BMW has pulled the wraps from the second product of its ambitious ‘Neue Klasse’ era with the unveiling of the BMW i3, an electric sports saloon boasting both eye-catching looks and eye-catching specification figures.
The follow-up to the critically acclaimed BMW iX3 electric sports SUV, the i3 is a compact sports saloon in a similar vein to the BMW 3-Series, one of the Munich marque’s steadfast legacy models.
In an important distinction, though the i3 and 3-Series occupy a similar space in terms of size, they will be sold alongside one another. A new petrol-powered 3-Series will be launched further down the line.
BMW i3: Ground-breaking Range and Recharging
Based on similar running gear to the iX3, a car that has already impressed by setting new standards for range by an SUV (up to 500 miles), the smaller, lighter and more aerodynamically efficient i3 takes things even further… literally.
Revealed in a high-spec dual-motor 50xDrive set-up, BMW claims the i3 will return a mammoth 559-miles of range (WLTP) and generate a meaty 462bhp of power and 645Nm of torque.
The range figures far exceed the official claims made by rival models like the Mercedes CLA (484-miles) and Tesla Model 3 (363-miles).
Not only that, the BMW i3 can support rapid DC charging of 400kW, meaning it is possible to add 249-miles of range in just ten-minutes.
The industry-leading range and recharge claims have been made possible by a significant overhaul of BMW’s eDrive technology, which comprises highly efficient electric motors, 800-volt technology and new high-voltage batteries with new round cells.
The manufacturer says the cell-to-pack design enables high energy densities at pack level and a flatter high-voltage battery.
BMW i3: ‘Familiar, Yet New’ Styling
While automotive enthusiasts will point out this isn’t the first BMW i3 to have graced the roads, the i3 of 2026 is a very different proposition to its namesake, which was sold between 2013 to 2022.
While that was a quirky five-door city car, the new i3 is a conventional sports saloon that bears similarity to the 3-Series in terms of size and profile.
However, the finer detailing of the i3 is far more adventurous and not just because it is the latest take on BMW’s ‘Neue Klasse’ design direction. This is no better represented than by the bold front-end arrangement, which signals a departure for BMW from what we've been accustomed to.
Indeed, unlike the iX3, which does incorporate a fresh interpretation of BMW’s signature 'kidney grille', the i3 goes without, instead merging the ‘four-eyed’ headlights directly into an illuminated grille-like pattern to generate what the firm describes as ‘a powerful and expressive’ look.
At the rear, the i3 gets slender rear-lights, while a ‘greenhouse domed’ roofline and smooth shoulder lines that blend seamlessly into thick wheelarches complete the elegant look.
Inside, the BMW i3’s interior echoes that of the iX3, which revolves around the firm’s Panoramic iDrive system and a 17.9-inch central touchscreen that houses most controls.
It also features the same heads-up display that stretches across the top of the dashboard beneath the windscreen, giving multiple readings in an ergonomic line of vision.
New BMW i4 and BMW i3 Touring on the Way
Repurposing the nameplate helps BMW realign its electric range in a similar manner to its petrol line-up with the i3 shadowing the 3-Series in the same way the iX3 shadows the X3.
BMW has, of course, had a de facto contender in the compact electric saloon sector with the BMW i4, though that is officially designated as a four-door coupe.
This new model won’t replace the i4, with a new generation coupe closely related to the i3 due in the next 12 months, together with a Touring estate.
BMW i3: A Rapid Advancement of Technology
As mentioned, the new i3 represents the second iteration use of that moniker.
However, while this new model is so far removed from the original that there are barely any comparisons to be made, doing so at least demonstrates the vast strides made by BMW in the electric technology space.
Quirky though it was, the i3 will be remembered for being among the first mainstream electric cars on the market, one that helped set benchmarks for range at a time when EVs – even as recently as 2013 - remained fairly rare.
Early models could achieve around 115-miles of range – generous at the time – but updates over the course of its nine-year span would see later models exceed 150-miles.
The fact that just a few short years later BMW is launching a model capable of 559-miles is testament to the advances in EV technology being achieved, not to mention a tantalising glimpse of what could be possible in the future.
- Electric
- BMW
- New Cars