BMW i3 Touring: electric estate spotted testing

BMW may be investing heavily in SUVs, yet one body style continues to hold its ground: the estate.

If there were any remaining doubts that the new BMW i3 would gain a Touring version, the prototypes we spotted undergoing testing have now put them to rest.

Following the saloon’s unveiling, the Bavarian manufacturer is preparing what is expected to be one of the market’s few premium electric estates, sustaining a tradition associated with the 3 Series for several generations.

Familiar front end, distinctive rear

Even beneath its camouflage, it is reasonably clear that the new BMW i3 Touring will be virtually identical to the saloon as far as the B-pillar. The most significant changes begin beyond that point, most notably with the roofline extending rearwards to accommodate a larger load area.

However, as this is a fully electric model, and unlike the current 3 Series Touring, the new generation adopts a more dynamic profile in the interests of aerodynamics. Its beltline rises steadily towards the D-pillar, decreasing the glazed area and giving the car a more muscular appearance.

Otherwise, the new BMW i3 Touring is expected to share the saloon’s main styling cues, including the light signature set within a black front strip, flush-fitting door handles and cleaner surfaces than those found on the brand’s current models.

No photographs of the cabin have emerged, although every indication is that it will mirror that of the saloon. This means the interior will be centred on BMW Panoramic Vision, a display extending across the full base of the windscreen, accompanied by a 17.9” central screen.

Compared with the saloon, the forthcoming i3 Touring should provide more passenger room and a boot exceeding the four-door model’s 420-litre capacity.

More than 800 km of range? Quite possibly

Beneath the bodywork, BMW’s new electric estate will use the Neue Klasse platform, which has been developed exclusively for the brand’s electric vehicles. That suggests the i3 Touring will follow the saloon’s powertrain line-up.

The version already confirmed is the i3 50 xDrive, which features two electric motors, four-wheel drive and a combined output of 345 kW (469 hp) and 645 Nm of torque. It is powered by the range’s largest battery, with a capacity of 108.7 kWh.

A rear-wheel-drive version is expected to follow later, using a single 235 kW (320 hp) electric motor and a lower-capacity battery.

As with the saloon, range is set to be one of this model’s principal strengths. Thanks to its 800 V electrical architecture, sixth-generation eDrive technology and new cylindrical battery cells, the i3 claims up to 900 km between charges (WLTP).

Naturally, the Touring variant is likely to fall slightly short of that figure because of its greater weight and larger body. Even so, its range should remain above 800 km (WLTP), making it one of the longest-range electric estates available on the market.

For buyers who still favour combustion engines, the current 3 Series is expected to remain in the line-up alongside the new i3. It too should receive a styling update inspired by the Neue Klasse design language, while remaining aligned with the multi-energy strategy that has resulted in petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid versions.

Nearly here

The new BMW i3 Touring is expected to be officially unveiled by the end of 2026, before reaching the market shortly after the saloon. The range should later be expanded with M Performance versions and could even include a future all-electric M3 Touring.