The BMW i3 is never really gone. When the quirky hatchback was phased out in 2022, the name lived on in China as a long-wheelbase 3 Series electric sedan. In 2026, the moniker will be repurposed for another 3 Series, but it will be a completely different car. The CLAR underpinnings will be gone, replaced by the Neue Klasse platform developed with the iX3. Until the new i3 breaks cover, a new rendering attempts to strip away the camouflage of the most recently discovered prototypes. The digital exercise builds on these test vehicles and is therefore more than just a coincidence. However, don’t expect the real offer to be a copy. After all, it remains an unofficial styling exercise ahead of its 2026 debut.
The next i3, codenamed “NA0,” will be the first sedan to adopt the new design language introduced on the 2026 iX3. Similar to the “NA5” crossover, BMW wants to soften the creases and angles. We can (probably) Everyone agrees that a return to cleaner surfaces would be a welcome change after years of intensive design work.
However, we’re still not sure what to think about the taillights. Honestly, we weren’t big fans of the 2023 Vision Neue Klasse concept’s taillights. They’re less intrusive on this speculative i3 sedan, mirroring what spy shots have shown. The L-shaped motif is more clearly visible in the illustration and reflects the test cars. We prefer this to the concept’s distinctive taillights, which frankly drew too much attention.
The front design is an open secret. BMW has already stated that cars will have horizontal kidneys, while crossovers will get the iX3’s vertical layout. It’s a fresh look that should suit the i3 and therefore the next 3 Series. Although they ride on different platforms, the two cars will share a lot of their looks.
E30 3 Series vibes
We like to think of the i3 and the next-generation “G50” 3 Series as the “E30” for our generation. They are evolving into clean-looking three-box sedans with an aggressive appearance. Even the regular versions of the electric and petrol sedans will have a sporty presence, giving the M Performance and full M models the potential to look even better.
The 3 Series and i3 will be the first sedans to fully adopt the New Class design. BMW will apply the new design language to 40 models by the end of 2027. However, this is more than just an exterior makeover, as the cabins of almost the entire model range will change dramatically in just a few years. We can already imagine the iX3’s dashboard with a central touchscreen and the pillar-to-pillar panoramic vision windshield projection that has been adapted for the majority of the portfolio.
Renderings: Futurecarsnow / Instagram
