The next Neue Klasse models are coming to dealerships – The BMW i3 sedan and the X5 are ready and waiting at dealerships to visit.

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In the coming days, showroom doors across Germany and Switzerland will open for two of BMW's most important new arrivals this year: the all-electric i3 and the fifth-generation X5. For customers, this marks the first chance to experience both models in person before official sales actually begin.

The i3 Sedan: The Second Neue Klasse Model

With the i3, BMW is bringing a proper sedan to its new electric platform for the first time, following the iX3 SUV that kicked things off. Technically, the i3 is closely related to its SUV sibling, but its sedan body shape gives it an extra edge in aerodynamics and efficiency. At launch, the i3 will initially be offered exclusively as the 50 xDrive with all-wheel drive and a combined output of 345 kW, or 469 hp. A more affordable rear-wheel-drive entry model is expected to follow later.

Thanks to the 800-volt architecture of the sixth-generation eDrive system, charging speeds of up to 400 kW are possible, adding well over 400 kilometers of range in just ten minutes at a fast charger. In its base configuration, WLTP range tops out at roughly 900 kilometers — a figure that puts the i3 at the very top of the electric midsize segment.

Anyone unwilling to wait could already reserve the limited First Edition variant back in mid-June. Regular ordering through the configurator is expected to open by the end of September, with production underway since August at BMW's home plant in Munich. The first customer deliveries are slated for autumn — meaning the upcoming dealer previews will likely be the last stop before the first cars change hands.

The X5: Five Powertrains, One New Design Language

For the X5, BMW is taking a very different approach: instead of going all-electric, the fifth generation arrives with five distinct powertrain options — gasoline and diesel engines with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance, plug-in hybrids, the fully electric iX5, and eventually even a hydrogen fuel-cell variant. Visually, the X5 borrows heavily from the Neue Klasse design language, including the upright, vertically oriented kidney grille with Iconic Glow and the new double-X light signatures.

The new X5 is built at BMW's Spartanburg plant in the US, where production of the combustion and mild-hybrid versions began in August. Plug-in hybrid and electric variants follow in December. In Switzerland, market launch is planned for late November, with combustion and mild-hybrid models arriving first. The iX5 and plug-in hybrids such as the 50e and M60e are expected to follow in early 2027.

What the Dealer Previews Mean

The fact that both models are being previewed to customers at almost the same time underscores how closely BMW is weaving together its Neue Klasse push and its traditional combustion lineup. For anyone interested, a showroom visit is worth it twice over: with the i3, visitors can experience the completely new interior concept firsthand, built around the large curved display and the Heart of Joy control unit; with the X5, they can see the sharper, more upright new design language directly alongside the outgoing model.

Anyone looking to book a test drive or an informal consultation now would do well to reach out to their local dealer soon — slots around launches like this tend to fill up fast.

All figures on range, charging speed, and timing are preliminary and reflect the current state of information; binding figures will be communicated by BMW closer to each model's respective market launch. Sources: BMW Press Group, Google, Instagram, insights from the automotive trade

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