The next chapter in BMW’s electric transition is beginning to come into focus as a new i3 edges closer to the market. It brings technology closely aligned with the second-generation iX3, now packaged in sedan form. With pre-series production now underway and official images of a camouflaged prototype already released, new renderings have begun to fill in the remaining blanks.

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Much of the i3’s design will be inspired by the Vision Neue Klasse concept unveiled in 2023. However, whereas the subsequent Vision Neue Klasse X ended up looking almost identical to the new iX3, it appears BMW has calmed some of the sedan concept’s most dramatic elements, and the production model should look better.

While the concept featured large illuminated kidney grilles flowing into the LED headlights, recent spy shots and renderings indicate the production model might adopt smaller and slimmer units, better suited to a sedan of this size.

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These renderings by Nikita Chuyko for Kolesa also show the new electric sedan with a sharper lower front bumper and gloss-black accents. Along the sides, it departs noticeably from the current 3-Series, with split shoulder lines and flush door handles that give the bodywork a cleaner, more contemporary look.

Some uncertainty still surrounds the taillight design. Recent prototypes indicate they will be much smaller than those on the Vision Neue Klasse concept and, in these renderings, they resemble scaled-down versions of the old 2-Series Gran Coupe units.

What About The Interior?

Inside, the change may feel even more dramatic than the exterior. Anyone climbing out of a current 3-Series should brace for a clear break from the more traditional cockpit BMW has refined over the years. If you are coming from the iX3, however, none of this will feel particularly shocking. The i3, along with the next combustion-powered 3-Series, will mirror BMW’s first production Neue Klasse model, down to a dashboard layout.

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Front and center will be BMW’s new ‘Panoramic iDrive’ concept, paired with the brand’s latest software. The conventional instrument cluster is gone, replaced by key information projected across the base of the windscreen, while a large touchscreen sits on the center console.

Shared Underpinnings

Beneath the surface, the i3 rides on the same Neue Klasse EV platform as the new iX3. For anyone concerned that it might fully replace the 3-Series, there is no need. The combustion-powered 3-Series is being updated separately, continuing on a revised version of BMW’s CLAR architecture.

The i3 is expected to launch with BMW’s sixth-generation electric motors and battery technology, along with an 800-volt electrical system shared with the iX3. Early reports suggest one of the first variants will be the i3 50 xDrive, potentially producing around 463 hp, placing it within reach of today’s BMW M3. A less powerful rear-wheel drive model is also planned, along with a flagship electric iM3 featuring four motors.

That high-performance version has been tipped to deliver as much as 1,000 hp, and could even feature a synthesized V10-style soundtrack.

After months of spy shots and speculation, BMW’s all-new electric i3 is officially leaving the theoretical stage. The brand has begun pre-series production at its Munich plant, which means the future 3-Series EV is no longer just a prototype trying to evade Nürburgring photographers.

BMW released official images of camouflaged near-series cars to mark the milestone, confirming that production-spec hardware is now running through the factory. According to BMW, these early cars are built using full production processes, from the press shop to final assembly, to stress-test logistics, equipment, and workflows before series production begins in the second half of 2026.

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This is a bigger deal than it sounds. Until now, early i3s were assembled partly at BMW’s pilot plant near its Research and Innovation Centre. With Munich’s new body shop, paint shop, and assembly areas now complete, the i3 finally goes through every production step under one roof, just like a real car should.

The timing fits perfectly with what we’ve seen on the road. Spy shots have shown the electric i3 and the next combustion 3-Series testing side by side, wearing similar Neue Klasse styling but hiding very different bones underneath.

The i3 rides on BMW’s dedicated Neue Klasse EV platform first seen on the 2026 iX3 SUV, while the gas-powered 3-Series sticks with an updated version of today’s CLAR architecture.

Spot the EV

But you won’t need to get them on a ramp to tell them apart, you’ll just have to look closely. The electric i3 has a flatter roofline, different door and window shapes, and even a relocated charging port compared to the fuel door on the ICE model. Inside, though, both will share a futuristic cabin, including a freestanding display and BMW’s pillar-to-pillar Panoramic iDrive screen.

iX3 Powertrain

Powertrain details remain unofficial, but based on what we already know about the iX3, expectations are sky high. The i3 50 xDrive is rumored to deliver around 463 hp (469 PS / 345 kW) and an EPA range that should exceed 400 miles (644 km), backed by a massive battery and ultra-fast DC charging.

An entry-level rear-wheel drive version will follow, with a hotter, heavier, M3 EV also confirmed.

BMW says employee training is now shifting from virtual reality to hands-on work with real machinery, which tells us the launch clock is ticking. The camouflage may still be on, but the electric i3 has clearly entered its final dress rehearsal and the full disguise-free show starts later this year with first deliveries coming in early 2027.

BMW