We knew it was coming, and finally BMW’s next-generation electric wagon has been caught out in the open. Fresh spy shots give us our first proper look at the i3 Touring, the longroof companion to this year’s electric 3-Series sedan, and it looks like practicality won’t come at the expense of style.

BMW briefly teased the wagon during the reveal of the i3 sedan earlier this year, but these prototype images offer a much clearer picture. Even beneath camouflage, the Touring appears sharp and modern, with crisp surfacing, flush door handles, and proportions that feel noticeably more athletic than those on today’s petrol-powered 3-Series Touring.

Related: BMW Opens i3 Orders With New 463-HP First Edition

The shoulder line rises from around the rear door toward the D-pillar, visually shrinking the rear side windows and creating the impression of a lower, sleeker roof. In reality, the roof remains relatively flat, which should help preserve the cargo space buyers expect from a BMW wagon.

Shared Design, Split Foundations

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Like the i3 sedan, the Touring sits on BMW’s dedicated Neue Klasse electric architecture. A combustion-powered Touring is also in development, though it’ll ride on an updated version of the CLAR platform that underpins the current 3-Series. Different foundations, near-identical results, since both are expected to wear almost the same exterior styling once you set aside the proportions, and both get BMW’s new Panoramic iDrive cabin with its wide digital display running along the base of the windshield.

When it comes to powertrains, expect the wagon to again closely mirror the sedan. The only confirmed version so far is the dual-motor i3 50 xDrive, which produces 463 hp (470 PS / 345 kW), but based on what we know of the related iX3 SUV, an i3 40 with a single 316 hp (320 PS / 235 kW) electric motor driving the rear wheels should follow.

520+ Miles Of Electric Range

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BMW is sure to claim some impressive range figures thanks to its sixth-generation eDrive technology, 800-volt electrical architecture, new cylindrical battery cells and a generous 108.7 kWh battery capacity. The Touring’s extra size and weight will likely shave a few miles from the sedan’s incredible 559-mile WLTP (900 km) numbers, but it should still be the longest-legged electric wagon around by a wide margin.

And for anyone already wondering about performance versions, BMW has thought about that too. An M Performance model is inevitable, while given the cult success of the ICE-powered M3 wagon, a fully fledged four-motor electric M3 Touring borrowing heavily from the recent M Concept Neue Klasse sedan could eventually join the lineup.

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BMW is telling owners of the i3 and i4 to ignore a warning that says their battery needs replacing. The company traces the message to a recent over-the-air software update that misfired.

Over the past few days, it appears that thousands of BMW EVs worldwide started throwing the same alert: “Replace battery: You can continue driving. Have the problem checked by your service center.” Telling someone to keep driving and also replace the battery is the sort of contradiction that gets dealerships a lot of phone calls.

Read: BMW’s New i4 M60 Is Half A Second Faster Than An M3

BMW has sold tens of thousands of i4s globally, and a large share of them appear to be caught up in this. Cars.com reports the i3 is affected too, which raises a question, because the original i3 hatchback most people picture never supported OTA updates for critical electrical systems. The more likely candidate is the i3 sold in China, an electric version of the current long-wheelbase 3-Series sedan. We’ve asked BMW to clarify which car is involved.

It’s reported that owners quickly began reaching out to dealerships when the warning messages appeared. Fortunately, BMW quickly determined it was caused by a software update pushed out to owners and has started alerting some to the issue through the My BMW app.

BMW Responds

“Due to the presence of an incorrect date in a system, a check control message is falsely appearing in some EVs,” the company confirmed. “The message advises the customer it is possible to continue driving the vehicle, but the battery would need to be replaced. This situation is temporary and no immediate action is required by those customers arising from this issue — replacing the battery is not necessary.”

BMW has also clarified that the message doesn’t actually refer to the high-voltage battery pack, as some owners had feared, but rather to the 12-volt battery. If a real issue appears with the battery pack, owners likely wouldn’t be told they can continue driving.

BMW is also working on a “high priority” software fix and says the warning message will automatically disappear once the update is rolled out. In some markets, dealers have already begun informing customers about the issue.

BMW has officially opened orders for the new i3 in Europe, ahead of its launch this fall. Citing high demand, the company is accepting takers for the i3 50 xDrive First Edition.

Based on the M Sport variant, the special edition features a handful of extras including an Iconic Glow grille and AC Charging Professional. The latter increases the AC charging rate from 11 kW to 22 kW.

More: BMW’s Electric M3 Concept Stands Next To The E30 And Hopes You Approve

Bigger changes occur inside as the First Edition adds a heated steering wheel, a tri-zone climate control system, and a 3D head-up display. They’re joined by fancier front seats, an automatic trunk, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system.

An assortment of options will be available including heated rear seats, a panoramic glass roof, and an electrically operated tow bar. The model also offers Motorway Assistant, which allows for hands-free driving at speeds up to 81 mph (130 km/h).

Customers will also find six color choices as well as three wheel options. The latter measure 19- and 20-inches.

Power comes from a 108.7 kWh battery pack, which feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system developing a combined output of 463 hp (345 kW / 469 PS) and 476 lb-ft (645 Nm) of torque. This enables the First Edition to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.7 seconds and have a WLTP range of up to 563 miles (906 km).

When the battery is low, owners will be thankful for 800V technology and a 400 kW DC fast charging capability. It enables the model to get 263 miles (423 km) of range in as little as ten minutes.

Board Member Jochen Goller said, “The new BMW i3 is a groundbreaking car for us” and “we can already tell from the high level of interest … that it will be very well-received by our customers.” He went on to call it an “extremely significant” launch and say the start of orders is an “important next step.”

The i3 50 xDrive First Edition will be priced from £57,905 OTR ($76,553) in the United Kingdom, which is £4,900 ($6,478) more than the regular i3 50 xDrive. In Germany, it carries a €9,440 ($10,828) premium and begins at €75,340 ($86,420).

BMW has officially opened orders for the new i3 in Europe, ahead of its launch this fall. Citing high demand, the company is accepting takers for the i3 50 xDrive First Edition.

Based on the M Sport variant, the special edition features a handful of extras including an Iconic Glow grille and AC Charging Professional. The latter increases the AC charging rate from 11 kW to 22 kW.

More: BMW’s Electric M3 Concept Stands Next To The E30 And Hopes You Approve

Bigger changes occur inside as the First Edition adds a heated steering wheel, a tri-zone climate control system, and a 3D head-up display. They’re joined by fancier front seats, an automatic trunk, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system.

An assortment of options will be available including heated rear seats, a panoramic glass roof, and an electrically operated tow bar. The model also offers Motorway Assistant, which allows for hands-free driving at speeds up to 81 mph (130 km/h).

Customers will also find six color choices as well as three wheel options. The latter measure 19- and 20-inches.

Power comes from a 108.7 kWh battery pack, which feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system developing a combined output of 463 hp (345 kW / 469 PS) and 476 lb-ft (645 Nm) of torque. This enables the First Edition to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.7 seconds and have a WLTP range of up to 563 miles (906 km).

When the battery is low, owners will be thankful for 800V technology and a 400 kW DC fast charging capability. It enables the model to get 263 miles (423 km) of range in as little as ten minutes.

Board Member Jochen Goller said, “The new BMW i3 is a groundbreaking car for us” and “we can already tell from the high level of interest … that it will be very well-received by our customers.” He went on to call it an “extremely significant” launch and say the start of orders is an “important next step.”

The i3 50 xDrive First Edition will be priced from £57,905 OTR ($76,553) in the United Kingdom, which is £4,900 ($6,478) more than the regular i3 50 xDrive. In Germany, it carries a €9,440 ($10,828) premium and begins at €75,340 ($86,420).

The BMW i3 is a huge step forward for the brand as it takes the 3-Series into fully electric territory. According to a new report, the automaker couldn’t be happier with the response. Rather than open up orders later this year, it’s going to do so this week. Production won’t ramp up sooner, but BMW will take customers’ orders starting Thursday.

According to a report from Automobilwoche citing company sources, BMW will begin taking orders for a special “1st Edition” version of the i3 starting June 18. The move is notable because the original plan reportedly called for orders to open sometime this fall. BMW hasn’t publicly confirmed the change, but the publication says strong customer interest following the car’s March debut in Munich prompted the decision.

That enthusiasm shouldn’t come as a complete surprise. BMW executives were already hinting at an unusually strong response shortly after the i3’s reveal. Sales chief Jochen Goller reportedly said interest in the sedan surpassed even the positive reaction generated by the upcoming iX3. That’s a significant benchmark considering the electric SUV is said to have accumulated around 50,000 orders just months after its unveiling, plus more than 10,000 sales in Europe in only two months.

Also: Two Months Was All BMW’s iX3 Needed To Crack 10,000 Sales In Europe

The i3’s appeal also appears to stretch well beyond BMW’s home market. The report indicates the sedan has received positive feedback from Europe and China alike, with its appearance at the Beijing Auto Show helping raise its profile in one of the world’s most important EV markets.

BMW has even suggested the i3 could help breathe new life into the midsize sedan segment. That’s an ambitious claim, but the specifications certainly give the company something to talk about. The version shown so far, the i3 50 xDrive, delivers 469 horsepower (350 kW) from a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup and is claimed to offer up to 900 kilometers (559 miles) of range under the applicable test cycle.

Read: Lexus’s BMW i3 Sedan Rival Is Dead, But Its Most Ambitious Tech Isn’t

Despite the accelerated ordering timeline, production plans reportedly remain unchanged. BMW is expected to begin series production of the i3 at its Munich plant in August. If customer demand is truly as strong as reported, the bigger question may not be when orders open, but if BMW can build enough cars to keep up.

Image Credit: BMW

Sometimes the smallest detail says the most. BMW has launched its new China-only i3 Long Wheelbase and iX3 Long Wheelbase, but the headline feature, as we see it, isn’t rear legroom, horsepower, batteries, or giant screens. It’s the door handles.

While European and US Neue Klasse models launched with flush pop-out handles, China’s versions get semi-recessed, more conventional units instead. That follows growing scrutiny of retractable handles after several high-profile crashes in China, where trapped occupants reportedly struggled to exit damaged vehicles.

Tesla has faced similar concerns in the US and abroad, with NHTSA opening an investigation into Model Y door handles last year after reports of parents unable to reach children trapped inside after a power loss. Suddenly, boring handles look pretty smart.

Related: BMW’s 7-Series Facelift Hides A Blueprint For Every Older Model It Still Sells

BMW says the redesigned hardware meets Chinese regulations while still satisfying its own global safety standards. And having tried cars with pop-out handles, often finding them fiddly, we’re kind of jealous of these new Asian ones.

Beyond the door handles, these two EVs mark the official start of the Neue Klasse era in China and have been tailored specifically for local buyers. Both ride on BMW’s latest Neue Klasse dedicated EV architecture, but they’re stretched compared with Western versions because you can never have enough legroom in China.

Exactly how much the i3L is stretched versus the 2,898 mm (114.1 inches) wheelbase of the West’s i3 sedan, BMW hasn’t yet revealed. But we know the iX3L gets an extra 108 mm (4.25 inches) of wheelbase, bringing it to an X5-like 3,005 mm (118.3 inches). The good news is that the extra sheetmetal has been carefully integrated so as not to upset the proportions of either car.

Bespoke China OS

Inside, both models use BMW Panoramic iDrive and a China-specific version of Operating System X. There’s navigation developed with Amap, AI help via Alibaba and DeepSeek, and HarmonyOS NEXT compatibility so the cars can better live inside China’s digital ecosystem.

Driver assistance was also developed locally with Momenta and is tuned for Chinese roads, traffic patterns, and parking chaos. BMW says it offers Level 2 navigation-guided support across city streets, highways, and parking scenarios. 

That, we’re happy to believe, but as usual, we’ll treat the optimistic CLTC range figures with some healthy skepticism. BMW claims over 900 km (559 miles) for the iX3 Long Wheelbase and more than 1,000 km (621 miles) for the i3 Long Wheelbase.

To give some perspective, BMW in North America quotes 400 miles (644 km) EPA for the shorter, so presumably lighter, iX3 and 440 miles (709 km) for the truncated i3 sedan.

Both Chinese models get 800-volt electrical systems with up to 400 kW DC charging, just like Western cars, but way behind what BYD can offer Chinese drivers. The powertrains seem identical, too. The iX3 50L xDrive makes 463 hp (470 PS / 345 kW) plus 476 lb-ft (645 Nm) of torque, BMW says.

Do you think BMW should also swap out its pop-out handles on Western-market i3s and iX3s? Drop a comment and let us know.

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