What looks like an electric take on the next-gen 3 – maybe the “i3”? – was shown off in images captured during testing
- BMW showed off a camoflaged copy of its new 3 Series EV on social media mid-March
- The electric car appeared alongside the upcoming Neue Klasse crossover in one image
- Production of the first “Neue Klasse” BMWs is slated to start this summer
Speculation holds this future car may be called the “i3,” though BMW’s naming strategy in recent years has needed a road map and advanced degrees in hieroglyphics to decipher, meaning there’s every chance in the world this car could actually be called the “BMW e3.4iM NK xDrive” or something equally ridiculous.
Don’t fret—reports say there will also be a gasoline-powered variant of the upcoming 3, along with an M3, which will likely use hybridization to generate extra power instead of save fuel. This is like weaponizing a wind farm, and we approve.
Broadly speaking, it is not incorrect to say the Neue Klasse platform is a set of bones dedicated to underpinning EVs, meaning the gasser 3 and electric 3 are on a course to use different platforms yet share a model designation. Don’t worry about it, the salesman is sure to say, just sign here please for the one you like best. These images were captured from recent social media posts made by BMW, showing the Neue Klasse 3 undergoing testing in a variety of conditions.
Series production of the new electric-drive systems is on track to commence at BMW Group Plant Steyr this summer. Gearing up for pre-production activities has been going on since kids went back to school in September; in fact, some pre-production motors are apparently being tested in early-build Neue Klasse test vehicles, probably such as the ones in these ads. BMW has shovelled over a billion euros into that site over the last couple of years.
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