The second Neue Klasse BMW is official in the i3 50 xDrive
It’s finally here, and it’s quite a fitting time for BMW to introduce the newest generation of the evergreen 3-Series that has been around for 50 years. Being the second model in the Neue Klasse, the NA0-generation i3 50 xDrive is the most significant change to the model as it’s fully electric.
It measures 4,760mm long, 1,865mm wide, and 1,480mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,897mm. The classic 2.5-box design features short overhangs, large wheel arches, flush-mount door handles, closed smooth underchassis, and 21-inch M Aerodynamic Wheels, all in the name of aerodynamic efficiency.
That and the sixth-generation BMW eDrive powertrain, an 800V architecture with up to 900km of range on a single charge, 400kW charging that adds up to 400km in 10 minutes, and it’s also capable of Vehicle-To-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-To-Grid (V2G) functionality, too.
The battery capacity of the new round prismatic cells hasn’t been mentioned yet, but a healthy power output of 469 horsepower and 645Nm of torque, dual-motor all-wheel drive, and the Heart of Joy control system should make this EV drive unlike anything else.
Of course, the Neue Klasse design looks very distinct, calling back to older BMWs. The Long BMW radiator grille, integrated quad headlights, and the Iconic Glow grille make it a gorgeous, proportionate front versus the massive grilles of other modern BMWs, and it’s reflected in the back with two individual L-shaped taillights that aren’t a light bar, but the BMW emblem is found in the middle of the simple rear end.
The interior uses the same design first seen in the iX3, with a “floating” display for your essential information below the windshield called the Panoramic Vision Display with an optional 3D heads-up display, a funky two-spoke steering wheel, and interesting ambient lighting elements across the leather-upholstered interior.
Everything else is controlled by the huge 17.9-inch infotainment that runs on BMW’s latest iDrive system and Operating System X, and features the usual slew of functionality like smartphone mirroring, an AI assistant, and Level 2 advanced driver assistance system, to name a few.
This 3-Series will be made in BMW Group Plant Munich, with production to commence in August 2026, and deliveries to start later this year. Just like the iX3, we’re seeing BMW go all-in with electrification with its new models, but we can guess that BMW will never let the ICE-powered 3-Series fizzle out, especially considering how important the M3 is to the automaker.
Photos from BMW
