BMW Unveils the 2027 3 Series With a Long Range Electric i3 Beside It

BMW used September 29 to put its eighth-generation 3 Series in public view, gas and electric versions arriving on the same day with nearly the same face. This is the G50, the first 3 Series shaped by the Neue Klasse look, and the first time the name i3 has been hung on a fully electric version of the brand’s main sedan. Orders for the electric cars opened early, and the automaker says demand has already been strong enough to shape the production ramp.

Kidneys and headlights have been combined into a single unit, low-slung and providing a light strip across the front of the car, a subtle tribute to vintage BMWs without explicitly imitating them. The door handles remain flush against the automobile until it is unlocked, after which they stretch out on their own. The glass rests further back over the flared arches, and a character line reduces the apparent weight, while the rear lights spread wide, making the car appear even broader than the previous model. The M Performance models will feature yellow daytime running lights. The basic Gas versions will have 18- to 20-inch wheels. This vehicle is 4,765 mm (187.6 inches) long, 1,850 mm wide, 1,455 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,860 mm (or 112.6 inches). The launch colors will be M Le Castellet Blue, with other individual finishes expected in 2027.

Gas cars still use an improved CLAR platform, and the floor structure differs from electric models. US purchasers will begin with the 330i, which has a 255hp, 295lb-ft 2.0L turbo four and is rated at 5.9 seconds to 60 mph. Europe will also receive a 154-hp 318 and a 208-hp 320. The M Performance M350 xDrive is powered by a 3.0L straight six that produces 326kw of power, which is approximately 443 metric horses for those who do not count in watts, or nearly 437 horsepower for those in the United States. They also feature a 48-volt mild hybrid and an eight-speed automatic. The torque is 580 Nm, and BMW claims a 3.9-second acceleration to 60 mph and a top speed of 155 mph. The M350 xDrive comes standard with adaptive M dampers and an electronically controlled limited slip differential. Drift Mode, which can be engaged from the center screen, allows the car to deliver power only to the back wheels, allowing you to slide. A manual is not planned, and a plug-in hybrid is expected within the next year or two.

Electric versions are based on the Neue Klasse platform and feature sixth-generation motors, an 800-volt kit, cylindrical battery cells, and bidirectional charging. Both launch variants feature all-wheel drive, with one motor per axle. The i3 50 xDrive produces 345kW (469hp) and 645Nm from a 108.7kwh pack, with a WLTP range of 912km. They claim that if you have a charger capable of handling up to 400kw, it can add 423km in just 10 minutes. The i3 40 xDrive produces 275 kW (374hp) from an 82.8kwh battery and travels 710km WLTP. Then there’s an i3 M60 xDrive coming in 2027. The rear floor is lovely and flat; the front boot is only 31 liters, but cargo space is 419 liters, and the back bench splits 40:20:40, same as the gas sedan.

Cabin hardware is shared between models, as seen by a 17.9-inch screen perched on the dashboard, angled in toward the driver; gone is that irritating rotary knob, and to be honest, much of the previous switchgear has vanished from the dashboard. The Panoramic Vision system projects a thin band of tiles down at the base of the windshield, some of which remain fixed and others that can be moved around, and it also includes an optional 3D heads-up display slightly above that. The Operating System X is based on Android, so expect it to be upgraded over the air at some time, and it will also include Amazon Alexa support…albeit in the second half of 2026. You can expect to be able to cruise hands-free on highways at speeds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph) in 21 countries by the end of that year, with city driving with assisted navigation coming in 2027. One thing to note about electric vehicles is that a computer system called BMW’s Heart of Joy connects all of the powertrain and chassis systems and appears to run ten times faster than the previous unit.

Production of the i3 begins in Munich, which is also expected to become a 100% electric Neue Klasse facility by 2027. However, automobiles with petrol engines are coming from Dingolfing, where production is set to begin in November 2026. In the United States, these models will be available for purchase beginning in the first half of 2027. Early whispers about prices, including delivery fees, indicate that the 330 will start at $51,250 and the M350 xDrive will start at $67,250, significantly higher. There is even talk of a wagon model coming later this decade, as well as a redesigned M3 for 2028.