2027 BMW i3 and i3 L

Article by Tobias Selerit

BMW Group: “Electric drives are a prerequisite for climate-neutral mobility in the future. /-/ The BMW Group is clearly committed to the Paris Climate Agreement. With our all-electric vehicles, we are making a decisive contribution to achieving the ambitious CO₂ reduction goals.”

The i3 name is not new to BMW. It was previously used for the pioneering i3 compact car sold from 2013 to 2022, and later for the electric 3 Series sedan produced exclusively for the Chinese market between 2022 and 2026.

The Neue Klasse BMW i3 L for Chinese-market has its wheelbase stretched and longer rear doors. While the extra length improves rear-seat space, enthusiasts prefer the shorter and lighter 3 Series BMW that has traditionally served as a sports-car alternative.

As can be seen from the photo, the Chinese version has regular door handles (China decided to ban retracting door handles for new cars from January 1, 2027).

For five decades, the BMW 3 Series has stood for hallmark BMW driving pleasure. The lightning-fast response of the electric motors further enhances this reputation.

A new standout feature is the Soft-Stop function—precise control of the electric motors ensures particularly smooth stopping.

In the performance-focused i350 xDrive (all-wheel-drive) variant, two motors produce 345 kW of combined output. Peak charging power reaches 400 kW!

Production of the Neue Klasse i3 in Europe spans several BMW factories. High-voltage batteries are manufactured at BMW’s plant in Irlbach-Strasskirchen, Germany, using rigorous zero-defect production. Electric motors come from BMW’s factory in Steyr, Austria.

The BMW Munich plant area, which previously produced internal combustion engines, was converted into an assembly area for the BMW i3 Neue Klasse—a symbolic shift from combustion power to BMW’s electric future.