First spy photos: BMW i3 Touring spotted on the road
We knew it was coming, and now, finally, the next generation of BMW’s electric estate has been caught on camera. Fresh spy shots give us a first good look at the i3 Touring — the long-roof version of this year’s electric 3 Series sedan. It seems practicality will not come at the expense of style.
BMW briefly hinted at the estate during the i3 sedan’s unveiling earlier this year, but these prototype images paint a much clearer picture. Even under camouflage, the Touring looks sharp and modern, with crisp surfacing, flush door handles, and proportions that seem noticeably more athletic than the current gasoline-powered 3-Series Touring.
The shoulder line rises from the rear doors toward the D-pillar, visually shrinking the rear side windows and creating the impression of a lower, sleeker roof. In reality, the roof remains relatively flat, which should help preserve the cargo space buyers expect from a BMW estate.
Shared design, different foundations
Like the i3 sedan, the Touring is based on BMW’s own Neue Klasse electric architecture. An internal combustion engine estate is also being developed, but it will be built on an updated version of the CLAR platform underpinning the current 3 Series. Different foundations, nearly identical results, as both models are expected to share almost identical exterior styling, minus proportions, and both will get the new Panoramic iDrive cabin with a wide digital display stretching along the base of the windshield.
Powertrains and range
As for powertrains, the estate is expected to again be very close to the sedan. The only confirmed version so far is the dual-motor i3 50 xDrive with 463 hp (470 PS / 345 kW), but based on what we know about the related iX3 crossover, an i3 40 with a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 316 hp (320 PS / 235 kW) should follow.
BMW will undoubtedly claim impressive range figures thanks to sixth-generation eDrive technology, an 800-volt electrical architecture, new cylindrical battery cells, and a large battery capacity of 108.7 kWh. The estate’s extra size and weight will likely shave a few miles off the sedan’s incredible 559-mile WLTP rating (900 km), but it should still remain the longest-range electric estate by a significant margin.
Possibility of an M version
And for those already curious about performance versions, BMW has thought of that too. An M Performance model is inevitable, and given the cult success of the ICE M3 Touring, a full-fat quad-motor electric M3 Touring, borrowing heavily from the recent M Neue Klasse concept, could eventually join the lineup.
Thus, the new electric BMW i3 Touring promises to be not only practical but also a stylish car with impressive technical specifications. It combines modern design, advanced Neue Klasse technology, and potentially record-breaking range, making it a serious player in the electric vehicle market. The official premiere is expected within the next year, when we will learn all the details, including prices and sales start dates. Of particular interest is the possibility of a “hot” M version, which could become a worthy successor to the iconic M3 Touring, but in an electric guise.