Image: Strubbl / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
In short: The new BMW i3 is the first all-electric 3 Series saloon. It premiered on 30 September 2026 and starts at €59,900 (i3 40 xDrive). The i3 50 xDrive from €65,900 offers up to 912 km WLTP range. The iX3 SUV on the same platform starts at €63,400 with up to 806 km. Both charge from 10 to 80% in 21 minutes. An M version of the i3 is announced for 2027.
What is the Neue Klasse?
The Neue Klasse is BMW's new EV-first platform: an 800-volt architecture, sixth-generation eDrive motors, new cylindrical NMC battery cells, powerful central computers and the Panoramic iDrive display strip at the base of the windscreen.
BMW i3 specifications
| i3 40 xDrive | i3 50 xDrive | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 275 kW | 345 kW |
| Battery (net) | 82.8 kWh | 108.7 kWh |
| WLTP range | up to 710 km | up to 912 km |
| DC charging | 300 kW | 400 kW |
| 10–80% | 21 min | 21 min |
| Price from | €59,900 | €65,900 |
The saloon is 4.76 m long, has a 420-litre boot plus a 31-litre frunk, and is built in Munich. Only all-wheel-drive versions are available at launch. Series production started in August 2026, and first deliveries to customers are expected in the coming weeks. At the wallbox, the i3 charges at 11 kW as standard and 22 kW as an option. Inside, a central touchscreen and voice control with Amazon's Alexa+ technology replace most physical buttons.
BMW iX3
The iX3 is built in Debrecen, Hungary. The rear-wheel-drive iX3 40 starts at €63,400 (up to 645 km), the iX3 50 xDrive at €70,900 (up to 806 km). The i3 goes about 100 km further on the same battery thanks to better aerodynamics, while the iX3 offers more space.
Key terms
- xDrive: BMW's all-wheel drive.
- Bidirectional charging: V2L up to 3.7 kW, V2H and V2G up to 11 kW.
- SAE Level 2: hands-free motorway driving up to 130 km/h in many countries, but the driver stays responsible.
Buying advice
The i3 40 xDrive is the value pick, the i3 50 xDrive the range champion, and the iX3 40 the cheapest SUV entry. An i3 M60 xDrive follows in 2027; a Touring estate is only rumoured. See our autumn 2026 EV overview, the rival electric Mercedes GLC and our BMW section.
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