Europe’s new car market didn’t exactly start the 2026 race in a flurry of smokey wheelspins. Registrations across the EU, UK, and EFTA slipped 3.5 percent year-on-year to 961,382 units in January. But beneath that soggy headline number, one brand was busy throwing its own party.

And it wasn’t Tesla. Across the EU, UK, and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) regions combined, Tesla registrations dropped 17.0 percent to 8,075 cars in January. That left the American EV giant with a 0.8 percent market share, down from 1.0 percent a year earlier, according to data from industry body ACEA.

It was also Tesla’s 13th consecutive month of declining sales in Europe, a reminder that this is no short-lived dip.

Also: Tesla’s Sales Collapsed By Nearly 90% In The Land Of EVs

BYD, meanwhile, went into overdrive with its mix of EVs and hybrids. The Chinese brand shifted 18,242 cars across the same region, an impressive increase of 165.0 percent year-on-year (175 percent in the EU alone), and its share climbed to 1.9 percent, more than double Tesla’s slice of the pie.

Dacia’s Fall From Glory

Tesla was far from the only automaker to take a beating in January. Renault Group also had a bruising month, its sales falling 15.0 percent to 83,201 units. That is a slide not too far off Tesla’s in percentage terms, though the Renault brand itself was up 4.4 percent. It was Renault-owned Dacia’s disastrous 35 percent drop that ruined the overall picture.

BMW (down 8.7 percent) and the VW brand (down 11.2 percent) were also left licking their wounds, while sister companies Mini (up 11.2 percent) and Skoda (up 10.1 percent) gleefully rubbed salt in them.

One In Five Cars Now An EV

On the powertrain front, the shift to electrification keeps gathering pace. Sales of battery electric cars climbed 13.9 percent, meaning they now account for 19.3 percent of the EU market in January, up from 14.9 percent a year earlier. And plug-in hybrids climbed 32.2 percent while petrol registrations plunged 25.7 percent and diesel slid 22.0 percent.

Country by country, the picture was mixed. Germany and France both saw total registrations fall 6.6 percent, but their EV registrations jumped by 23.8 and 52.1 percent, respectively. And Norway, always an EV bellwether, endured a dramatic 76.3 percent drop in overall registrations, mostly due to the end of government incentives.

European Car Sales

ACEA: Figures for EU + UK + EFTA

Last year, BMW announced a major product blitz that will see the company introduce over 40 new or updated vehicles by 2027. Unsurprisingly, BMW M is working on a major offensive of their own.

Speaking to CarSales, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel said “We’re working on up to 30 new models that will come out in the next two and a half years.” That’s a lot, but it’s important to note the number includes both M and M Performance vehicles.

Also: BMW’s Next Boss Already Has 40 New Models On His Plate

While the executive didn’t say what to expect, other than the i3 M, spy photographers have snapped an assortment of prototypes in recent months. Besides the facelifted M5 and M5 Touring, the company is working on a new M3 and iX3 M.

They’ll be joined by redesigned versions of the X5, X6, and X7, which will spawn a mix of M and M Performance variants. We can also expect M Performance versions of the facelifted 7-Series.

The Rise Of M Performance EVs

Speaking of M Performance variants, van Meel said electrified models – such as the i4 M60 – have proven popular in countries where regulations on combustion engines make traditional performance cars expensive. As he noted, “In France, you have to pay 18,000 euros ($21,212) CO2 tax on a combustion engine M2.”

More: BMW iX3 M Coming As A Quad Motor Performance EV

That’s ridiculously steep and it bodes well for the upcoming i3 M, which will feature a quad motor powertrain. However, the executive said he isn’t sure how customers will respond to the model. While only time will tell, van Meel believes the vehicle has “exactly the technology everyone has been waiting for … in a high-performance [electric] car.”

Despite the focus on electric vehicles, BMW M isn’t putting all its eggs in one basket. Quite the opposite as the executive said they have a “long tradition” of six- and eight-cylinder engines, and “we are planning to continue this because we have a big community worldwide, and also a lot of people that are maybe not ready yet, or live in environments where it’s really difficult, to charge the electric cars.”

Manual Seems Doomed

While internal combustion engines are sticking around, the manual might not be as lucky. As van Meel explained, “From an engineering standpoint, the manual doesn’t really make sense because it limits you in torque and also in fuel consumption.”

However, he added that from an emotional and customer standpoint, “a lot of people still love manuals, so that’s why we kept them, and we intend to keep them as long as possible.”

Unfortunately, the clock appears to be ticking as he said “It’s going to be quite difficult, in the future, to develop completely new gearboxes because the segment in the market is quite small, and the suppliers are not so keen on doing something like that.” This means manual transmissions will likely be safe for the “next couple of years,” but it will likely become “difficult to keep the manuals alive, especially in the next decade.”

Electric vehicles have come a long way in the past few years, and the progress is finally showing up where it matters most: in owner satisfaction. According to the latest data, these steady gains in technology and infrastructure are translating into record-high approval from drivers.

That’s the verdict from JD Power’s 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study, which found premium EV satisfaction climbed from 756 points last year to 789 in 2026. Mainstream EVs also improved two points to hit 727 out of 1,000.

More: A Third of Americans Are Priced Out Of New Cars, And It’s Getting Worse

The highest rated premium EVs were the Tesla Model 3 (804), Tesla Model Y (797), and BMW i4 (795). On the flip side, the new Audi Q6 e-tron came in dead last at 690. It placed well below the Lucid Air (740) and Rivian R1T (739).

Segment Standouts And Stragglers

On the mass market side of the equation, the Ford Mustang Mach-E took top honors with a score of 760. The electric pony car was followed by the Hyundai Ioniq 6 (748) and Kia EV9 (745). Interestingly, the two lowest rated EVs were the Chevrolet Blazer EV (711) and Honda Prologue (623). That’s a huge point spread considering both models are built by GM and have a lot in common.

Of course, things aren’t completely straightforward as the study examined ten different factors. This includes the “accuracy of stated battery range, availability of public charging stations, battery range, cost of ownership, driving enjoyment, ease of charging at home, interior and exterior styling, safety and technology features, service experience, and vehicle quality and reliability.”

Encouragingly, 96 percent of EV owners said they would consider buying or leasing another one and the study also found quality has improved. That’s especially true of premium EVs, which had 15.9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles compared to last year. This brought the total down to 75 and JD Power said this was driven by noise improvements as well as fewer problems with driver assistance technology.

Is Charging Still A Concern?

The study also found that EV drivers are becoming more satisfied with public charging. Scores climbed by over 100 points and this is being attributed to growing charging infrastructure as well as the opening of Tesla’s Supercharger network to other automakers.

Last but not least, EV drivers are more satisfied than those with plug-in hybrids. Premium EVs scored 114 points higher than their PHEV rivals, while mainstream electric vehicles had a 117 point advantage. Part of this can be chalked up to the cost of ownership as plug-in hybrid drivers have to deal with a more complex powertrain that involves gas and electricity.

In a statement, JD Power’s Brent Gruber said “Improvements in battery technology, charging infrastructure and overall vehicle performance have driven customer satisfaction to its highest level ever. What’s more, the vast majority of current EV owners say they will consider purchasing another EV for their next vehicle, regardless of whether they benefited from the now-expired federal tax credit.”

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.

Read: New i3 And 3-Series Reveal BMW’s Most Striking Split Yet

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.

More: The 2027 BMW M5 Facelift Might Skip The Drama, But Not The Debate

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.

Also: BMW iX3 Has A 360 Camera, But You’ll Pay Monthly To Use It

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.

BMW learned a hard lesson in 2022 when it tried to charge a subscription fee for heated seats, prompting swift and widespread backlash. While the company walked that decision back within a year, it’s still firmly committed to the broader idea of subscription-based features.

In the case of the all-new iX3, BMW will ask its customers to subscribe to features such as the 360-degree camera and the Driving Assistant Pro package, which includes hands-free driving on highways and semi-autonomous features for urban settings, much like Tesla’s approach with its own systems nowadays.

Read: BMW iX3 M Coming As A Quad Motor Performance EV

This comes even as BMW concedes that offering heated seats as a subscription option was a mistake, and the fact that all new iX3s will have the hardware for advanced-driving assistance systems and the 360-degree camera.

Other features, such as real-time traffic updates and adaptive suspension, are also sold as subscriptions depending on the market. In Australia, adaptive suspension can be activated after purchase for A$29 (US$20) per month, with a one-month free trial to get drivers acquainted.

Why BMW Still Believes in Subscriptions

“The criticism we got was from the seat heating, so this was probably not the best way to start with it,” BMW head of product communications Alexandra Landers told Australia’s Drive. “However, we decided for the technology, everything is on board, but for the additional other systems, we also have costs for running. You have cloud use, and that is cost.”

“If you use it, we have to pay for it. It’s not everything important [to every customer], but the technology is important [to have in all vehicles], and we still believe in the option offer structure that you do not have to decide from the start if you want this ADAS [safety] system.”

Landers added that having subscriptions can be useful for owners who may change their mind about having a certain feature during their ownership. “For example, if they’re sitting in a traffic jam, and think ‘Oh, maybe I should have bought [ADAS] two years ago’. And then they can, you know, add it online.”

BMW will tie downloadable over-the-air software updates to its subscriptions. For example, as ADAS systems are improved, updates could be introduced to paying subscribers.

Some features, however, will reach certain regions before others. BMW confirmed that semi-autonomous driving functions will first roll out in Germany before expanding to other markets.

Performance Stays Unlocked

That said, BMW has ruled out certain types of paid upgrades entirely. Customers won’t be able to unlock more power or battery range through remote updates, as the automaker believes base vehicles should deliver full performance from the start.

“Because this is the thing we say, you buy a car with maximum power, and we are not a tuner. You just felt that 345 kilowatt (463hp), so why restrict it and then have [customers] pay [more] for it? That didn’t make sense for us as an offer strategy.”

Will Buyers Push Back?

It remains to be seen how customers will respond to the subscription offerings for the latest BMW models, particularly the new iX3. While locking the advanced semi-autonomous driving system behind a paywall isn’t unique in the industry, as Tesla does with its supervised Full-Self Driving suite, requiring a subscription for features like a 360-degree camera, is bound to be controversial.

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.

Related: New i3 And 3-Series Reveal BMW’s Most Striking Split Yet

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

The Neue Klasse revolution has barely begun and already BMW has a problem. The good kind. Buyers are snapping up the new electric iX3 so quickly that it’s almost sold out through to the end of 2026, forcing the company to speed up plans for extra factory shifts.

Related: BMW iX3 M Coming As A Quad Motor Performance EV

That’s a big vote of confidence for a car customers haven’t even driven yet. Since its debut last autumn, the iX3 has made up around a third of BMW’s electric orders in Europe. Deliveries only start in March, yet much of the planned output is effectively gone.

To keep wait times from stretching into next winter, BMW is bringing forward a second production shift at its brand new Debrecen plant in Hungary, Auto News reports. The site is BMW’s first factory built purely for EVs, and while it’ll eventually build around 150,000 cars a year, it’s currently still ramping up. Clearly, that ramp needs to get steeper.

This matters far beyond one SUV. The iX3 is the first model on BMW’s all-new Neue Klasse platform and wears a bravely modern Neue Klasse design, as will the upcoming Neue Klasse 3-Series replacement later this year.

If buyers are this enthusiastic about the SUV, BMW executives will be feeling pretty good about the electric sports sedan waiting in the wings.

More Tech, More Color for 2027MY

BMW isn’t wasting time in adding polishing the package to make the iX3 even more desirable, either. From spring, the compact SUV gains an optional 22 kW AC charging upgrade, cutting home and workplace charging times. It also adds Vehicle to Load capability, letting owners power external devices at up to 3.7 kW and making camping trips more sophisticated.

There are fresh paint choices, too, including Eucalyptus Green metallic and Frozen Space Silver, plus some interior trim tweaks and the introduction of new options like a stainless steel loading sill, bright white steering wheel and an M-striped key.

Smaller SUVs Get Some Love Too

And BMW’s older electric crossovers aren’t being ignored this year, even if the iX3 is hogging the spotlight. The iX1 and iX2 receive more efficient silicon-carbide semiconductor components, boosting range by about 25 miles (40 km) depending on version. That’s a handy bump for everyday usability, improving the previously poor range of the best-performing eDrive20 to as much as 319 miles (514 km).

Despite the shrinking demand for coupes, BMW isn’t backing away from the segment just yet. A third-generation 4-Series is on the way, and it’s not just a box-ticking refresh. The new model looks set to play a bigger role in BMW’s long game, possibly offering both electric and combustion versions, plus a next-gen M4 flagship in the mix.

Read: BMW’s Electric M3 Tries To Simulate Everything It Just Replaced

BMW has been producing the current-generation 4-Series since 2020, offering it in multiple forms including the Gran Coupe and the all-electric i4. The latter has held the distinction of being BMW’s best-selling EV to date, but that role is soon expected to shift to the i3 version of the next-generation 3-Series.

That transition has raised questions about where the 4-Series fits into BMW’s evolving electric and combustion plans.

Coupe Relevance in a Changing Market

While recently speaking with Autocar, BMW’s head of engineering and development, Joachim Post, emphasized that the 4-Series remains strategically important. He also pointed out that creating a new generation of the car would be relatively cost-effective, thanks to shared development with the next-gen 3-Series.

Platform Synergies Keep Coupes Alive

“The 4 Series is an important car for us,” he told the magazine. “It’s more sporty, and BMW is a sporty brand which has a clear heritage also on the performance side. It will play an important role also for the future. It’s not [as] expensive [as] making a completely new car and whenever we make a 3 Series or X3, we still think about the 4 Series or X4, to make it with synergies so that a derivative can be easily built out of the base.”

BMW iX4 by Sugar Design

Post pointed to the benefits of what BMW calls “high synergies” between models like the 4-Series, X4, and X6. By leveraging shared components and platforms, BMW can build lower-volume body styles without incurring the full cost of starting from scratch. That gives models like the 4-Series a clearer business case, even in a less crowded coupe market.

Neue Klasse Platform, New Possibilities

2028 BMW iM3 by Kolesa

If BMW does indeed launch a new 4-Series, it will follow the same path as the next 3-Series. That means we could potentially see both combustion and electric versions, each built on different platforms. The gas-powered model would use an updated version of the familiar CLAR platform, shared with the next-gen 3-Series, while the EV would ride on BMW’s Neue Klasse architecture, the same one underpinning the upcoming i3 and iX3.

See: BMW’s 2028 M3 Fixes What You Hate, Drops What You Love

Of course, there’s still a chance BMW could commit to just one direction, but for now, it hasn’t made that call publicly.

What we do know is that the Neue Klasse is already confirmed to support an electric iM3, which makes an iM4 Coupe feel entirely plausible. On the combustion side, BMW has also said the next M3 will stick with its six-cylinder engine in mild hybrid form, keeping the door open for a new gas-powered M4 Coupe as well. Whether we get both versions or just one remains to be seen.

If there’s an electric version of the 4-Series, expect a setup similar to the forthcoming i3, powered by BMW’s 108kWh battery pack. Rear- and dual-motor powertrains are also on the menu. Although Post hasn’t revealed performance targets, early indications suggest a range exceeding 500 miles is within reach.

Also: BMW’s X7 Is Apparently Too Small Now, So Dealers Want An X9

Whatever BMW ends up doing, it’s obvious that the rest of the field is thinning out. Audi has dropped the A5 Coupe, and Mercedes has merged its C-Class and E-Class coupes into one model, the CLE. With fewer players still in the mix, BMW might find itself with a bit more room to maneuver on the sales front.

Big Gas Engines Not Going Anywhere

During the same interview Post noted that BMW has already developed its next-generation of engines to comply with Euro 7 regulations. This means the current twin-turbo 3.0-liter S58 straight-six of the M3 and M4 will live on, albeit upgraded with a mild-hybrid. He also confirmed that large V8 and V12 engines are safe, including the 6.75-liter V12 used by Rolls-Royce.

“We can fulfill Euro 7 with some optimization in the exhaust system – with things like the catalysts – so that’s why we have a big advantage in that Euro 7 is not that high an investment for us,” he revealed.

Breaking into the electric performance space is a delicate task for a brand like BMW M, which has spent decades building its reputation on combustion-powered icons. But that’s exactly what it’s attempting with the Neue Klasse-based electric M3, or, as it may end up being called, the i3M.

The upcoming high-performance EV won’t replace the traditional ICE-powered model, though. Instead, it’s designed to sit alongside it, borrowing cues from BMW M’s most celebrated models to bridge the old and the new. Or at least that’s the promise.

Read: BMW’s Electric M3 Tries To Simulate Everything It Just Replaced

BMW M released the latest chapter in its video series detailing the development of the new super sedan, previewing the distinctive soundscape it plans to offer. Taking a page from Hyundai N’s playbook, BMW aims to replicate the sounds of some of its most iconic models, blending them with the unique tone of a high-performance EV.

Chasing the Sound of the Past

Rather than relying solely on software to mimic engine sounds, BMW assembled an M3 GTS with a 4.4-liter V8, an M4 GTS with its 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six, and a classic BMW M6 featuring the brand’s iconic 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V10. Their engine notes were recorded on a dyno, then layered into the soundtrack of the electric prototype.

The clip only demonstrates the soundtrack of the electric M3 for a brief moment while being put through its paces on BMW’s test track. As the driver hits the throttle, it begins to sound like a turbocharged engine building boost as the revs climb. There are also some notable turbo whistles, mixed in together with some of the high-pitched whine expected of an EV.

Performance to Match the Drama

Like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N, BMW’s electric M3 will also include simulated gear shifts to match the synthetic engine notes. For drivers who prefer their EV experience unfiltered, these features are expected to be optional and easily switched off.

Of course, the electric M3 will need to be more than just good-looking to convince shoppers. BMW has confirmed it’ll be fitted with four electric motors and a 100 kWh battery pack that’s up to the task of track use.

While BMW hasn’t revealed any final power figures, we know that each wheel will be controlled individually, allowing for advanced torque vectoring for better performance and handling. There will also be an optional rear-wheel drive-only mode.

BMW unveiled the iX3 last fall and now the company is previewing the upcoming long-wheelbase variant. The electric crossover is being developed “in China, for China, and with China.”

Set to battle the Mercedes GLC L with EQ Technology, the iX3 Long Wheelbase will debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April and be launched in the second half of the year. When it arrives, the iX3 will become the first long-wheelbase model based on BMW’s Neue Klasse platform.

More: Mercedes Gave China’s Electric GLC A Little Extra, And It Shows

Looking instantly recognizable, the crossover has a wheelbase that has been stretched 4.3 inches (108 mm). Doing the math, the model will have a 118.3 inch (3,005 mm) wheelbase, which is 1.2 inches (30 mm) longer than the X5.

That’s pretty big and BMW said the iX3 Long Wheelbase will deliver “significantly enhanced rear-seat comfort and overall spaciousness.”

China-Specific Technology

Catering to the Chinese market requires more than just stretching the wheelbase and BMW is more than happy to oblige. In this case, they’ve developed a “Chinese derivative” of Operating System X, which “incorporates approximately 70 percent locally developed software engineering.”

Customers will also find a navigation system developed in collaboration with Amap as well as an Intelligent Personal Assistant that uses large language models from Alibaba and DeepSeek.

BMW is also working on China-specific driver assistance systems with Momenta. These will be “tailored to local traffic conditions and usage scenarios” in order to deliver “highly capable driver-assistance functions optimized for complex urban environments, highways, and long-distance travel in China.”

More Than 559 Miles Of Range

The automaker is keeping powertrain details under wraps, but said the iX3 Long Wheelbase will have an 800-volt electrical architecture, cylindrical battery cells, and sixth-generation eDrive technology. That’s vague, but BMW promised a 400 kW DC fast charging capability as well as a CLTC combined range in excess of 559 miles (900 km).

When the battery is low, it can get more than 249 miles (400 km) of range in as little as 10 minutes. If you’re not in a rush, a 21 minute charge can take the battery from 10-80%.

We’ll learn more in the coming months, but the European iX3 was launched in 50 xDrive guise. It features a 108.7 kWh battery pack as well as a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing a combined output of 463 hp (345 kW / 469 PS) and 476 lb-ft (645 Nm) of torque. This enables the model to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.9 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 130 mph (210 km/h).

It remains to be seen if the long-wheelbase variant will echo that, but BMW said the crossover will have a China-specific chassis and suspension setup. It aims to provide a “refined balance between comfort and stability across a wide range of driving scenarios.”

While China is the main focus for the iX3 Long Wheelbase, the model will also be offered in select markets around the world. These will include India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.