Tesla Model 3 Watch: BMW’s 2027 i3 Breaks Cover as i4 Exit Looms
tesla model 3 shoppers now have a fresh rival to track as BMW pulls the curtain back on the upcoming 2027 BMW i3 electric sedan. The shift accelerated this week, with BMW preparing to bring the new i3 to market by the end of this year while moving to discontinue the i4 Gran Coupe after the 2026 model year. The i3 rollout also comes with major production and market-timing signals for Europe and the United States, as outlined by BMW and company spokesperson comments relayed through official confirmation.
BMW’s new i3 arrives as a “Neue Klasse” sedan with major hardware claims
BMW describes the 2027 BMW i3 as a “Neue Klasse” or New Class car, tied directly to the brand’s new design language. The vehicle is a battery-powered sedan sized about like the regular BMW 3-series, featuring a long wheelbase and short overhangs, and it shares its platform with the BMW iX3 SUV.
On design, BMW’s front end reworks familiar cues: a twin-kidney graphic and four-element headlights. At the rear, the taillights stretch so far that they nearly lose BMW’s characteristic “L” shape. One featured configuration is the dual-motor all-wheel-drive i3 M50 at 463 horsepower, and BMW has also indicated a single-motor version will be offered.
BMW has positioned the i3’s electrical foundation as a key step forward. Like the iX3, the i3 uses an 800-volt electrical architecture. BMW has said the Neue Klasse EVs deliver up to 30% more driving range and 30% faster charging compared to the current i4, and it has described the i3 as offering “significantly longer ranges” and “even faster charging. ”
Tesla Model 3 comparisons sharpen as BMW confirms i4 is nearing the end
For drivers cross-shopping the midsize electric sedan space, the competitive set is being reshuffled quickly. A BMW spokesperson confirmed that the 2026 model year will be the last for the i4, as BMW prepares to overhaul its EV lineup over the next few months and make room for the new i3.
BMW has also outlined performance and charging targets that elevate expectations for the segment. The company has stated an estimated driving range of up to 440 miles for the new i3, and under WLTP conditions it can reach up to 900 km (559 miles). BMW has also said the i3 supports up to 400 kW DC fast charging, with the capability to regain nearly 250 miles (440 km) of range in about 10 minutes.
Pricing has not been revealed for the i3. BMW’s iX3 50 xDrive has been listed with an MSRP of around $60, 000, and the i3 has been framed as potentially starting around $50, 000 to $55, 000, though that figure has not been announced as final pricing. For reference inside BMW’s own lineup, the 2026 i4 eDrive40 has been priced from $57, 900.
Immediate reactions and confirmations from BMW leadership
The most consequential on-the-record confirmation in this shift is the i4 end date. A BMW spokesperson confirmed that the 2026 model year will be the final run for the i4 Gran Coupe, clearing runway for the i3 to take its place in the lineup.
On future expansion beyond the i3, BMW has kept the door open without locking in specifics. BMW’s Senior Vice President of Product Management (BMW) said there could be room in the lineup for a sportier, more coupe-like i4 in the future, but no additional details were provided.
Quick context: production starts in Munich, Mexico follows in 2028
BMW has said i3 production is set to begin at its Munich plant this summer, with deliveries scheduled for the autumn. Separately, BMW’s production planning indicates the i3 will also be produced in Mexico starting in 2028, after the iX3 begins production there in 2027.
What’s next for tesla model 3 shoppers tracking the BMW i3 timeline
Next developments will hinge on rollout timing, pricing, and market availability. BMW has signaled that deliveries in Europe begin this fall, while the U. S. launch of the i3 is not happening until 2027, with U. S. -bound sedans expected to come from Munich for now. For tesla model 3 buyers watching the EV sedan field in real time, the near-term tells will be BMW’s final i3 pricing, the pace of i4 wind-down, and how quickly production capacity expands from Munich to Mexico once the 2028 start date arrives.
