We talked about the i3 for a long time, but the funny thing is that BMW has never confirmed the name. That changed before the moments when CEO Oliver Zipse did just that on stage during the world premiere of the IX3. The electrical crossover shared the limelight with the siblings of the sedan, which was still disguised because it only made his debut later in 2026.
The boss of BMW did not agree much detail about the i3 sedan, but he confirmed that it would arrive before the next generation 3. Both belong to the reborn new class line -up, and espionage recordings indicate that they look almost identical. Internally, the fully electrical limousine is known as “NA0”, while the combustion engine version bears the code name “G50”.
We only hear from the two that the i3 will produce a touring version called “Na1”. This means that there may be no other gas-powered 3-series car, although previous reports on a long roof “G51” indicate the Audi A5 Avant and Mercedes C Class estate.
While the i3 badge of a limousine may seem unusual in view of its context with the quirky flow rear, there are precedents. BMW still sells an i3 sedan in China, which is assembled locally and is based on the 3-series long-wheel base. This lasted “G28” on the same Clar platform as the regular “G20”. The outgoing model is probably replaced by a longer i3 based on the NEE class platform. After all, BMW has already annoyed an extended IX3 for China, which is to be released in the summer of 2026.
And this is only the beginning of the BMW product offensive. Zipse promised more than 40 new or updated models by the end of 2027. The highlights include the X5 and X7 of the next generation, with both win electrical versions for the first time. Spy photos also show facelifts for the 7 Series and 5 in development, so that the next few years will be full of debuts.
