Article Abstract
- The brand new BMW i3 would be the first sedan within the Neue Klasse lineup.
- Manufacturing begins in Munich through the second half of 2026.
- The BMW i3 can be adopted later this yr by the next-generation 3 Collection.
Not lengthy to go till BMW lastly takes the wraps off the i3 (NA0), however not as you keep in mind it. The quirky hatchback is lengthy gone, and as an alternative, Munich is launching a totally totally different car. The primary sedan from the trendy Neue Klasse lineup is lower than two weeks away from its official premiere because the second mannequin within the next-gen EV portfolio.
Primarily a sedan model of the new iX3, the i3 seems in a teaser forward of its March 18 debut. BMW refers back to the massive occasion as a “design premiere,” which doubtless means we’ll have to attend a bit longer for the technical specs. However, we’re anxious to see how the 2023 Imaginative and prescient Neue Klasse idea will evolve right into a production-ready automobile individuals can purchase later this yr.
The new i3 can be assembled in Munich beginning within the second half of 2026 and will initially be accessible solely as a 50 xDrive model. That wouldn’t come as a shock, contemplating the second-generation iX3 is at the moment offered strictly on this taste. With the crossover promising 500 miles (805 kilometers) of WLTP vary, its sedan counterpart could go even additional.
Logic tells us the i3 can be extra aerodynamic than its crossover sibling, which ought to unlock extra miles of vary. Anticipate the identical battery pack with a internet vitality content material of 108 kWh and help for 400-kW charging. For the iX3, it takes simply 21 minutes to go from 10% to 80%. After all, that’s offered you could find a charger that totally exploits the car’s spectacular charging capabilities.
The i3 50 xDrive ought to have an equivalent 463 hp and 645 Nm (475 lb-ft) from twin electrical motors. Nevertheless, it might find yourself barely lighter than the equal iX3. For reference, the crossover weighs 2,285 kg (5,037 lbs) in European specification, and not using a driver. Right here’s hoping BMW may also give Touring followers an i3 Touring later this decade for individuals who need one thing extra sensible than a sedan however not an SUV.
The brand new i3 is a giant deal, not only for its technical specs. It’ll have a totally new design language and a radical inside, with iDrive X taking middle stage. As we’ve seen within the iX3, the Panoramic Imaginative and prescient pillar-to-pillar projection can be customary throughout the vary. It’ll substitute the normal instrument cluster and lengthen throughout the dashboard to show all kinds of content material, which the consumer can choose from the primary display screen.
Should you’d slightly follow combustion engines, the subsequent 3 Collection isn’t far behind. The G50 will look largely the identical in and out, albeit with an extended entrance part to accommodate engines. Anticipate the M350 and M3 to function inline-sixes, presumably for the final time in a 3 Collection. The Dingolfing-built 3er can be arriving this yr, making 2026 an unprecedentedly busy yr for BMW. The subsequent X5 and the 7 Collection facelift are additionally scheduled to interrupt cowl in 2026.
