Next-Gen BMW iX1: Rear-Wheel Drive and 800 Volts Could Push Range Beyond 514 km

BMW is lining up a new iX1 for 2027, and the changes promise to run far deeper than a routine facelift. German outlet Auto Motor und Sport reports on a model codenamed NB5, built on the Neue Klasse electric architecture. That contradicts earlier suggestions the car would stay on the current X1’s FAAR platform — BMW itself has yet to officially reveal the next iX1’s design, specifications or launch timing.

The headline upgrade is not a new headlight shape but the switch to an 800-volt electrical system. The current iX1 makes do with a battery of roughly 65 kWh, accepts DC charging at up to 130 kW and needs at least 29 minutes to go from 10 to 80%. Today’s versions offer up to 514 km of WLTP range.

BMW’s Gen6 battery technology is built around cylindrical cells with 20% higher energy density than the previous prismatic units. For Neue Klasse models the company promises roughly 30% gains in charging speed and range, but it is too early to apply those percentages directly to the future iX1: the model’s battery capacity, charging power and certified figures remain unknown.

According to preliminary information, the single-motor iX1 will also swap its current front-wheel drive for rear-wheel drive. That will affect not only the handling but also the packaging of the powertrain. All-wheel-drive versions will keep a second electric motor on the front axle. Talk of an M50 variant with around 600 hp remains an unconfirmed forecast, so it is too soon to pencil it into the lineup.

The prototypes are styled after the new iX3: compact vertical “kidneys” integrated with sensors, slimmer lighting and a large dark panel up front. Inside, the car is expected to feature the Panoramic Vision system, which projects key information onto the lower section of the windscreen. BMW already uses this interface on Neue Klasse models but has not announced the iX1’s equipment list.

For anyone shopping for today’s iX1, waiting for the 2027 model makes sense above all for the time saved at highway charging stops. For city driving with a home charger the difference will be far less noticeable: in spring 2026 BMW already improved the current iX1’s efficiency and added around 40 km of range thanks to new power inverters.

Until the official premiere, the battery capacity, real-world range, peak charging power and price all remain open questions. For now, then, the new iX1 is best treated as a next generation in development rather than a confirmed facelift of today’s crossover.