BMW showed a sneak peek of the production-spec i3 when the iX3 SUV came out. The i3’s headlights and kidney grille are in a strip that goes across the front of the car. The i3 will adopt the same Neue Klasse design language used on the iX3. The i3, which will come out next year, will have a similar engine to the iX3. Today, BMW revealed the iX3, an electric SUV showcasing the Neue Klasse design language and a new build that offers faster charging and an extended driving range. The Neue Klasse style will soon be available on more models, including an electric car. This is true even though the new shape was first seen on a small SUV. When BMW unveiled the iX3, it teased the vehicle with a disguised prototype and announced it would be called the “i3.” This is the first BMW to bear the “i3” name since the original compact i3 hatchback, the company’s first mass-produced electric vehicle, sold between 2014 and 2021. The logo will now be featured on a small car that resembles BMW’s famous and long-running 3-series, but will run on electricity. BMW will still sell the 3-series with fuel engines, along with the i3. The fuel-sipper will likely be updated over the next few years to make it more similar to the electric version. BMW didn’t say much about the i3, but the prototype’s front end looks a lot like the iX3 SUV’s. The headlights are set within a band that also features a smaller and thinner version of the company’s signature kidney grille. Based on the 50 xDrive specifications, the iX3 and i3 are likely to use the same engine. This means that it can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, thanks to its two electric motors that make 463 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque. The EPA says that the 109-kWh battery will be able to power a vehicle for about 400 miles. BMW says that it can add about 231 miles of range in 10 minutes with a peak charge power of 400 kW. BMW plans to release more models after the i3, including a high-performance iM3. The i3 is slated to go on sale at the end of 2026, with the iM3 expected to launch in 2027. The i3 is anticipated to debut sometime next year.
