BMW plans to launch around 40 new models by the end of 2027 and convert the majority of its model range to the reborn Neue Klasse portfolio. Many of these vehicles are actually scheduled to hit the market next year, making 2026 one of the busiest years in the company’s history. Whether coupe, sedan or SUV, there is something for everyone. The icing on the cake will be the revival of a dormant ALPINA model.
BMW i3 NA0
In 2026, the i3 will return, but not in the form of the quirky city hatchback you know. This time the nameplate is used for a sedan. Although BMW sells a CLAR-based long-wheelbase i3 sedan in China, the upcoming model will be a completely new development.
The i3 is essentially a sedan version of the recently introduced iX3 “NA5” and is internally codenamed “NA0”. Everything you liked (and didn’t like) about the SUV should carry over to the three-box sedan. Thanks to the lower, more aerodynamic body, efficiency should improve even further. The iX3 is rated for up to 805 kilometers WLTP and 400 miles EPA, but the sedan with lower seat height is expected to exceed these figures.
Following its SUV sibling, the i3 will launch in 50 xDrive guise with a dual-motor setup that produces 463 hp and 475 lb-ft (645 Nm) of torque. Since the iX3 sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, the sedan could reduce this time to 4.7 and 4.8 seconds respectively thanks to a lower curb weight. Top speed should remain around 130 mph (210 km/h).
While the iX3 features vertical kidney grilles, the i3 will adopt a wide horizontal design that appears to merge with the headlights. Inside, you’ll find a streamlined, new-class cabin with a central touchscreen and the Panoramic Vision windshield projection adopted from the crossover. Production at the BMW plant in Munich is scheduled to begin in July 2026, with the official premiere expected in late spring or early summer.
3 Series G50
The 3 Series is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and will enter its eighth generation in 2026. Despite the camouflaged prototypes reminiscent of the i3, the two cars are not cut from the same cloth. Codenamed “G50,” the new 3 Series sticks with the CLAR platform, meaning it retains a longer front end to accommodate combustion engines.
In addition to the familiar four-cylinder petrol and diesel options, the in-line six-cylinder lives on. Renamed the M350, the M Performance variant retains all six cylinders and produces around 417 hp (versus today’s M340i). Rear-wheel drive may not return, as BMW could only offer the M350 with xDrive. A diesel-powered M340d successor seems unlikely as the X3 M40d has already been discontinued.
Inside, the petrol-powered 3 Series will be similar to the i3 and iX3 with a 17.9-inch central touchscreen. The Panoramic Vision system is also introduced, which features three fixed tiles in the driver’s field of vision and six configurable widgets on the right side. Unfortunately, the iDrive dial and most of the physical buttons disappear in the name of minimalism.
Production of the new 3 Series could be relocated from Munich to Dingolfing and begin in November 2026. Its public debut is likely to follow a few months after the i3. The next M3 (“G84”) will not go into production until July 2028.
7 Series G70 LCI
A larger sedan, the 7 Series, will also be refreshed in 2026. It receives a life cycle impulse instead of a complete overhaul of the new class. Spy shots confirm that the massive radiator grille and split headlights will remain. Expect subtle Neue Klasse-inspired touches, but not a radical exterior redesign.
Inside, the dashboard is completely redesigned to accommodate the latest iDrive. Like the 3 Series, the rotary controller is omitted in favor of a simplified layout. High-tech Panoramic Vision is expected, and there may even be an optional screen on the passenger side.
Production of the 7 Series facelift begins in July 2026.
ALPINA 7 Series G72
The revised 7 Series will be joined by the return of the ALPINA B7, possibly under a new name. The lineup will reportedly include three models: 740 xDrive, 760 xDrive and an all-electric i7 70 xDrive. Yes, a fully electric ALPINA is coming. No, the V12 engine is not returning.
The ALPINA model will have a different codename, “G72” instead of “G70,” suggesting extensive upgrades over its BMW counterpart. Expect design improvements, fancier materials and a more luxurious feel, positioning the model between a standard 7 Series and a Rolls-Royce Ghost.
Although the ALPINA 7 Series is scheduled to launch next year, it may not go on sale until 2027.
X5 G65
Given today’s enthusiasm for SUVs, it’s no surprise that the X5 is also being renewed. The fifth-generation X5 “G65” will be launched next year with six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines in 40 xDrive and 40d xDrive versions. The range will later expand to include plug-in hybrids, V8 models, a battery-powered iX5 and even a hydrogen version, due out in 2028. A high-performance X5 M “G95” is expected later this decade.
Spy shots show that the new X5 will adopt the Neue Klasse design language, complemented by a tech-heavy cabin similar to that of the iX3. The traditional instrument cluster will be phased out and replaced with the Panoramic Vision system and an optional 3D head-up display.
Unfortunately, one of the X5’s defining features may be disappearing: the split tailgate. Rumor has it that BMW will switch to a one-piece design for… Reasonsalthough that has not been confirmed.
Production begins in August 2026.
M2 xDrive G87
For purists, the M2 will receive a significant update in 2026. The compact coupe is expected to receive xDrive, expected to only be available with an automatic transmission. Expect 469 hp and at least 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque from the familiar 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six.
The AWD M2 will exist alongside the rear-wheel drive version, similar to how the M3 and M4 will be offered with or without xDrive. Of course, all-wheel drive costs extra; For reference, there is currently a $2,000 gap between the RWD and AWD models of the M440i.
The first M2 with all-wheel drive could roll off the assembly line in August 2026.
M2 rail package G87
BMW will also introduce a new Track Package for the M2. While this doesn’t turn the car into a CSL, it does add M Performance parts and possibly a few exclusive mechanical tweaks. The M2 Track package remains road legal, but it is unclear whether the upgrades will be available as retrofits to existing vehicles. A weight reduction has not been confirmed, but an increase in power is plausible as the M2 CS already produces 523 hp.
Elsewhere, we wouldn’t rule out another body model at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. After the sold-out Skytop and Speedtop, expectations are high for another ultra-exclusive project with an astronomical price tag.
While 2026 will bring a wave of new models, some nameplates will disappear. The X4, Z4 and 8 Series are nearing the end of their product line, with final deliveries expected next year.
