BMW has officially introduced the new BMW i3, the first fully electric 3 Series based on the company’s Neue Klasse architecture. Combining the familiar proportions and driving character of the BMW 3 Series with sixth-generation electric technology, the new i3 arrives with up to 912 km of WLTP range and 400 kW DC fast charging.
The electric BMW 3 Series will launch with two models, the BMW i3 50 xDrive and BMW i3 40 xDrive. Additional 3 Series models with gasoline engines and 48V mild-hybrid technology will join the lineup, while a plug-in hybrid version is planned for the coming year.
At the top of the combustion-powered range, the BMW M350 xDrive brings M Performance hardware, a six-cylinder engine and a new Drift Moment feature designed to give the rear wheels a greater role in delivering the car’s performance.
BMW i3 Brings Neue Klasse Design to the 3 Series
The new BMW 3 Series adopts the company’s latest Neue Klasse design language while retaining the proportions that have defined the sports sedan for decades.
A longer wheelbase, short overhangs, a set-back glasshouse and pronounced wheel arches give the sedan a low and athletic stance. Flush-fitting door handles extend automatically when the vehicle is unlocked, while a prominent character line along the sides emphasizes the car’s road-focused appearance.
At the front, BMW combines its signature kidney grille and twin headlights into a single visual element. The result is a new interpretation of two familiar BMW design features, supported by a distinctive lighting signature. M Performance models add BMW’s new M Yellow Lights, inspired by racing technology.
The rear adopts a more horizontal lighting arrangement, while the wide wheel arches reinforce the sporty stance.
The fully electric BMW i3 can be equipped with wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches. Combustion-engine 3 Series models offer wheels between 18 and 20 inches, with M Sport and M Sport Pro packages available for buyers seeking a more aggressive appearance.
A New BMW Interior Built Around Panoramic iDrive
Inside, BMW has carried the minimalist Neue Klasse philosophy into the 3 Series while maintaining a strong driver-focused layout.
The centerpiece is BMW Panoramic iDrive, which combines four key elements: BMW Panoramic Vision, the BMW 3D Head-Up Display, a 17.9-inch Central Display and a redesigned multifunction steering wheel.
The Central Display is angled toward the driver, while Panoramic Vision and the optional 3D Head-Up Display place key information within the driver’s line of sight.
BMW has also redesigned the steering wheel with a central upper spoke and updated multifunction controls. M and BMW Individual steering wheels will be available as options.
A large panoramic sunroof with climate comfort glazing and expansive windows contribute to a brighter cabin, while standard seats provide electric adjustment, memory functionality and BMW’s Travel & Comfort System. Multifunction and M Sport seats are available, along with optional rear-seat heating and Harman Kardon audio systems.
Four interior designs will be offered, with different combinations of colors and materials. BMW’s My Modes system also allows drivers to customize displays, sound, lighting and driving characteristics.
BMW Operating System X Adds More Digital Features
The new BMW 3 Series uses BMW Operating System X and the latest-generation BMW Panoramic iDrive system. The interface supports touch, haptic and voice-based controls, with the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant playing a central role.
Integration of Amazon Alexa+ AI technology expands the voice-control capabilities, allowing for more conversational interaction with the vehicle.
BMW says the Operating System X platform is based on the Android Open Source Project and is designed to support regular software updates and future upgrades. The system also expands the available entertainment and navigation functions.
Optional BMW Digital Premium features include the Security Assistant and additional BMW Maps functionality, while regular software updates are intended to keep the vehicle’s digital systems current over time.
BMW i3 50 xDrive Offers Up to 912 km of Range
The biggest change to the 3 Series lineup is the arrival of the fully electric BMW i3.
Built on BMW’s Neue Klasse architecture, the i3 uses sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology. The system introduces new cylindrical-cell high-voltage batteries, more efficient electric motors, an 800-volt electrical architecture and bidirectional charging capability.
Two electric models will be available at launch, and both use an electric motor on the front axle and another on the rear axle.
The range-topping BMW i3 50 xDrive produces 345 kW, or 469 hp, and 645 Nm (475 lb-ft) of peak torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.7 seconds.
Its 108.7-kWh battery provides up to 912 km (567 miles) of WLTP range. The 800-volt system also supports DC charging at rates of up to 400 kW. BMW says the i3 50 xDrive can add enough energy for up to 423 km (263 miles) of driving in just 10 minutes at a suitably powerful DC fast-charging station.
The BMW i3 40 xDrive delivers 275 kW, or 374 hp, and uses an 82.8-kWh battery. It offers a maximum WLTP range of 710 km (441 miles).
BMW also plans to expand the electric 3 Series lineup with the BMW i3 M60 xDrive M Performance model in 2027.
Heart of Joy Targets a New Level of EV Driving Dynamics
BMW is also using the new i3 to showcase its Heart of Joy control technology.
Developed specifically for the sixth-generation electric drive architecture, Heart of Joy brings drive-system and driving-dynamics functions together into a single control unit. BMW says the high-performance computer operates ten times faster than the systems used previously.
The technology is intended to deliver the precise handling, responsiveness and long-distance comfort traditionally associated with the BMW 3 Series while taking advantage of the characteristics of an electric drivetrain.
Combustion-engine versions of the 3 Series also use an intelligent BMW Driving Stack, with each system tailored to its respective powertrain.
Adaptive suspension and adaptive M suspension will be available on combustion models, while adaptive M suspension is standard on the BMW M350 xDrive and optional on the all-wheel-drive i3.
New 3 Series Adds Advanced Driver Assistance Technology
The new BMW 3 Series also receives an expanded collection of driver-assistance and safety technologies.
BMW says the latest models will offer SAE Level 2 driver-assistance systems, active safety functions and BMW Symbiotic Drive technology designed to improve interaction between the driver and the vehicle.
The Motorway Assistant enables hands-free driving at speeds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph) in 21 countries. BMW also says additional assistance functions arriving from 2027 will support navigation-guided, partially automated driving in urban environments.
BMW i3 Production Begins in Munich
Production of the new fully electric BMW i3 takes place at BMW Group Plant Munich, BMW’s historic home facility.
The Munich plant has produced BMW vehicles for more than a century and built the first BMW 3 Series in 1975. In 2026, it enters a new phase with production of the first fully electric 3 Series, and BMW plans to transition the facility entirely to Neue Klasse electric models in 2027.
The combustion-powered BMW 3 Series will be built at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in Bavaria. Components for the electric and combustion powertrains will be produced at BMW Group Plant Steyr in Austria, while high-voltage batteries will come from BMW’s new facility in Irlbach-Straßkirchen, Bavaria.
The new BMW i3 therefore represents more than another electric model for the German automaker. It marks the arrival of the Neue Klasse technology and design philosophy in one of BMW’s most important nameplates, combining the familiar 3 Series formula with a new electric platform, faster charging and substantially greater range.
