- After months of teasers and snaps of the vehicle undergoing testing in camo wraps, BMW has unveiled the new BMW i3 in full.
- While the previous BMW i3 was a small electric hatchback, the i3 model name has now been designated as BMW’s all-electric mid-sized saloon, existing alongside the ICE-powered 3 Series.
- The i3 is the second BMW EV to be revealed under the highly energy efficient ‘Neue Klasse’ platform, following the BMW iX3 electric SUV.
2026 BMW i3 revealed in full
BMW has fully revealed its latest i3, with production commencing in August 2026 and the first deliveries to customers coming later in 2026. The new BMW i3 will compete with a number of electric saloons already on the market, including the Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2, and BYD Seal.
The BMW i3 is the second EV from the manufacturer to be released on its Neue Klasse platform, following the latest BMW iX3. This 800-volt architecture will allow the i3 to charge at speeds of up to 400kW, allowing up to 250 miles of range to be added in 10 minutes. We’ve already seen how the Neue Klasse platform brought new levels of efficient to the iX3, and for the i3, it’s no different. Perhaps the most impressive figure of this car is the claimed range of up to 559 miles on the WLTP cycle. That far eclipses any of its current rivals, and even matches or beats that offered on some specifications of the combustion engined 3 series.
This car is likely to be a popular option with company buyers, whose employees rack up the motorway miles everyday. Considering the i3’s rapid charging capabilities and claimed range of well over 500 miles, this car’s impressive range and charging abilities have clearly been designed with those customers in mind.
BMW has also taken big strides in sustainability for this new model. With a focus on decarbonisation across the entire life cycle of the vehicle, BMW believe the new model can have an overall carbon footprint of an equivalent ICE-engined model after just one or two years of ownership.
UK pricing is yet to be revealed, with confirmation on that expected later this year. See more photos of the new BMW i3, below:
