The old saying “when it rains, it pours” perfectly describes what BMW is going through this week. Someone managing the company’s U.S. web shop accidentally activated the section dedicated to the 2027 model year lineup, exposing what lies ahead in terms of new products.
Although the 2027MY section has already been taken down, the leaks are now coming in rapid succession. We’ve already covered some of them, including the next 3 Series Sedan (G50) and its six-cylinder M Performance version, the new M350. If you’d rather go electric, the i3 isn’t far behind. The NA0 briefly appeared as the i3 40 xDrive and i3 50 xDrive.
BMW has already confirmed that the reborn i3 will go on sale in the United States next year, so this leak is hardly a surprise. It won’t be the first electric sedan to wear this familiar name, though. After production of the quirky hatchback ended in 2022, the moniker was repurposed for an electric, long-wheelbase 3 Series in China. Now, the i3 is set to go global once again, twinned with the new iX3 and the first iX4.
Additional i3 sedan versions will follow, although not all may reach North America. The i3 M60 with M Performance branding seems like a safe bet, especially since the full-fat M3 (ZA0) has already received its U.S. green light. At the other end of the range, a rear-wheel-drive i3 40 is plausible. After all, a single-motor iX3 40 was among the many models leaked on the very same web shop.
An even cheaper and less powerful i3 20 is said to be in development. However, we wouldn’t necessarily expect this entry-level version to arrive in the U.S. Historically, lower-end combustion 3 Series models have been limited to Europe and other markets outside North America. Its electric sibling is likely to follow suit by skipping the base model in the U.S.
The sedan might not be the only i3 body style. No, the hatchback isn’t coming back. Instead, BMW insiders claim an i3 Touring could debut as early as next year in Europe. The NA1 is allegedly scheduled to enter production in July 2027, about 12 months after the sedan. It would make sense for the electric wagon to roll off the line at BMW’s Munich plant, given that the sedan will also be built at the historic factory.
In the meantime, BMW is months away from unveiling the standard i3 sedan. The eighth-generation, Dingolfing-built 3 Series isn’t far behind, as it, too, is slated to debut this year.
First published by https://www.bmwblog.com
