Electric car BMW i3 comes as sedan and station wagon

Following the BMW iX3, five more models of the new class will arrive in 2026. The next one, launching in the summer, is called the i3, but it's not an electric compact car with high-tech ambitions like 13 years ago, but rather the electric version of the successful 3 Series. It is scheduled to be sold as an M version in 2027.

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Technically, the new BMW i3 is closely related to the iX3 and will also be available as a station wagon. Unlike other brands, BMW remains true to the classic vehicle concepts of sedan and station wagon, in parallel with the crossover models. While the BMW iX3 (test) is built at the Hungarian plant in Debrecen, the i3 will roll off the assembly line at the main plant in Munich, which, however, has not been the most important production facility in the production network for many years. This role has long been held by the US production in Spartanburg, South Carolina, by a significant margin.

Production in Munich

Currently, the first pre-production vehicles of the electric BMW i3 are rolling off the assembly line at the Munich plant. Everything is being prepared for the start of series production from mid-year. “The production of pre-series vehicles is an important milestone for our plant,” says Peter Weber, Head of the BMW Munich Plant. “This is the first time we have completely manufactured a BMW i3 in our plant – with state-of-the-art production technology and digitally networked processes. In the coming months, we will use the insights gained from the ramp-up to further refine the processes for series production and ensure a smooth series launch.”

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BMW i3 (4 Bilder)

There is a special feature at the Munich plant: until now, a team from the Munich plant, together with the team from the nearby pilot plant, assembled the first vehicles in the Research and Innovation Center. With the completion of the new production and logistics areas in the plant, the vehicles now go through all production steps within the plant. This means that logistics processes, production facilities, and work steps must run smoothly from now on. Even if the quantities are still small, all parts are provided in the intended material flows and processed on the line. This is intended to help identify errors and optimize processes. The 3 Series, and thus the brand's mid-size model, has been manufactured at the Munich plant since 1975.

Also available as a combustion engine

Based on the platform known from the iX3, the i3 and i3 Touring will be available with either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, and the familiar combustion engine variant of the 3 Series BMW will also remain in the offering. It will visually adapt to the new brand face of the new class. The power range of the BMW i3 will be between 184 and around 368 kW. However, the M version with all-wheel drive, following in 2027, will significantly exceed these performance figures and reach a top speed beyond 250 km/h. “The future model generation will set a hitherto unattained benchmark in the high-performance vehicle segment,” says Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH. “With the latest technology generation of the New Class, we are taking the BMW M driving experience to a completely new level and will also delight our customers in everyday life with outstanding track-ready driving dynamics.”

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BMW i3 Teil zwei (4 Bilder)

All battery-electric M models will have one electric motor per wheel and, thanks to wheel-individual slip control, will not only offer the most efficient propulsion but also superior driving dynamics with variable power distribution depending on the driving situation and road conditions, driver's wish, and selected driving mode, summarized as “Torque Vectoring.”

One thing all versions have in common with the original i3: the use of recycled materials and textile elements in the interior. In addition, BMW promises ample space for five people and the information concept with Panoramic iDrive, newly introduced with the iX3. This is a screen that extends across the entire width of the lower windshield and displays a wide variety of content to all occupants.

The i3 battery technology, like that of the iX3, features a modern 800-volt onboard power supply, which allows charging power to increase to 400 kW. Under favorable conditions, it is expected to enable up to 300 kilometers of charging in ten minutes. The maximum range of the BMW i3 with the approximately 110 kWh battery pack is expected to be up to 900 kilometers. The entry-level models will have a smaller battery, with a maximum range of around 600 kilometers.

(mki)