The King is Back (and It's Electric): Everything You Need to Know About the New BMW i3 "Neue Klasse"

Few names in the automotive industry carry such a great responsibility on their shoulders as the BMW 3 Series. From 1975 until today, this model has been the benchmark for the sports sedan, currently representing around 30% of the Bavarian manufacturer's global sales.

But times are changing, and after half a century of internal combustion engine supremacy, the 3 Series is taking the biggest technological leap in its history. Say “Welcome!” to the new BMW i3, the first fully electric 3 Series for the European market and the second member of the revolutionary Neue Klasse family.

Design: A tribute to the E21 "shark" in futuristic packaging

The new i3 is not just a “3 Series with batteries”, but a radical reinterpretation of BMW’s philosophy. Built on a 2.5-volume architecture, the i3 takes advantage of the electric platform to push the wheels to the extremities, resulting in short overhangs and a generous 2,897 mm wheelbase.

• Iconic Grill: Forget the giant vertical “kidneys.” The i3 relies on a horizontal light signature that integrates the headlights and grille into a single technological panel.
• The "Sharknose" spirit: The front end subtly tilted towards the road is a direct reference to the legendary E21 (the first 3 Series), offering that aggressive look that established the brand.
• Extreme aerodynamics: The door handles are retractable and the 21-inch wheels are optimized to cut through the air with minimal resistance.

Interior: Goodbye, dashboard dials!

If the exterior seems bold to you, the interior is downright revolutionary. BMW decided to eliminate the conventional dashboard.

• BMW Panoramic Vision: Essential information is projected across the entire width of the lower part of the windscreen.
• Trapezoidal Central Display: A 17.9-inch screen, strategically angled towards the driver, rules the center of the dashboard.
• Steering wheel with “smart buttons”: The buttons only appear when you need them. Want to park? The button lights up. Have you exceeded 30 km/h? It discreetly disappears.

Sustainable materials like Econeer and Veganza eco-leather confirm that luxury in 2026 no longer necessarily means exhaustible resources.

"Heart of Joy": The Brain Behind Adrenaline

BMW describes the new i3 as a “Software Defined Vehicle.” The car is driven by four supercomputers, the most important of which is the Heart of Joy. It has 20 times more processing power than previous systems, managing driving dynamics with millimeter precision.

The Soft-Stop system is worth mentioning: thanks to the ultra-fast control of the electric motors, the car stops smoothly, without any jerks, transforming city driving from an ordeal into a relaxing experience.

Performances that give the competition food for thought

The launch version, the i3 50 xDrive, puts on the table figures that until recently were reserved for high-performance models:

• Power: 469 hp and 645 Nm of torque.
• Autonomy: Up to 900 kilometers (WLTP), a figure that should definitively eliminate "range anxiety".
• Ultra-fast charging: The 800V architecture allows for charging up to 400 kW. In real terms, you get 400 km of range in just 10 minutes at a fast charging station.

Did you know? The new i3 has a “smart charging flap.” Using AI, the car detects when you approach a known charging station and automatically opens the charging port before you get out of the car.

Availability and Price: When will it arrive in Romania and how much will it cost?

For fans of the brand in Romania, the wait is almost over. Series production of the new BMW i3 will officially begin in August 2026, at the parent plant in Munich. This location was not chosen by chance: the factory is undergoing a historic transformation, and from 2027 it will produce exclusively electric models from the Neue Klasse family, thus marking the end of an era for combustion engines assembled in the heart of Bavaria.

The first examples will arrive in European showrooms and to the first customers in the fall of this year (2026). Romania is on the list of priority markets, given the growing success of the i4 and iX3 models in our country.

Price estimate for the Romanian market. Although the official price list for Romania has not yet been published, we can make a substantiated estimate based on the positioning of the new iX3 and the competitive context:

• Launch version (i3 50 xDrive): Considering that its bigger brother, the iX3 50 xDrive (which shares the same platform), has a starting price in Romania of approximately 65,461 Euros (VAT included), it is expected that the new i3 will be positioned slightly below this threshold.
• Estimated price i3 50 xDrive: We estimate a starting price between 61,000 and 63,500 Euros.
• Later versions: BMW will probably also launch rear-wheel drive (eDrive) variants, which could lower the entry price of the i3 range to the 53,000 - 55,000 Euro threshold.

Through the Rabla Plus program, the final price could be significantly reduced, depending on the value of the eco-ticket available at the time of purchase in 2026.

Our verdict

The BMW i3 not only retains the sporty DNA of the 3 Series, but propels it into an era where software is as important as the chassis. Produced at the historic Munich plant, this model proves that the electric future doesn't have to be boring.