BMW Confirms i3 Touring To Revitalize the Wagon Segment | Carscoops

      BMW will maintain the use of the i badge to differentiate its electric vehicle models from its internal combustion engine offerings.

      The M3 Touring and M5 Touring have persuaded BMW to produce more estate vehicles.

      The upcoming i3 will be the second model introduced from its Neue Klasse lineup.

      It will also lead to the creation of an all-electric M3, which will be available alongside the ICE version.

      Electric vehicles have moved beyond being mere experimental projects or exclusive status symbols, and BMW is fully aware of this shift. As anticipated, the new fully electric Neue Klasse sedan from BMW will bring back the i3 nameplate, but it will differ significantly from the original hatchback introduced in 2013. This time, BMW is targeting the new i3 directly at the Tesla Model 3, and it may emerge as the most significant vehicle in BMW’s upcoming generation of EVs.

      Recently, BMW confirmed that it will start the Neue Klasse era with the second-generation iX3, which has already been previewed through a concept. Following the iX3, BMW will introduce the new i3. Notably, the i3 will not only be available as a conventional sedan but will also feature a Touring estate variant for wagon enthusiasts.

      In a recent discussion with Autocar, BMW Group design chief Adrian van Hooydonk emphasized that the unexpected success of the M3 Touring and M5 Touring demonstrates that the estate segment still holds potential.

      "Touring is definitely making a comeback," he remarked. "Certainly, we have contributed to this with the M3 Touring and M5 Touring: they seem to be very well-received, even in countries where estates traditionally aren’t that popular. So, yes, there’s a fresh breeze in that segment, and we’re quite pleased about it."

      "SUVs represent half of our business," van Hooydonk added. "The other half consists of sporty, elegant sedans or coupés, which we equally prioritize. That’s our foundation, and we are often regarded as the benchmark – and we certainly want to maintain that status."

      The ‘i’ Badge Remains, but Its Meaning has Evolved

      BMW product chief Bernd Körber also shared his insights, stating that the company will continue to utilize the “i” badge for its electric vehicle lineup. Körber noted that the letter “i” initially represented various concepts, but one consistent theme was electrification.

      "Why the ‘i’? Because the i brand began with multiple aspects, but one key element of the i3 and i8 was electrification," he explained. "For us, it serves as a label to indicate within our general naming strategy that this is an electrified vehicle, with the ‘i’ positioned at the front. Thus, we've retained the ‘i’, placed it at the forefront, and transitioned it from a sub-brand to a model brand, which will be the guiding principle henceforth."

      The new BMW i3 is anticipated to debut with a rear-wheel-drive base variant producing roughly 300 horsepower, with all-wheel-drive versions expected to follow. BMW also aims to develop an electric M3, which was previewed earlier this year as the Vision Driving Experience concept, featuring four electric motors for exceptional performance.