BMW has officially unveiled the all-new i3 saloon, a game-changer for the fleet market boasting a class-leading 900km range.

The second model in the Bavarian brand’s ‘Neue Klasse’ (New Class) line-up following the larger iX3 SUV (see our road test here), the i3 signals a radical shift for the company’s most iconic nameplate.

The i3 represents the most significant pivot in BMW’s century-long history. As the carmaker says, the 3 Series is “the very essence” of the BMW brand and “for five decades, has stood for consistent progress, distinctive design and sheer driving pleasure”.

The new all-electric BMW i3 builds upon this legacy while “taking a technological quantum leap into a new era”.

Built on the Neue Klasse platform and initially available in saloon form, it will be joined a few months later by the Touring estate variant. Existing petrol 3 Series models will remain on sale and will receive a significant refresh later this year to align them with the new i3 in terms of design and tech, using a heavily updated version of the existing CLAR platform.

The headline figure for the new i3, whose name draws on the electric hatchback produced by BMW until 2022, is a massive 900km (some 559 miles) range on a single charge. This jump in efficiency is attributed to BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive technology, which teams highly efficient electric motors, 800V technology and new high-voltage batteries with energy-dense cylindrical cells.

First to arrive will be the 50 xDrive model variant, which is powered by two electric motors which drive the front and rear axle to develop a combined system output of 469hp and 645Nm of torque.

Alongside its impressive range, the BMW i3 can be charged at speeds of up to 400kW at an 800V DC charging station to drastically reduce charging times, giving up to 400km (248 miles) in 10 minutes.

BMW also promises to deliver the “class-leading driving dynamics that the 3 Series is renowned for”.

Styling ensures the i3 is instantly recognisable as a 3 Series, but with a modern interpretation of hallmark BMW Saloon design with its new “2.5-box” silhouette and “shark-nose” front end. The iconic kidney grille has been reimagined as a horizontal digital element that merges with the headlights. To improve aerodynamics, the car features a completely smooth underbody and retractable flush-mounted door handles.

Inside, there is an “immediate sense of space”, BMW tells us, which is the result of the i3’s purpose-built all-electric architecture. The cockpit is optimised around the driver. Spanning the entire width of the windscreen is the BMW Panoramic iDrive; a next-generation, driver-focused interface already seen in the iX3. It teams up the BMW Panoramic Vision display, the optional BMW 3D Head-Up Display, the driver-orientated Central Display and the new multi-function steering wheel.

Eco materials are used for the upholstery. The seats are upholstered in ‘Econeer’, a textile made from 100% recycled polyester that supports BMW’s push on sustainability.

The carmaker claims that within just two years of use, the i3 will have a lower total carbon footprint than a comparable petrol or diesel model due to a focus on decarbonisation along the entire life cycle – from product development, supply chain to production and use phase.

At the heart of the new vehicle architecture are four superbrain high-performance computers. Each is assigned a core function in the new BMW i3: The Heart of Joy primarily manages driving dynamics, while separate computers are dedicated to automated driving and parking, infotainment, and essential and comfort functions like vehicle access and climate control. They offer up to 20 times higher computing power compared to previous BMW models

Production of the i3 will begin at the modernised Munich plant in August 2026, with UK deliveries slated for autumn. Production of the heavily revised 3 Series combustion models is expected to move to other global sites such as Mexico.

Prices are yet to be announced. Various trims will be available from launch, including the popular M Sport package following its success within the UK market.