BMW has confirmed it will reveal the all-electric version of its next-generation 3 Series in just under two weeks, with the full reveal of the all-new BMW i3 sedan now set for March 18.
The new mid-size electric sedan will not only revive the nameplate seen on the German automaker’s quirky 2010s city car, but will offer our first glimpse at a new generation of BMW sedans and become the company’s second Neue Klasse platform-based electric vehicle (EV) following the new iX3 electric SUV.
Teased by a series of concepts and heavily camouflaged development prototypes in recent months, the i3 – BMW’s answer to the best-selling Tesla Model 3 – has now been previewed undisguised in a shadowy teaser image.
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Visually, the i3 sedan, which will be followed later this year by a new 3 Series with combustion engines, will be a complete departure from the current G20-generation model, with a sharp, angular exterior design that harks back to BMW models of the 1970s and ’80s.
The fresh teaser confirms the sedan will feature an illuminated ‘kidney’ grille and diagonal LED daytime running lights that appear set to become a signature of Neue Klasse models.
The i3 also marks the first time BMW has offered a fully electric 3 Series, a model line that remains the cornerstone of the premium Bavarian brand.
BMW has offered a plug-in hybrid 3 Series and the similarly sized i4 fastback electric sedan since 2021, but has chosen to wait until its latest EV architecture and battery technology were ready before launching a battery-electric 3 Series.
Given the importance of driving dynamics to BMW – and especially the 3 Series – engineers have placed major emphasis on ensuring the i3 delivers comparable ride and handling to its petrol and diesel counterparts.
BMW says the new i3 will offer “maximum precision” and “responds instantly to steering inputs”, thanks to the company’s new in-house Dynamic Performance Control software.
Based on the same dedicated-EV platform as the iX3 revealed in 2025, the i3 is expected to be launched in i3 50 xDrive form, mirroring the iX3. Output for the dual-motor powertrain are expected to be around 345kW of power and 645Nm of torque.
The Neue Klasse platform comprises BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive 800-volt electrical architecture, allowing DC fast-charging speeds of up to 400kW. BMW claims the iX3 can deliver a WLTP driving range of around 800km, so the more aerodynamic i3 sedan is expected to exceed that figure.
Inside, the i3 will be BMW’s second production model to feature its new, virtually button-free cabin layout, perhaps including a 17.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, in an interior setup that will eventually expand to almost all of its models including the next X5 and facelifted 7 Series, both of which are also due in 2026.
After launch, the i3 is expected to spawn multiple variants, including the brand’s first fully electric M3 sports sedan, which will be sold alongside a new inline turbo-petrol six-powered M3.
The new electric sedan will be one of 40 new or updated BMW models planned for release by the end of 2027, many of which will adopt the Neue Klasse design language including slimmer grilles inspired by BMW models of the 1970s.
Following its debut later this month, the new i3 will enter production in mid-2026 and should therefore arrive in global markets including Australia by 2027.