First Look Inside BMW’s Next-Gen iX1 Electric SUV

BMW’s first Neue Klasse vehicle, the iX3, has gotten off to a strong start. Demand for the electric SUV has been high and its on-paper range and efficiency specifications are excellent. It all bodes well for the new iX1, the iX3’s smaller sibling that will adopt the same design language and technological advancements seen in the iX3. Our spies captured the first images of the iX1 a few months ago, and now we’ve got our first glimpse of its high-tech interior.

Related: 5 Coolest Features Of The All-New BMW iX3

Nothing Like The Gas X1

The upcoming iX1 adopts many of the interior changes seen in the iX3, which marks a total departure from the current X1’s more conventional cockpit. There’s a large center touchscreen with the quirky hexagonal shape of the iX3’s one, and BMW’s new Panoramic iDrive system is visible. This setup does away with a traditional gauge cluster in favor of a pillar-to-pillar display below the windscreen. 

Below the touchscreen, traditional buttons are largely eliminated. There’s a lower section with buttons for the hazards, gear selector, electronic parking brake, and defogging functions. Ahead of this, we’re likely to find a space for wireless phone charging and the cupholders. The rather attractive floating center console found in the current X1 is gone. 

The rest of the interior is largely covered up, so we can’t say for sure if the strange four-spoke steering wheel from the iX3 will make it into the iX1.

Related: First Look: BMW’s Neue Klasse iX3 Previews the Future Of EVs

Downsized iX3 From The Outside

Based on these and previous spy shots, the iX1 will adopt a very similar look to the iX3. The kidney grills will be vertical but slimmer than on most existing BMW models. The headlights will be integrated into a horizontal strip that runs just below the hood, and the taillights are expected to stretch across almost the entire width of the body.

The main changes are beneath the skin, though. Making use of BMW’s new cylindrical batteries and 800-volt architecture, the iX1 will have much faster charging and a longer range than the existing iX1 (not sold in the USA). We wouldn’t be surprised if EPA figures reach 400 miles. The iX3’s batteries can be recharged from 10% to 80% in just 21 minutes at a charge rate of up to 400 kW, so expect similar capabilities for the iX1.

Related: BMW Quietly Teases Its Next Electric SUV

Will The iX1 Finally Make It To America?

The current BMW iX1 isn’t sold stateside, but we have higher hopes that this new one will arrive here. Considering that the iX3 will start at around $60,000, there’s certainly space at a lower price point for the iX1. Audi’s Q4 e-tron starts at just over $50,000, while Volvo has the EX30 for around $40k. Whether BMW believes a smaller, cheaper EV in America is profitable enough remains to be seen, but the vehicle itself should be a vast improvement over the current iX1.

An unveiling of the new iX1 is expected in 2026 with a 2027 launch to follow, with European markets likely to be the first to receive the new EV.

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