BMW has unveiled the new BMW i3 as the second model in its Neue Klasse line-up, describing it as a major step into a new era for the brand. In the official BMW Group press release, the company says this will be the first all-electric BMW 3 Series, launching initially as the BMW i3 50 xDrive.
According to BMW, the new i3 uses an electric motor on both the front and rear axles, giving it all-wheel drive. Combined system output is listed at 345 kW / 469 hp, with maximum torque of 645 Nm, while the car also introduces sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology, BMW Panoramic iDrive, and the new Heart of Joy system.
BMW says the i3 keeps the familiar identity of the 3 Series while moving into a new design language. The brand describes the car as having classic BMW sedan proportions, including a long wheelbase, short overhangs, and a rearward-sloping greenhouse. The front end combines the BMW kidney grille and twin headlights into a new light signature, while the rear uses prominent horizontal lights to underline what BMW calls precision and technological progress.
Inside, BMW says the all-electric layout has allowed for a spacious cabin while still maintaining a driver-focused feel. The company places particular emphasis on the new BMW Panoramic iDrive, saying it creates a modern interior and takes BMW’s traditional driver orientation to a new level in the official release.
BMW is also positioning the new i3 as a major performance and technology statement. It says the Heart of Joy high-performance computer plays a central role in shaping the driving experience, with responses said to be ten times faster than previous systems. BMW adds that this system works alongside three other high-performance computers within the vehicle’s new software and electronics architecture.
On range and charging, BMW claims the new i3 can deliver up to 900 kilometres (559 miles) on the WLTP test cycle. The company also says DC charging can reach up to 400 kW, allowing the car to add up to 400 km (248 miles) of range in 10 minutes under WLTP / ISO 12906 conditions. BMW attributes this to its sixth-generation eDrive setup, which includes highly efficient electric motors, 800-volt technology, new high-voltage batteries with round cells, and a cell-to-pack battery design.
The new BMW i3 will also support bidirectional charging functions, including Vehicle-to-Load, Vehicle-to-Home, and Vehicle-to-Grid, although BMW notes that Vehicle-to-Load requires optional AC Charging Professional.
BMW says the car will be built at its Munich plant, which has undergone significant modernisation over the last four years. Production of the new BMW i3 is due to begin there from August 2026, with first deliveries expected from autumn 2026. BMW also says that one year later, the Munich plant’s production portfolio will switch to exclusively fully electric Neue Klasse vehicles, according to the company’s press release.
DM News Commentary
This is clearly a big statement car for BMW. The company is not just presenting the new i3 as another EV, but as the electric future of one of its most important nameplates. On paper, the range, charging speed and power figures are eye-catching, and BMW is putting a huge amount of emphasis on software, computing power and driver-focused technology too.
The bigger picture here is that BMW wants the Neue Klasse range to feel like a genuine reset rather than a simple model update. If the production version delivers anything close to the headline figures being promoted here, the new i3 could become one of the most talked-about electric saloons in the market.
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