BMW confirms the i3 name for its next electric saloon from the Neue Klasse

During the company’s recent quarterly results conference, Oliver Zipse, the current Chief Executive of the Bavarian firm, confirmed what had already been an open secret. The next electric model of the Neue Klasse from BMW will be a saloon and its name will be i3. The eighth generation of the 3 Series will also incorporate a good part of the brand’s current technological innovations.

Production of the i3 will start at BMW’s plant in Munich during the second half of 2026, and will later extend to other production sites of the Bavarian manufacturer. Besides Munich, production of the i3 is also confirmed at the Mexican plant in San Luis Potosí, which will ensure efficient global distribution.

Internally known as NA0, this vehicle is the series production version of the Vision Neue Klasse concept presented at the 2023 IAA Mobility. As a low-profile saloon following the line of the 3 Series, the new i3 will use different cells from those integrated in the iX3, which has been in series production in Debrecen since late September. The Neue Klasse SUVs, being taller, use cylindrical cells 120 millimetres high, while lower models such as the i3 will use 95-millimetre cells, keeping the same 46-millimetre diameter.

Although the i3’s battery pack capacity will consequently be smaller, it will share the propulsion system with the iX3, and given its greater efficiency thanks to a better drag coefficient, we can expect a range similar to or even higher than that.

The Neue Klasse from BMW gets off to a strong start

During the event, Zipse expressed enthusiasm about the reception the iX3 is getting, especially in Europe, where orders have exceeded forecasts and extend well into 2026. This initial success has helped reinforce BMW’s confidence in the Neue Klasse.

The head of BMW has also highlighted that the technologies of the Neue Klasse will not be limited exclusively to this platform and will also be integrated into other models based on the CLAR architecture. In 2026, the Bavarian manufacturer will reveal how they will be applied to the 7 Series and the X5. The differences between the two platforms are notable: while the Neue Klasse has an 800V architecture, the CLAR platform runs at 400V. Moreover, the latter uses prismatic cells, whereas the Neue Klasse opts for a cell-to-pack design with cylindrical cells. That is why BMW’s engineers will have to make deep modifications to transfer some technological elements from one platform to the other.

By 2027, BMW plans to launch 40 new models or updates of existing ones, integrating technological elements and the design language of the Neue Klasse. The company thus aims to give a strong boost to its vehicle range, making it even more attractive with solutions adapted to each market.