The most obvious giveaway is the grille. Despite the disguise, the iX1 wears a vertical kidney grille that protrudes slightly from the nose, matching the layout BMW has already used on the iX3 and iX5<\/a>. So it\u2019s clear that BMW is reserving the vertical kidney treatment for crossovers and SUVs, while lower-riding models like the i3 sedan get a different, horizontal kidney design where the grille merges into the headlights.<\/p>\n The doors give away just as much as the front end. Prototypes photographed in the past<\/a> show electrically operated handles sitting proud of the bodywork, the same setup BMW is using on the iX3. If BMW wants to sell this car in China, expect those handles to get reworked before launch. The long-wheelbase i3 and iX3 already needed a late redesign to meet a stricter Chinese safety regulation on flush door handles, and there\u2019s no reason the iX1 gets a pass.<\/p>\n Around back, the tailgate has clearly been reworked. The license plate sits lower than on the current iX1, where it\u2019s mounted just below the roundel between the taillights. On the prototype, a horizontal bulge running across the tailgate hints at nearly full-width taillights, split down the middle by the roundel, echoing the look BMW has already shown on the iX3 and iX5.<\/p>\n Why This Isn\u2019t Just A Refresh<\/p>\n The current iX1 shares its architecture with the combustion X1, and it shows in its front-wheel-drive layout. That changes entirely on the next car. The Neue Klasse platform doesn\u2019t support front-wheel drive at all, so every version of the next iX1, even the entry-level model, starts out rear-wheel drive, with dual-motor xDrive variants layered on top. BMW is skipping the usual mid-cycle refresh for the electric model and jumping straight to a full second generation, a move with precedent: the F40 1 Series and F44 2 Series Gran Coupe both skipped their LCIs too.<\/p>\n Inside, the NB5 iX1 is expected to bring BMW\u2019s latest iDrive X, including the pillar-to-pillar Panoramic Vision windshield projection and noticeably fewer physical controls than today\u2019s car. Whether it gets the same 17.9-inch central touchscreen used on BMW\u2019s larger Neue Klasse models is still unclear, and the iX5\u2019s optional passenger display<\/a> almost certainly won\u2019t make the jump down to a compact crossover.<\/p>\n Under the skin, the move to rear-wheel drive comes bundled with BMW\u2019s sixth-generation battery technology, cylindrical cells that BMW says offer roughly 20 percent greater energy density than the current car\u2019s pack. Charging speed should improve too, beyond the outgoing iX1\u2019s 130 kW ceiling, though BMW hasn\u2019t confirmed a number yet.<\/p>\n When It Arrives<\/p>\n![\"2028](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2028-bmw-x1-ix1-NB5-spy-photos-00-830x553.jpg\" "\\"2028")
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