- The next-generation 3 Series will initially be revealed as an EV.
- The i3 debuts on March 18, when we’ll see the electric sedan’s design.
- The new 3 Series with combustion engines is coming later in 2026.
When BMW pulled the plug on the i3 in 2022, it didn’t discontinue the name. Instead, the moniker was repurposed for an electric 3 Series sedan built and sold in China with a longer wheelbase. Now, the i3 is about to go global, but it won’t be the same stretched sedan. Instead, it’s an all-new development and part of the company’s reborn Neue Klasse lineup.
The i3 sedan is the second model from the Neue Klasse portfolio and is about to join the iX3 introduced last year. Before it breaks cover on March 18, the i3 reveals a significantly different front fascia compared to its crossover counterpart. It eschews the vertical grille in favor of wide kidneys that merge with the headlights. It’s a look we’ve seen already on the 2023 Vision Neue Klasse concept.
What about the regular 3 Series? The luxury sedan with combustion engines is likely to look nearly identical. However, we believe the car’s proportions will differ, given the need to accommodate engines under the hood. BMW has already announced the inline-six will live on in the M3, and a recent leak also revealed an M350 is inbound, possibly with a 3.0-liter engine as well.
The ICE-powered 3er isn’t far behind either. We’re going to see the eighth-generation model later this year with a mix of gasoline and diesel engines alongside a plug-in hybrid. Archrival Mercedes is about to do the same by giving the C-Class a facelift while introducing a fully electric sibling. Audi isn’t waiting on the sidelines either, as an electric A4 will sooner or later join the gas-fueled A5.
BMW isn’t rushing to replace ICE models with EVs. The two 3 Series flavors will peacefully coexist throughout their generations, so both will stick around well into the 2030s. It’s the best decision a carmaker could make given the uneven adoption of electric cars. Continuing to share designs between electric and gas cars is also the smart move, offering a cohesive look across the lineup.
Although the 3 Series and i3 will look similar inside and out, BMW has made it clear that they will be different cars. An evolution of the CLAR platform will underpin the former, while the latter will use a dedicated electric-car platform inherited from the iX3. The crossover’s technical specifications should largely carry over to its sedan sibling, though the i3 may have an even longer range given its more aerodynamic shape.
Photo by: BMW
Inside, the i3 will be the second BMW production model to utilize the new, nearly buttonless dashboard layout. Echoing the iX3, the electric sedan could feature a central 17.9-inch touchscreen, with a dashboard projection extending from one pillar to another. This interior setup will eventually expand to all models, including the next X5 and the facelifted 7 Series, both of which are due in 2026 as well.
After it debuts later this month, the new i3 will go into production in mid-2026, so it should land at dealers in Europe before the year’s end. BMW has already confirmed that the electric sedan will also be sold in the United States starting in 2027.
Read the full article here
