BMW’s Neue Klasse improvement program is accelerating, and the newest proof comes from Northern Sweden. A contemporary set of pictures exhibits the 2026 BMW i3 electrical sedan (codename NA0) present process deep-winter testing, possible close to Arjeplog the place BMW has been evaluating cold-weather sturdiness for many years. What makes this sighting noteworthy is the lighter camouflage: for the primary time, parts of the manufacturing headlights and extra physique surfacing are seen, signaling that the i3 is transitioning from early mule to near-production prototype.
This mannequin will function BMW’s all-electric successor to the three Sequence, however it isn’t constructed on a modified model of the present G20 3 Sequence. As an alternative, it rides on the Neue Klasse platform, a purpose-built EV structure designed from the bottom up for effectivity, software program integration, and efficiency.
Manufacturing Begins July 2026 in Munich
Sequence manufacturing is scheduled to start in July 2026 at BMW’s Munich Plant, which is being retooled right into a devoted EV facility. U.S.-spec fashions ought to begin rolling off the road in November 2026. A performance-focused i3 M60 xDrive is deliberate for spring 2027.
Though BMW has not formally confirmed the trim construction, early product planning factors to a multi-tiered lineup spanning all the things from a single-motor entry model to a high-output M60 xDrive flagship. The i3 50 xDrive is broadly anticipated to be the launch variant in america, with i3 40 xDrive and M60 fashions becoming a member of within the months after its debut.
New Batteries and Motors
Underneath the pores and skin, the i3 options BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive system. This new era introduces cylindrical battery cells, an 800-volt electrical structure, and revised electrical motors. The enhancements are substantial: BMW claims considerably larger power density, sooner charging, and larger general drivetrain effectivity in comparison with at this time’s prismatic-cell programs. Within the iX3, the identical battery know-how helps peak charging charges of as much as 405 kW and provides roughly 350 kilometers WLTP (175 miles EPA) in about ten minutes below perfect situations.
The i3 Sedan, benefiting from sleeker aerodynamics and a decrease middle of gravity, is anticipated to match or exceed the SUV’s vary which is 800 km WLTP and 400 miles EPA. North American fashions will use the NACS port, enabling entry to Tesla’s Supercharger community from launch.
Model New Inside Design
Inside, the i3 will showcase BMW’s subsequent step in digital design: the brand new iDrive X working system. The interface is cleaner and extra intuitive, supported by BMW’s Panoramic Imaginative and prescient show that tasks key info throughout the decrease portion of the windshield. A big 17.9-inch central show anchors the cabin, and the redesigned steering wheel incorporates haptic controls to cut back display dependency. Supplies will mirror BMW’s increasing push towards sustainability, with renewable materials, light-weight buildings, and a lighting idea just like the iX3.
Barely Completely different Proportions Than The Gasoline 3 Sequence
The outside of this prototype reveals greater than earlier sightings. The headlights seem far nearer to manufacturing, adopting the slim, horizontal profile of the idea automobile. The kidneys sit low and broad, built-in extra naturally into the entrance fascia quite than dominating it. The retractable door handles, smoothed-out physique traces, and new aerodynamic wheel designs level towards a form optimized for effectivity with out shedding the stance anticipated of a sport sedan.
The camouflage nonetheless hides the ultimate rear-quarter surfaces and the interpretation of the Hofmeister kink, however the general proportions make it clear that BMW intends this to be the electrical counterpart to the basic 3 Sequence silhouette. The ICE 3 Sequence remains to be anticipated to have a barely longer hood with a view to accommodate 4 and six-cylinder engines.
The i3 enters a phase that has matured quickly. BMW is aiming immediately on the Tesla Mannequin 3, Polestar 2, and the subsequent wave of compact electrical sedans from Mercedes-Benz and Audi. The i3 50 xDrive is positioned to compete with the Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary in each efficiency and pricing, whereas the M60 xDrive will tackle higher-output rivals such because the Mannequin 3 Efficiency and the Lucid Air Pure.
A beginning worth round $50,000 in america would place the i3 squarely the place the 330i sits at this time — a strategic transfer that maintains familiarity for purchasers sliding from inside combustion to electrical.
