Camouflaged versions of the next-generation BMW 3 Series and its all-electric i3 sibling were spotted undergoing cold-weather testing in Northern Sweden this week, betraying sophisticated Neue Klasse styling cues despite the eye-tricking vinyl wrap. Spotted in both internal combustion and EV forms, the BMW twins look close to production, which isn’t terribly surprising since the automaker plans on putting out its first Neue Klasse product before the end of the year. Whether the buying public is ready to accept retro-styled Bimmers remains to be seen, but we like the direction the automaker is heading with these sedans.
2025 BMW i4 eDrive35 Gran Coupe
- Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Horsepower
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281 HP
- Torque
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295 LB-FT
- Combined
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120 MPGE
- Battery Size
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70.2 KWH
Production-Friendly Styling With A Dash Of Concept Chic
The Vision Neue Klasse concept’s edgy design cues are definitely apparent in the next-generation 3 Series, including its throwback kidney grilles that dovetail into the BMW-spec two-element headlights. However, the low beltline and narrow pillars of the concept are disappointingly absent – real-world crash protection takes priority over style here – and the pointed Hofmeister kink is blunter and squarer on the production car. In fact, the rear door has a similar profile to the Volvo S60, though there’s still some BMWness in the window shape.
The sharklike side profile will apparently make its way from concept to production, with the 3 Series and i3 clearly sporting a low, pointed nose that rises to a flat rear deck. The hood seems to take a page from that of the new 5 Series and i5 sedans, with the center section rising prominently from the fenders for a neo-clamshell look that channels the legendary 2002. The taillights of the test mules are mostly covered, but they look like they might borrow the high, narrow design of the Vision Neue Klasse. Apart from the silent motoring of the i3 and distinctly gas-powered exhaust rasp of the 3 Series, it’s hard to glean any powertrain details from this test mule pairing.
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The Heart Of Joy Beats Strong
The Neue Klasse platform will underpin the next-generation 3 Series, as well as an all-electric version that borrows the i3 name from the company’s carbon-bodied city car of the previous decade. As we learned in a ride-along in the company’s Vision Driving Experience prototype, one of the key trump cards for the platform is greater technological advancement compared to the company’s current lineup. Neue Klasse EVs will feature an emphatically named “Heart of Joy” ECU, which will manage power, regenerative braking, steering, and charging, as well as three other ECUs for secondary and tertiary vehicle systems. That’s four ECUs total, where most other cars require dozens, improving vehicle response and systems integration.
The next-generation BMW 3 Series will also spawn a high-performance M3 variant, which will be electrified but not fully electric. There will likely be a high-performance EV as well – possibly called the i3 M – which will get four individual electric motors and the potential for 1 megawatt of output, which converts to a staggering 1,300 horsepower. Those sophisticated powertrain controls combined with the individual electric motors mean the all-electric performance car will use the friction brakes under only the hardest situations, giving the car greater operating efficiency.
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Powertrain Flexibility For Every Customer
The Neue Klasse platform, which will also spawn the next-generation X3 crossover, will offer internal combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric propulsion, and it will allow BMW to alter production split on the fly based on individual market demands. That means that EV-friendly countries such as Norway and China may only receive the i3 and iX3 variants, while nations with varying levels of trust in electric cars (cough, US, cough) will enjoy 3 Series sedans with internal combustion engines.
It seems unlikely that the automaker is ready to abandon the sweet, smooth inline-sixes that made it famous, so plan on an M340i variant to make its return with near-M3 performance in a subtler package. That said, the electrified Neue Klasse platform will heavily feature mild- and parallel-hybrid powertrain systems, even with internal combustion.
Source: SHProshots
