Get ready for a tidal shift in the BMW world. Neue Klasse is coming, and it’s not just for electric vehicles. The minimalist design language seen on concepts will make its production debut later this year on the iX3, but a new 3 Series sedan shouldn’t be far behind.
It’s about time, too. The current 3 Series debuted in 2018 (as a 2019 model) and received a modest update in 2022 that, among other things, added all kinds of contrasting angles to the front fascia and a new iDrive 8 infotainment system. Even post-update, though, 3 Series sales were down 7.8 percent in 2024. Either buyers are waiting for the next-gen model, or they’re not terribly enthused with those updates.
Will Neue Klasse change that? Styling aside, BMW’s next-generation sedan will be packed with new technology. That includes everything from powertrains to interior features, though details at this point aren’t known. We do know a few things about the new model, however, so here’s a preview of what you can expect from the next BMW 3 Series.
What Will It Be Called?
Neue Klasse just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? While that term is tossed around regularly, this next-gen car should simply be the BMW 3 Series in gas form, and i3 as an EV. The name has considerable brand equity for BMW, so there’s no reason to believe that will change now. Neue Klasse will almost certainly be mentioned extensively during its debut, but don’t expect it to become an official part of the sedan’s name.
That said, some naming shenanigans are afoot. All of BMW’s electric models start with an i designation, so the automaker will ditch the i as a suffix from trim levels to prevent confusion. In other words, the days of the 330i or M340i are over; the M340i becomes the M350.
What Will It Look Like?
BMW famously previewed its future back in 2023 with the debut of the i Vision Dee concept, and later that year, a less abstract version called the Vision Neue Klasse concept. Both were stark contrasts to BMW’s current, complex design language, eschewing all those scoops, vents, and contrasting lines for a clean, geometric body.
The production 3 Series won’t go to such extremes, but it will bear more than a passing resemblance to the Neue Klasse concept. Based on spy photos of 3 Series prototypes, our exclusive rendering shows a Neue Klasse-inspired face with the kidney grille spanning the width of the car. It will use a narrow grille versus the deeper, narrower shape of the current model, incorporating small, sharp headlights at the corners. Dipping further, the lower fascia should feature prominent vertical vents that are largely rectangular in shape. The myriad angles and body lines of the current car are replaced with vertical and horizontal symmetry.
It’s not entirely a straight-laced Neue Klasse show, however. Moving front-to-back, we have a very gentle curve to the beltline. A subtle Hofmeister kink persists at the C-pillar, meeting up with a sloping roof as opposed to the hard-edged lines from the Neue Klasse concept. At the very back, the new 3 may not look too different from the current model, save for thinner rectangular taillights and straighter lines on the rear fascia.
Our rendering depicts the combustion-powered 3 Series, riding on a tweaked version of the sedan’s current platform. The all-electric counterpart will have its own Neue Klasse platform dedicated to electric power, and it will likely borrow more of the concept’s edgier lines. The i3’s hood will be shorter, and at the C-pillar, we could see a straighter roof without as much slope.
What's Under The Hood?
The future—or at least the near future—is no longer an all-electric affair. The next-generation 3 Series will likely carry over its current four-cylinder and inline-six offerings. As a refresher, the base 330i uses BMW’s turbocharged 2.0-liter mill generating 255 horsepower. The boosted 3.0-liter inline-six makes 386 hp, and of course, there’s considerably more from the twin-turbo six in the M3—which has been officially confirmed to return.
Whether the plug-in hybrid version returns to the US market is unclear; BMW dropped the 330e in 2024, but given the general popularity of hybrids right now, expect some kind of plug-in hybrid option to endure, even if it’s not offered in the States.
As for the all-electric i3, details like horsepower and range are still a mystery. Dual-motor powertrains are virtually guaranteed, though a thrifty single-motor version turning just the rear wheels could be in the cards. On the opposite side is the electric M3, which is expected to have four motors and nearly 700 hp. However, the Neue Klasse architecture can support power levels nearly twice that amount. If BMW wanted to turn the M3 into a 1,000-hp competitor to the Tesla Model S Plaid or Lucid Air Sapphire, the hardware is there for it.
How About The Interior?
Here’s where things could get interesting. The Neue Klasse concept showcased an interior about as minimal as its exterior styling. It will have a massive 17.9-inch touchscreen (similar to what's currently in the iX) that extends from the driver’s seat well into the center of the dash. But the greenhouse won’t be as minimal as you expect. BMW confirmed to Motor1 last year that “we will have knobs where it is necessary. It’s not a knob- or control-element-free car, that’s not our vision."
How Much Will It Cost?
Tariffs notwithstanding, the current BMW 3 Series starts at approximately $47,000 and reaches all the way to $87,000 for an M3 Competition xDrive. It’s safe to assume the next-generation combustion 3 Series will see a modest increase, likely starting near $50,000. The electric 3 will likely be a bit more expensive, starting just north of $50,000.
When Will It Arrive?
The first Neue Klasse vehicle, the iX3 SUV, will be unveiled in September 2025 at IAA Mobility in Munich. The new 3 Series and electric i3 will both debut sometime in 2026 and go on sale for the 2027 model year. Production is expected to start in late 2026.
Gallery: BMW iX3 Neue Klasse And Sedan Prototype
