Design and Features of the New BMW i3 Touring
The new BMW i3 sedan already allows us to imagine what its more practical wagon version will look like. Since BMW confirmed the development of the i3 Touring, independent designers have presented their visualizations, interpreting the brand’s ambiguous teasers.
Key expected characteristics of the model include:
Designers’ Interpretations and Expectations
Nikita Chuiko from Kolesa and Theophilus Chin presented their own versions of the fully electric wagon. Both concepts are based on the same skeleton but differ in details. The metal panels are identical to the sedan up to the B-pillars, with the differences lying in the extended roof and redesigned rear.
BMW’s own teaser hints at a raised window line behind the C-pillars, a subtle change designed to add visual dynamism to the longer body.
Theottle emphasizes this idea, enhancing the upward curve, while Chuiko opted for a more restrained interpretation. The production version will likely find a balance between these approaches, preserving sportiness without excess.
Rear End and Interior
At the rear, both designers retain the slim LED taillights and bumper from the i3 sedan, concentrating changes on the tailgate and sloping rear window. Theottle keeps the relief lines near the BMW emblem and adds a more modern roof spoiler, similar to the one installed on the iX3 SUV.
The production i3 Touring is expected to retain the sedan’s 2898 mm wheelbase, so any increase in dimensions will come from a longer rear overhang.
Technical Specifications and Platform
The interior will be fully borrowed from the sedan, including the pillar-to-pillar display panel at the base of the windshield and the 17.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system. Rear-seat passengers will get a bit more headroom, as well as a more spacious luggage compartment.
Under the hood, the i3 Touring will share the 800-volt Neue Klasse architecture with the i3 sedan and iX3 SUV. A possible 50 xDrive version is expected to deliver 463 hp and 645 Nm of torque, offering more than sufficient performance for a family model.
The i3 sedan aims for an EPA range of 708 km, although the less aerodynamic wagon shape will likely slightly reduce this figure. Despite this, it should be capable of recovering 400 km of range in just 10 minutes when connected to a 400 kW charger.
Production Timeline and Future Models
BMW confirmed that production of the i3 sedan will begin in August 2026, with first deliveries scheduled for autumn. The i3 Touring is expected to appear in 2027 as part of 40 new and updated models the company plans to introduce by the end of that same year.
The Bavarian automaker is also preparing a 3-Series Touring version with an internal combustion engine, which will mirror the design and technologies of the Neue Klasse-based i3 Touring but will be built on an updated version of the current CLAR platform.
The arrival of the i3 Touring marks an important step for BMW in electrifying its classic lineup, offering customers who value practicality a modern alternative without compromises in dynamics and technology. This model could become a key player in the electric wagon market, combining the heritage of the 3-Series with Neue Klasse innovations. The success of this strategy will largely depend on the final balance between design, performance, and price, especially given the growing competition in the segment.