BMW 3 Series Goes Electric: The i3 Returns March 18

The i3 sedan will be followed later this year by a new 3 Series with combustion engines.

BMW i3 teaser

Photo by: BMW

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Mar 5, at 4:32am ET

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Update: BMW has released images of camouflaged prototypes undergoing final testing in Arjeplog, Sweden. The disguised i3 50 xDrive sedan uses the same dual-motor setup as the iX3 50 xDrive Neue SUV, with an identical combined output of 463 horsepower and 476 pound-feet (645 Newton-meters) of torque.

The battery will support 400-kW charging thanks to 800-volt technology. While its capacity isn’t mentioned, the iX3 has a usable energy content of 108.7 kWh. The range is also a mystery, though we expect it to at least match the crossover’s 500 miles (805 kilometers) in the WLTP test cycle. The iX3 promises as much as 400 miles (644 kilometers) in the EPA test cycle.

Original article follows below.

The Breakdown

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 retro-esque 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.

Photos by: BMW

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.

2026 BMW iX3 interior

Photo by: BMW

Inside, the i3 will be the second BMW production model to utilize the new, nearly buttonless cabin 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 nearly 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.

BMW i3: New Class sedan in cold-weather testing in Arjeplog

BMW i3: The electric 3 Series Sedan during testing in Arjeplog

Source: BMW

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Motor1's Take: BMW may be printing money with SUVs nowadays, but it built its legacy on sedans. While the i3 won’t be the first without combustion engines, it’s the inaugural sedan of the modern Neue Klasse era. From the electric motors and batteries to the exterior design and in-car technology, this is truly an all-new saloon.

Even if you’re not sold on EVs yet, the i3 is relevant to those waiting for the next 3 Series. Excluding the drivetrains, these two sedans will be similar inside and out. The i3 should be the more spacious of the two thanks to the superior packaging enabled by its bespoke platform. We’re holding out hope for at least a wagon, but ideally, BMW will launch both gas and electric Touring models.

An Electric M3 Is Coming:

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