New spy photos show a production‑spec prototype of BMW’s next small electric crossover. It’s an all‑new model on a rear‑wheel‑drive Neue Klasse platform, carrying several design and technical changes from the current iX1.
Prototype photos indicate the 2028 iX1 is a next‑generation model, not a facelift, with production body panels and Neue Klasse styling.
The iX1 will use cylindrical battery cells with about 20% higher energy density than the current prismatic cells, according to sources close to Munich.
Interior and infotainment will shift to Neue Klasse features, including iDrive X and Panoramic Vision.
# What we saw A spy photographer caught a near‑production BMW iX1 prototype during hot‑weather testing. The car wears final body panels: a tall, vertical kidney grille with production‑spec headlights, flush door handles, and a front bumper that looks like an M Sport configuration. At first glance the front end resembles the iX3, but the vehicle is visibly more compact overall.
# Why this is more than a facelift
# Architecture and drivetrain changes
# Battery and range implications BMW plans to move to cylindrical battery cells for this iX1. The article cites a roughly 20% higher energy density for those cells compared with the prismatic cells used today. Combined with next‑generation electric motors and improved aerodynamics, BMW anticipates a notable range boost, though exact range numbers were not provided in the spy report.
# Interior and tech Photographer access didn't allow a clear interior view, but earlier spy images and the car's Neue Klasse status suggest a substantial interior update. Expect iDrive X as the infotainment platform and Panoramic Vision with a pillar‑to‑pillar projection at the base of the windshield. The interior will move to the new layout shared across BMW's Neue Klasse family.
# How this fits BMW's roadmap Klasse rollout. The automaker has committed to a series of Neue Klasse models that replace older architectures. The internal combustion–powered X1 is expected to remain on the UKL2 platform but receive a comprehensive facelift and the new interior layout so it will visually align with the electric iX1.
# What to expect next The prototype was tested in Spain and other concept cars in the family (iX3, iX5) are already moving into public view and production preps. The next‑generation iX1 is expected to debut in 2027 with sales likely beginning for the 2028 model year.
# Quick practical takeaways
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