BMW is gearing up for the debut of the new i3 on March 18. This isn't a revival of the previous urban hatchback but a completely new model—an electric sedan built on the Neue Klasse platform. It will be the second member of the brand's new generation of electric vehicles after the iX3 crossover.

The company is calling the upcoming event a "design premiere," so technical specifications will likely be revealed later. However, it's already known that the i3 will be the sedan version of the iX3 and will be assembled in Munich starting in the second half of 2026.

At launch, the model is expected to be offered in a 50 xDrive version with two electric motors delivering a combined 463 horsepower and 645 Nm of torque. The anticipated 108 kWh battery should provide up to 805 km of range on the WLTP cycle for the crossover, and the more aerodynamic sedan could achieve an even better result. It supports charging at up to 400 kW, meaning a 10% to 80% recharge takes about 21 minutes.

The new i3 will feature a radically updated interior with the iDrive X system and Panoramic Vision projection across the entire width of the instrument panel.

Following the electric i3, BMW will also introduce a new generation of the 3 Series with traditional internal combustion engines. 2026 is set to be one of the busiest years for the brand, with updated X5 and 7 Series models also in the pipeline.