BMW's i3 Sedan Kicks Off the Neue Klasse Era

BMW's Neue Klasse name carries real weight in the brand's history, and reviving it for an all-new electric platform is a statement of intent. The i3 sedan is the first model to wear it.

The i3 sedan is the opening move in what's shaping up to be BMW's biggest product offensive in years, with seven new models arriving across 2026. It's the first electric sedan built on the reborn Neue Klasse lineup, and BMW is promising up to 440 miles on a single charge.

That range figure sits alongside a WLTP rating of up to 900 kilometres for European markets, BMW's more generous local test cycle. Power comes from a dual-motor xDrive layout producing 463 horsepower and 645 Nm of torque, and BMW says the sixth-generation battery, built around new round cells, supports up to 400 kilowatts of DC fast charging, enough to add around 400 kilometres of range in about ten minutes. The car is built at BMW's Munich plant, with production starting in August 2026 ahead of European customer deliveries beginning that same northern autumn.

Spec callout: Up to 440 miles of range (900km WLTP), first model on the new Neue Klasse platform, 463hp dual-motor xDrive, 400kW fast charging.

Inside, the i3 introduces BMW's iDrive X system alongside a 17.9-inch central touchscreen tilted slightly toward the driver. The most striking change sits ahead of the driver, where a conventional instrument cluster is replaced by what BMW calls Panoramic Vision, a projection that spans the width of the windscreen from pillar to pillar. The car rides on 21-inch wheels made from up to 70 percent recycled aluminium, and buyers can option a 3D head-up display alongside the standard setup.

The i3 is just the opener. BMW's 2026 lineup also includes a first-ever iX4, updated M2 xDrive variants, and a new 7 Series sedan, spanning everything from compact performance coupes to full-size luxury. It's a rare moment where a single brand is refreshing nearly its entire range in one calendar year.

BMW has opened order books in Europe, where the launch First Edition is priced from 75,340 euros, with a 65,900-euro base model following once the car officially launches later in 2026. Australian pricing has not been announced. Local reports point to an early-2027 Australian arrival, starting with the dual-motor i3 50 xDrive, with a cheaper single-motor variant expected to follow, but BMW Australia has not confirmed specification or pricing for either.

BMW finished 2025 just short of its all-time sales record, and this product offensive reads like a bid to close that gap for good. The Neue Klasse name hasn't been used lightly, and the i3 sedan suggests BMW knows exactly what's riding on it.