2018 BMW i3 & i3s

This is our first proper look at the production-spec Neue Klasse saloon – the BMW i3

Old name returns for a very new car. Will drop its camouflage in 2026

After what feels like years of concepts, teaser images and infotainment walkthroughs, BMW has finally pulled the wraps off its first Neue Klasse car – the iX3 SUV.

You can read all about that (and its 500 miles of all-electric range) by clicking these blue words, but don’t go just yet…

Have a quick look at those hastily grabbed screenshots up above. They show the Neue Klasse saloon in its production form for the very first time, and we now know that it’ll be called… the BMW i3.

Yep, an old name brought back for a thoroughly modern car. Makes sense, given it’s the electrified version of the new 3 Series. And as previously reported, there will be both petrol and electric M3s too.


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The BMW i3 is back*, and this time it’s an electric 3 Series-sized saloon

*Sort of. All new Neue Klasse EV will become one of BMW’s most important cars

Surprise! BMW is getting ready to build a new car. This, internet friends, is a ‘pre-series’ BMW i3. No, not that one, a new one.

So new, it’s a part of BMW’s big neue Neue Klasse operation that also spawned the Top Gear Award-winning iX3. And like that game-changing SUV, this new saloon will very likely become one of BMW’s most important new cars.

It’s a three-box saloon! It’s the same size as a 3 Series! It looks… normal again! BMW hasn’t released much concrete information about its electric 3er, but the iX3’s hardware should provide a fairly long-range clue.

We’re talking a super-fast single central processor dubbed ‘heart of joy’ that controls the motors, regen braking, steering and stability systems. Then comes a fat 109kWh battery, an 800V system, lots of power, and lots of range – the iX3 boasts 500 miles WLTP.


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BMW moves closer to launching its new electric 3 Series

BMW is getting ready for a huge change. The company finished building its first test versions of the new i3 electric sedan at its main factory in Munich. These cars are not for sale yet. Instead, workers are using them to make sure the assembly line works perfectly before thousands of cars start rolling out to customers in 2026. The Munich plant has been the home of the gas-powered 3 Series for 50 years, and soon, the electric i3 will take center stage in that historic building.

The new BMW i3 is a major part of what the company calls the "Neue Klasse" or New Class. Unlike older models that were just gas cars with the engines swapped out for electric motors, the i3 is built differently. It uses a new 800V system that allows it to charge much faster. Drivers will be able to add about 370 km of range in just 10 minutes when using a high-powered charger.

Even though the test cars are covered in black-and-white camouflage patterns, we can see some big changes. The front of the car looks shorter than the gas-powered 3 Series we know today. This is because the electric parts take up less room under the hood. By moving the wheels closer to the corners, BMW made the inside of the car much bigger. Passengers will have more legroom and a flatter floor, making the cabin feel airy and comfortable.

The car also sits at a nice height. Usually, putting a heavy battery under the floor makes a car look tall and bulky. BMW designers worked hard to keep the i3 looking sleek and sporty. The car in the official photos has bigger wheels and bulky side panels, which suggests it might have the "M Sport" package fitted.

www.arenaev.com

BMW moves closer to launching its new electric 3 Series

BMW has begun building pre-production models of its new i3 electric sedan in Munich as the brand prepares to replace its iconic gas-powered 3 Series with a high-tech EV in 2026.
www.arenaev.com www.arenaev.com

www.press.bmwgroup.com

Major milestone: First pre-series vehicles for new BMW i3 roll off the assembly line at BMW Group Plant Munich.

+++ New production lines go into pre-series operation at BMW Group Plant Munich +++ Series production of new BMW i3 to begin in second half of 2026 +++
www.press.bmwgroup.com www.press.bmwgroup.com
 
First pre-production BMW i3 rolls off Munich production line

With series production scheduled to kick off towards the end of 2026, the first pre-production BMW i3 has rolled off the assembly line.

BMW Group has announced production of near-series i3 test vehicles has kicked off at its Munich assembly facility, with the first model rolling off the production line signifying the start of the final stage of development before series production commences in the third quarter of 2026.

All the pre-production examples manufactured at the Bavarian brand’s Plant Munich will now pass through each step of production. A team from the site first worked with the nearby pilot plant to produce these models at BMW Group’s Research and Innovation Centre. Recently, new manufacturing and logistics areas were completed at Plant Munich. Furthermore, the facility approves and inspects all production equipment, so it becomes integrated digitally within the existing systems.

Said Peter Weber, Head of BMW Group Plant Munich, “For the first time, we have built a BMW i3 entirely at our plant – using state-of-the-art manufacturing technology and digitally connected processes.” Weber added, “Over the coming months, we will apply the lessons learned from the ramp-up to further refine the processes for series production and ensure a smooth series launch.”

 
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