhouse with more glass. That is one of the things I miss most abut older cars.
I will happily trade in my current 4 series for a neue Saloon. Cannot wait :D
If they can build that with E46 quality and reliability, they might have me back as a customer. I've had an E39 M5, two X5's and three E46's. They're rod bearing issues in their recent V8's have been a "no" for me.
Don’t worry there’ll be no ‘rod bearing issues’ with this new one!😂
It doesn’t matter what bmw put out you will get the complainers haha. This looks good
Not when the design was beautiful, now they’re ugly. Whoever was designing their cars till 2020 was doing it right.
@@ndb_static_6850well we all have our opinions. There are ppl who would have complained about the designs you like being worse. It’s all subjective of course.
Big windows and big panoramic roof, this is just perfect
The ethos of this car is closer to the iconic i3 that I drive myself than the later i models. The Lower belt line is a great example and I’m glad it’s included as a big glass house makes all the difference in driver experience and connection with the environment
It looks great, minimalist, and clean 👌🏾🔥
Love BMWs. Everyone hates them when revealed, but start to love the design in later years.
I think that with each new design where people think is ugly and atrocious, it makes the previous atrocious design more palatable.
How much will it cost in the UK?
The grille isn't the size of a football field and it looks better than an IX. That's a win in my book.
Hmm.. interesting… I don’t actually hate it🤔 a truly interesting vehicle!
Those "designers" talks are unbearable
that's because they are vague out of being insecure in trying to push their concepts onto us. Usually because they don't take the time to think through everything before forcing us to choose.
I have to say the the design idea of Steering Wheel and Panoramic Vision is prettey similar like the All-New Lincoln Nautilus.
The Design is good, but I am not sure about this 3D-Lighteffect in the Kidney especially at the sedan. I think it looks cooler and cleaner with only the two lightstripes acitivated on each site. Hope you will be able to turn the 3D-Effect off. Also I think the sedan looks better than the SUV with the huge but slim kidney which integrats the light. Still it is missing some contours on the front lip, but with that fixed the sedan could be the best looking ev in its class.
I have owned a lot of BMWs. I can never imagine buying one ever again.
I assume this is exactly what bmw is hoping for.. no offense at all my man. But BMW is out here thinking... lose one BMW previous client to gain 2. That's a win. While you might not like it. I personally don't love it. This is the way lots of car companies are going and it is going to attract added sales and profit for bmw. I have also owned a lot of BMWs and currently own the ix M60 and it's so so so much better then any other BMW I've owned. (3 x5s, and x7, and back in the days a alpina 7 series which was cool as ever for a 2012 car)
@@JeremyZ22and why exactly would they gain 2 new customers for losing one?
@@JeremyZ22 it's so weird 'my man'. The other car brand that I am passionate about only excites me more and more with its new product.
@@South4153 most companies that try this strategy of losing their loyal customer bases fail.
@@South4153 I mean look at Tesla's sales. Ever hear anyone say. Wow that car is so stunning? Look at the hype with the Tesla truck. Bet ya don't think that's the most sexy car of all time. Tesla has set the bar and now everyone is playing catch up. BMW is saying we will make it better than Tesla, and that will attract more / newer buyers. I'm not saying I love this one. I am not itching to make a deposit. also don't like any Tesla's personally. Yet their sales suggest lots of people do.
back on track? xD
Great video and thank you. One regret is that you didn’t put sun glasses on to see the head up display almost disappear…one of those annoying details that manufacturers miss.
Chris Bangle's cars are looking better with every new BMW launch
So impressive. For once, a cohesive design truly beyond its years. Love the unique iconic screen shape and return to low belt line. The interior is superb! I would be excited just to be a passenger in it. Kudos, BMW!
The Prius did that years ago with the head on display. That was a good idea
Splendid car, great design, fantastic interior, well placed color accents. Already love the Neue Klasse. Bright future for BMW
This is one of the best bmw cars they made so far this year, well except for the m5 but they fixed the grill and it does look very cool
I remember chatting with Kai when the i4 concept debuted. I asked him why the polarizing design. His response was that it wasn't his job to make everyone happy, it was to push the brand forward.
to push the brand forward, down the cliff xD
Sounds like a convenient excuse for lack of design talent.
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this one looks better than current iX series. Hopefully if they make this the final product will be atleast similar to what we see now.
I like it
Awesome work from BMW. I have already booked one New Klasse, iM3!!!
I like how it looks, very clean design and open to outside but sportive as well. It keeps BMW heritage. Nice! 👍
That guy is exactly the type of tool who would look at this design and think it works.
Bring back the previous generation’s classic curvy design with the iconic angel-eyes DRLs..
Why? They made those cars, people bought them and then time moved on. Why should we sit on our hands and choose not to innovate?
@@h20dancing18 No one is saying don’t innovate. But when designing a new generation, the design language matters a lot. Taking already beautiful and gorgeous cars and turning them ugly with overly geometric designs and an overload of sharp lines just for the sake of making it angular and weird.. isn’t innovation. They absolutely got rid of all the iconic and beautiful design elements that BMWs were loved for and gave us horrible looking cars that aren’t cohesive and are a hot mess of mixed styles without a solid identity. Also, listening to your customers and fans’ feedback goes a long way.. Instead of this game of stubbornness they are playing with us.
@@MaithamL you call it ugly I call it innovation, even if it does not look good.
I have to agree with h20 - the old design is incredibly outdated and 85% of people are not interested in paying the BMW price for a car that’s been outdated for years. The innovative look that defines BMW has been missing for quite some time
I feel like the ugly BMW’s that we have today are just the starter to the main course which is this.
Even though I count myself as an old-school petrol head and drive a G21 M340i Touring, I love this design philosophy of the Neue Klasse cars. I'm not a fan of SUV's, so the saloon really speaks to me, and I loved it the first time I saw it. The almost button-less controls will take some getting used to, but it looks classy, sleek and sharp, and I like that a lot. Well done BMW. 👍👏
I just ordered an i4 and now I'm already excited for the one I'll get after that!
Is that a Peugeot or a BMW
I love the new kidney design, now all we need is a coupe version of it like the BMW E9 3.0 SCL
Polarizing but in the end it will last. Compared to many others there is a vision and a design strategy that leaves room for new evolution and interpretation.
Can we have actual switchgear back in design? We are not interested in using a tablet to drive.
Must be fake. The grille is not big enough.
If you want really big grills just check out Audi.
Design back on track? Yeah, very quick, in the dark and from very far away 😅
love the simpler shapes and lines. truly the neue-neue klasse.
Designer: I tend to talk a lot. I can confirm this is the case.
Love BMW👍
So it's modular meaning the batteries are easily swappable ??
No it means that the platform can be bigger or smaller to accommodate small cars, huge saloons and everything in between.
looks nice. Also gives Rev 4 vibes in the rear. Price has to be competitive and range has to be above 330.
Front grill reminds me of bmw garmisch
das gefällt mir garnisch
"we replaced the chrome with light", no you replaced the chrome with plastic. Not exactly more environmentally friendly.
it is but isn't. chromium itself in moderate concentrations is both a toxin and carcinogen, and contributes to a significant amount of soil and water pollution. chrome plating as a process exclusively releases Cr(IV) which is the most reactive and toxic basic oxide of the element. a lot of countries are in the process of banning or have banned industrial chrome plating outright.
BMW is the only carmaker that is simply not capable to maintain its signature front design. Perhaps they should get rid of these questionnable "nieren".
How does light become more sustainable than a chrome?
This is actually pretty good.
The interior is amazing
only if we could get an f90 with that interior and it better be the s58 under the bonnet
i like it especially because yall bringed the old grilles back but it will be better if we had engines and angel eyes back
It's alright, but needs some Paul Bracq character injected into them, if they're to make any historical impact as designs.
This looks like a low poly render of the ix we have already lol. What are these guys smoking
I guess humans are complicated and impossible to please
@@mannegar7650 yes there is something known as everyone has different “tastes and likes” must be hard for you to comprehend that
Very nice - BMW design is back
No it Really is not.
The Neue Klasse's front looks great, but they messed up the rear with it's height and the huge tail lights.
It's awesome but knowing BMW only 10% will make it into production. Also, no NACS plug = no major sales.
Very beautiful
April fools? Oh wait still in March….
I like the look and finish of both of these cars, I think it’s a better direction for what BMW has been doing generally. The SAV I think does a good job of demonstrating a car that looks like a BMW. I’m not a big SUV CUVSAV guy, But seeing this on the road would not offend me. There are some generic shapes that are being used by various companies for their vehicles these days, like some others have commented, but I think the SAV manages to avoid looking generic, you know this is a BMW even with the lights off. The sedan however is not as successful in that way. I like the shape of the sedan, it is a little weird with the taller side window glass, but I think I could get used to that. And the overall shape, while closer to the generic sedan shape that it’s doing, is still unique enough that I think it’s fine. Where it falls down is the grill. There is a hint of a dent for where the kidney shape BMW grill ought to be, but it is so barely there that this vehicle looks like it might be a Lincoln or a Buick? That is not where BMW wants to be. they have stretched the kidney grill so far wide that it loses its meaning. I would almost rather have the giant beaver grill from the previous generation which, while extreme, is still obviously BMW . But this is easily fixed. Take the grill from the SAV, shorten it a bit so it’s still taller than it is wide, and slap this on the front. That solves the grill problem. As far as the rest of the shape, short of Making a caricature of the original 2002, I don’t know what you would do to be different shape wise. That said, the tall glass that dips below the fender line is actually an interesting and unique choice. The only thing that’s missing is the iconic C pillar that has been a feature of many BMWs. At least I didn’t see it. Rewinding and looking back again, you could argue that it’s there, but it’s not the same iconic shape that tells people it it’s a BMW. Make that more prominent, and fix the grill, and I think the sedan is fine
WHO MADE THE TITTLE? 'BACK ON TRACKK?!!' WHATTHEHEC
When you think the ix and i4 cant get uglier 😂
Looks like Skeletor from Masters of the Universe