The original Neue Klasse project was launched in 1960, completely revamping BMW's lineup and leading to all-time classics like the 2002 — and saving the company from bankruptcy. Over six decades later, BMW isn't facing financial ruin. But the looming deadline of an all-electric lineup is coming, with BMW launching a new Neue Klasse to meet the impending EV requirements. The first car in the program is an EV wrapped in retro-modern styling that offers hints at what an electric 3-series might look like. The concept features a forward-slanted nose with width-spanning kidney-shaped grilles and integrated headlights, all strongly influenced by the 2002. The Hofmeister kink is part of noticeably thinner pillars all around, which combine with a glass roof for an incredibly open-feeling cabin. The interior is minimalist, with just a single centrally-mounted landscape display and a black panel at the base of the windshield glass that serves as a projection screen for the infotainment system. Underpinning the Neue Klasse is BMW's next-generation 800-volt EV platform, which BMW says offers 30 percent better range thanks to more efficient motors and higher energy density batteries. Expect to see elements of the Neue Klasse concept begin appearing on BMW models in the next several years.
