The new electric SUV BMW i3 Touring has begun testing.

Bavarian automaker BMW is preparing to expand its Neue Klasse electric lineup. Photo spies captured a pre-production prototype of the fully electric BMW i3 Touring SUV on the Nürburgring circuit. Official confirmation of this practical model’s development came earlier during the debut of its sedan counterpart, with a global launch scheduled for 2027. The vehicle will serve as an electric alternative to the brand’s traditional family “five-door” models and SUVs.

The test prototype’s exterior is partially covered by camouflage film on the front and rear of the body. The vehicle is painted in black, fitted with stylish 20-inch alloy wheels featuring contrasting red brake calipers, and equipped with a more aggressive sports aerodynamic package from the M Sport lineup. The front end of the station wagon closely mirrors that of the i3 sedan, with the main differences lying in the extended roof line, altered shape of the rear side windows, and new trunk doors that provide easier and lower access to the cargo area.

The five-seater version will retain the sedan’s interior design, featuring a massive 17.9-inch multimedia display, a four-spoke steering wheel, and the innovative BMW Panoramic iDrive projection cockpit, but it will offer increased headroom for rear passengers and a significantly larger trunk space.

The new i3 Touring will share the Neue Klasse electric platform with the sedan. Upon launch, it will be available in two powerful all-wheel-drive versions equipped with two electric motors:

• i3 40 xDrive: Delivers 373 horsepower/274 kW and is powered by a battery with a capacity of 82.8 kWh. The sedan’s official range is 710 km according to the WLTP cycle, but this figure will be slightly lower due to the altered aerodynamics of the Touring version.

i3 50 xDrive: The flagship model with 469 hp/345 kW of power, equipped with a battery holding 108.7 kWh, providing the sedan with an impressive range of up to 912 km.

Meanwhile, the German brand will release a traditional gasoline version of the 3-Series Touring based on the CLAR platform. The most interesting option in the lineup will be the mild hybrid M350 xDrive, featuring a 3-liter inline turbocharged engine with 443 hp/326 kW of power. Notably, diesel engines will completely disappear from the new generation of 3-Series models, which were previously very popular among buyers.