The new BMW 3 Series 2026 is here — and for the first time in the nameplate's five-decade history, it comes as a fully electric car. BMW has revealed the eighth-generation 3 Series (G50), headlined by the all-electric BMW i3 on the Neue Klasse platform with up to 912 km of WLTP range, 400 kW DC fast charging, and a radical Panoramic iDrive cabin. Orders opened on September 30, 2026.
BMW i3 Electric: 912km Range, 400kW Charging
The star of the reveal is the new BMW i3, the second Neue Klasse model after the iX3 SUV. It launches in two dual-motor all-wheel-drive variants: the i3 40 xDrive (275 kW / 374 hp, 82.8 kWh battery, up to 710 km WLTP) and the i3 50 xDrive (345 kW / 469 hp, 645 Nm, 0–100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, 108.7 kWh battery, up to 912 km WLTP).
An 800-volt architecture unlocks DC charging at up to 400 kW, adding up to 423 km of range in 10 minutes — effectively ending range anxiety for executive-sedan buyers. BMW's new "Heart of Joy" central computer processes dynamics inputs ten times faster than previous architectures, unifying power delivery, braking, and stability control. Series production began in August at BMW's Munich plant, with first deliveries this autumn.
German pricing starts at €59,900 for the i3 40 xDrive and €65,900 for the i3 50 xDrive, according to BMW's September 2026 media information.
Petrol Still Lives: 443hp M350 xDrive
BMW isn't forcing buyers to go electric. The combustion range rides on a heavily updated CLAR-based platform with 48-volt mild-hybrid four- and six-cylinder engines. The flagship M350 xDrive packs a 3.0-litre inline-six TwinPower Turbo producing 326 kW (443 hp), sprinting 0–100 km/h in 4.1 seconds on the way to an electronically limited 250 km/h top speed.
It also introduces Drift Moment, a mode that decouples the front axle to send 100 percent of torque to the rear wheels — pure rear-drive dynamics previously reserved for full M models. German prices start at €80,900 for the M350 xDrive, €54,900 for the BMW 320 and €49,900 for the BMW 318. A plug-in hybrid joins the lineup in 2027, and combustion models will be built at BMW's Dingolfing plant from November 2026.
Panoramic iDrive and New Design
Inside, BMW Panoramic iDrive replaces the traditional instrument cluster with information projected across the base of the windshield, joined by a large 17.9-inch central touchscreen running BMW Operating System X. The architecture supports continuous over-the-air software updates, and the Intelligent Personal Assistant will gain Amazon Alexa+ AI. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.
Driver assistance steps up too: Level 2 systems include a Motorway Assistant enabling hands-free driving up to 130 km/h in supported markets, with navigation-guided partially automated urban driving planned from 2027. Externally, the 4760mm-long sedan wears a minimalist Neue Klasse front end with slim lighting and a horizontal kidney grille.
Watch: New BMW 3 Series Reveal
Watch the all-new BMW 3 Series first look comparing the electric i3 50 xDrive and petrol M350 side by side — a walkaround of both versions' exteriors and interiors, highlighting what sets the Neue Klasse siblings apart.
The takeaway: the 2026 3 Series is BMW's bridge strategy made real — best-in-class electric range for early adopters and a 443hp inline-six for traditionalists, both wrapped in Neue Klasse technology.
Sources
- New BMW 3 Series 2026 Debuts With BMW i3 EV, M350 xDrive — Drive Around the Globe
- BMW launches new 3 Series: i3 shines with 900 km+ range — New Mobility
- New Three unveiled and soon en route — Motoring NZ