BMW is preparing to launch a new generation of models, which it hopefully called "Neue Klasse" as a shout-out to the models that saved the company in the 1960s. The BMW Vision Neue Klasse was the first concept of the series, and it was stylistically shocking. More than a year later, we snapped the first prototype, and its design appears to have been toned down significantly, maybe a tad more than we expected.
When BMW unveiled the Vision Neue Klasse concept in September 2023, everyone was shocked by the radical design change it introduced. The German carmaker got the message because the Vision Neue Klasse X, which previewed the successor to the iX3, featured a more conservative design. However, if we're to infer from the first sighting of the upcoming "Neue Klasse" sedan prototype, BMW will finally settle for a much blander style for the 2026 i3.
This is actually expected for the Dreier, considering that it has a huge customer base with a shallow appetite for radical changes. BMW has to tread carefully because of fears it might alienate its most loyal customers. However, the prototype we've encountered around Nürburgring pushes conservatism a little too far, making it hard to tell if this is a future 3 Series sedan or a Toyota Corolla.
Unless BMW hid all the quirkiness of the Vision Neue Klasse concept under the camouflage wrap, the prototype shows a fairly conventional three-volume shape with rounded lines and a toned-down shark face slash kidney grille. This doesn't stray far from the BMW iX3 Neue Klasse prototypes we spotted last winter. Digital artists had better throw away all their renderings based on the Vision Neue Klasse concept because the production i3 sedan will look nothing like it.
It's too early to draw conclusions based on this first sighting, considering that the prototype features placeholder lights and an almost air-tight camouflage. However, it is clearly not a mule, as it features production body panels, while the greenhouse appears less generous than the original concept. It's fair to assume that BMW still needs to iron out software bugs because our prototype needed a power jolt after apparently running out of charge on the low-voltage battery.
The 2026 BMW i3 (codenamed NA0) is expected to debut next year with an 800-volt architecture featuring cylindrical cells with a 46 mm diameter. These could be similar to the 4695 cells that LGES supplies to Rivian, but previous rumors indicated that they might be provided by Samsung SDI. The bigger round cells promise a 20% higher energy density by volume compared to the prismatic cells used in current BMW electric vehicles.
The iX3 crossover, codenamed NA5, will be the first Neue Klasse model to start production in Hungary. The i3 sedan will follow later, possibly in 2026, with rumors indicating that BMW will also bring back the Touring station wagon. BMW will reportedly make way for it at its Munich assembly plant, where the current 3 Series and the i4 are built.
After his childhood dream of becoming a "tractor operator" didn't pan out, Cristian turned to journalism, first in print and later moving to online media. His top interests are electric vehicles and new energy solutions. Full profile
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