The BMW i3 takes a radical turn for 2026. It abandons its urban format to become a generously sized electric sedan, positioning itself in the D-segment. Under a completely new design from the Neue Klasse language, this evolution keeps only the name. With an announced range of around 900 km and a dedicated electric platform, it seeks to rival established electric sedans.
The technical base: Neue Klasse and energy density 🔋
The project is based on the Neue Klasse electric architecture. It employs cylindrical format batteries that increase energy density, a key factor to achieve its range without excessively increasing weight. The propulsion system uses BMW's sixth-generation motors, with integrated electronics that reduce the use of rare earths. The platform also allows for ultra-fast charging.
The i3 that your grandfather wouldn't recognize even with a manual 😲
Saying that this car is a simple update of the original i3 is like claiming that an ocean liner is an improved canoe. From the cute city car with rear-hinged doors and vegetable fiber, we have moved to a sedan that seems to have come from a space mission. Former owners expecting a direct successor will be left staring at this vehicle, wondering at what point the i3 went from parking in impossible spaces to needing a blind spot sensor for the rear moon.