Summary of the Article
- BMW markets the new i3 as the "successor to the i4."
- Product manager Bernd Körber teases potential future disclosures from BMW.
- The i4 G26 will be retired to prevent rivalry with the i3 NA0.
The expected transformation has now been validated: the i4 Gran Coupe will be retired to pave the way for the i3 Sedan. BMW revealed this information during a Q&A session in Munich after the introduction of the NA0. Bernd Körber, the company's product leader, indicated that the i3 will take center stage.
“While the i3 is fundamentally a successor to the i4, there will be additional developments that I can't disclose at this moment. In the upcoming years, the electric lineup will increase. For the present, the i3 will act as this type of successor.”
Körber's statements suggest that another electric vehicle is in development, although specifics are not yet disclosed. He was not discussing the i3 Touring, which has already been announced and is being evaluated for the U.S. market. It remains unclear whether he was referencing another i4 liftback or a different model altogether, though the latter appears more plausible.
At present, only the i4 NA2 two-door coupe has been given the green light for production. A five-door liftback delivers greater flexibility compared to a conventional sedan, while the Touring is aimed at those valuing functionality.
There will be some overlap between the i3 Sedan and the i4 Gran Coupe, even though BMW has previously handled analogous situations. Customers once had the chance to select from several 3 Series variants, yet such intricacies can be expensive with limited financial gains, making it less attractive to pursue at this point.
The transition from the i4 Gran Coupe to the i3 Sedan is anticipated to be gradual. Production of the i3 is scheduled to commence in August, and there will likely be a few months of concurrency before the i4 is retired. The G26 is speculated to halt production by late 2026 or early 2027. Official verification from BMW is still awaited.
If a two-door i4 is indeed forthcoming, it will likely debut after the iX4 (which has not yet been formally announced) and the i3 Touring, so it may not be introduced until 2028.
Summary of the Article
- BMW markets the new i3 as the “successor to the i4.”
- Product manager Bernd Körber teases potential future disclosures from BMW.
- The i4 G26 will be retired to prevent rivalry with the i3 NA0.
The expected transformation has now been validated: the i4 Gran Coupe will be retired to pave the way for the i3 Sedan. BMW revealed this information during a Q&A session in Munich after the introduction of the NA0. Bernd Körber, the company’s product leader, indicated that the i3 will take center stage.
“While the i3 is fundamentally a successor to the i4, there will be additional developments that I can’t disclose at this moment. In the upcoming years, the electric lineup will increase. For the present, the i3 will act as this type of successor.”
Körber’s statements suggest that another electric vehicle is in development, although specifics are not yet disclosed. He was not discussing the i3 Touring, which has already been announced and is being evaluated for the U.S. market. It remains unclear whether he was referencing another i4 liftback or a different model altogether, though the latter appears more plausible.
At present, only the i4 NA2 two-door coupe has been given the green light for production. A five-door liftback delivers greater flexibility compared to a conventional sedan, while the Touring is aimed at those valuing functionality.
There will be some overlap between the i3 Sedan and the i4 Gran Coupe, even though BMW has previously handled analogous situations. Customers once had the chance to select from several 3 Series variants, yet such intricacies can be expensive with limited financial gains, making it less attractive to pursue at this point.
The transition from the i4 Gran Coupe to the i3 Sedan is anticipated to be gradual. Production of the i3 is scheduled to commence in August, and there will likely be a few months of concurrency before the i4 is retired. The G26 is speculated to halt production by late 2026 or early 2027. Official verification from BMW is still awaited.
If a two-door i4 is indeed forthcoming, it will likely debut after the iX4 (which has not yet been formally announced) and the i3 Touring, so it may not be introduced until 2028.
