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BMW i3 is coming: BMW starts an entirely new chapter on 18 March
BMW is making itself heard again.
With a short teaser – “Sharper, smarter and more thrilling than ever” – the brand officially announces that a new era begins on 18 March 2026. The model set to open that era: the new BMW i3 on the Neue Klasse platform.
Not to be confused with the old i3 city car from 2013. This new i3 will be a fully electric sedan aimed directly at the heart of the premium segment. And perhaps more importantly: it will be the first genuine production BMW of the Neue Klasse generation.
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The rebirth of a name
The name i3 returns, but the philosophy changes completely. The original BMW i3 was a radical city car with a carbon structure and a futuristic look. Technologically advanced, but commercially never a volume model.
The new i3 will be the opposite:
a full-fledged electric sedan whose positioning sits close to the BMW 3 Series. In other words: this is BMW's attempt to define the electric 3 Series.
Neue Klasse: more than a platform
The Neue Klasse platform forms the basis of BMW's next generation of electric models. Key characteristics:
entirely new EV platform
800-volt architecture
fast-charging capability of up to approximately 400 kW
new battery generation with higher energy density
BMW itself speaks of a range between 600 and 800 kilometres depending on the version. That would immediately make the new i3 competitive with the newest premium EVs.
Heart of Joy: BMW wants to reclaim driving pleasure
What is particularly interesting is the new “Heart of Joy” system. This is BMW's central software and control architecture that jointly manages propulsion, regeneration, braking and stability control. The goal is clear: to make electric cars feel like genuine BMWs again.
In other words: not just efficient, but also dynamic. For a brand that built its reputation on driving experience, that is crucial.
Production in Munich
The new i3 will be built at the historic BMW factory in Munich.
That factory is currently being completely converted into a dedicated EV production site. That perfectly symbolises what Neue Klasse actually means: a structural shift within BMW. Not just an electric model, but a new industrial strategy.
Design: radical simplicity
Although the final production version has not yet been officially revealed, we already know the design will be strongly inspired by the Vision Neue Klasse concept car. That means:
minimalist lines
large surfaces
a more modern interpretation of the iconic BMW grille
a strongly digitalised interior
BMW itself speaks of “radical simplicity”.
AutoNext Take: this will be BMW's most important car of the decade
Let us be honest. The iX and i4 were important steps, but they were essentially electric variants of existing models. The Neue Klasse i3 is something else.
If this car succeeds, BMW has a new foundation for the next ten years. If it fails, the brand faces a serious strategic problem. Personally, we think BMW is arriving at the right moment here. The market is shifting from experimental EVs towards mature electric sedans with long range and fast charging times.
And if BMW succeeds in putting driving pleasure back at the centre, this model could well become the electric reference point of the segment. 18 March will therefore be no ordinary product presentation. It will be a test of BMW's future.
