BMW Group design chief Adrian van Hooydonk says all future models will have the same “look and feel” regardless of powertrain type
- All future BMW models, including ICE and EV, will use the Neue Klasse design language.
- All next-generation vehicles will feature a unified user interface, regardless of powertrain.
- Each model will have its own features, but the overall design and experience will remain consistent.
If you’re a fan of the design direction of the BMW Neue Klasse concept but find yourself less interested in electric powertrains, we’ve got some good news for you. The Bavarian brand is rolling out this new styling language on all future models – electric cars, hybrids, and even old-school combustion-engined cars.
Not only will the next-generation BMW look similar on the outside, but the interior will also share the same high-tech, futuristic features, delivering virtually the same user experience no matter what’s under the hood.
More: BMW shakes up design team, Polestar’s Missoni takes over
This revelation comes directly from BMW Group Design Chief Adrian van Hooydonk, who has guaranteed that every future BMW, regardless of powertrain, will adopt the Neue Klasse design language. Of course, there may be “some proportional differences on the exterior and some differences on the interior” between EV and ICE models, but the overall “look and feel” will be the same.
Powertrain design consistency
talk with top equipmentvan Hooydonk explains: “The strong push for electric vehicles, these technologies and the design language will be transferred to the entire product portfolio, including our internal combustion engine cars. It will not be difficult for customers – they will all get a new modern BMW, And drivetrain options are available.”
In other words, it’s a buffet of powertrains, but don’t expect things to change when you switch from electric to gas. That said, BMW promises each model will retain its unique character. They won’t be launching the same car in different sizes, so we should expect some personality to shine through in this new era of design. Exactly how many remains to be seen.
Van Hooydonk emphasized the high-tech user experience of these future models, such as the BMW Panorama Vision Head-Up Display. Other interior highlights include an unconventionally shaped central touchscreen, some very futuristic steering wheel controls and an eco-friendly touch with extensive use of recycled materials.
What’s coming in 2026?
From our exclusive reveal of the upcoming BMW X5 prototype, we know that BMW is planning to extend the Neue Klasse design to ICE-powered models. The SUV will be launched in 2026 and will be available in hybrid, PHEV and EV options. So no matter how you like the power on offer, your X5 will still look like it just came out of the Neue Klasse playbook.
The first series-produced model to adopt the new styling language will be the battery-powered BMW iX3, expected to go on sale in 2025. It will be very similar to the Vision Neue Klasse X concept car. Following this, a production version of the Vision Neue Klasse sedan will go on sale in 2026, with four electric vehicles joining the family over the next two years.
Van Hooydonk also promised that the production electric car won’t deviate too much from the concept car: “You know how close the i3 and i8 are to their concept cars, that’s what’s going to happen here. If anything, I’m more Like the production cars because they’re more compact – we’ve exaggerated the length and width here – and you have more detail and it feels more refined, but that’s the overall clean look.”
As for the recent shake-up of the BMW Group’s design team, van Hooijdonck made it clear that the new design chief won’t start to make his mark until the end of the decade. All BMW models due out until 2029 are signed under former design chief Domagoj Dukec, who has since moved to Rolls-Royce. So, no matter how you view the new class era, you have at least five years to adapt to it.
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