What are the most important new BMW cars coming before 2030?
Car changing is a big deal
BMW will launch 40 new and updated models before the end of the decade. News editor Jamie Edkins details all the ones we know about so far.
There have been a lot of new BMW cars revealed in 2026, and we’ve been to see a lot of them. The new i3 electric saloon is finally here, as is the i7 and X5. These cars are all sporting BMW’s latest design and interior tech, and there are plenty more to come.
BMW is planning to launch 40 cars before the decade is up, including all-new models and updated versions of existing cars.
BMW 3 Series
We expect to see four new variants of the BMW 3 Series over the next couple of years: the electric i3 and i3 Touring, and the petrol-powered 3 Series and 3 Series Touring.
BMW i3
This is the new electric BMW i3, and it was revealed in mid March with a radical new design and up to 560 miles of range. It’ll go on sale towards the end of this year, with prices expected to start from around £50,000.
It follows on from the iX3 SUV, sharing that car’s panoramic interior display and slightly bizarre steering wheel.
BMW 3 Series
A petrol version of the 3 Series is also coming, and we’ve spotted it testing a few times now. It looks as though it’ll share the same styling as the i3, with those wide kidney grilles dominating the front end. Technical details are sparse, but it’s safe to assume that a range of four- and six-cylinder engines will be available when the car is revealed later this year.
BMW 3 Series and i3 Touring
During the reveal of the i3, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse confirmed that the 3 Series Touring will be returning for the next generation. This darkened teaser is all we have to go on for now, but you can see that it has similar L-shaped rear lights to the i3 saloon. Over 500 miles of range is expected in the EV, and both cars are expected to be unveiled next year.
BMW M3
Along with the 3 Series, the hot M3 is also coming soon. It’ll have electric power for the first time, but there will still be a petrol version for the purists.
BMW M3 EV
The electric BMW M3 is going to have four electric motors, and it could have around 700hp. You can also expect to see some clever torque vectoring courtesy of the “Heart of Joy” supercomputer which can send power to the wheel with the most grip in milliseconds, making it feel nimble and agile. We reckon a full reveal will come at the end of 2027.
New BMW M3
Fans of the petrol engine don’t need to mourn just yet, because BMW is working on making the current M3’s 3.0-litre straight-six engine compliant with the latest emissions standards. This could mean the addition of hybrid tech, which would not only clean up the emissions but also up the power compared to the 550hp you get in the current car. Expect a reveal of the petrol-powered M3 shortly after the electric one.
BMW 7 Series
BMW’s flagship saloon car has been given a big update for 2026, with revised styling and an all-new interior. It has the same infotainment tech as the iX3, meaning there’s now a panoramic display across the windscreen, and the rear cinema screen has been upgraded from 4K to 8K resolution.
The all-electric i7 is available to order now, with prices starting from just over £100,000. The hybrid 7 Series will follow shortly afterwards.
BMW X5
This is the new BMW X5, and it’s radically different to the car it replaces. The design is much more imposing, with styling cues taken from the smaller iX3, and there will be electric and hydrogen versions offered alongside the diesel-engined variants.
Mat Watson has been to see the new X5, and he was really impressed with the interior quality and space on offer. Order books will open in spring 2027, with prices expected to start from around £85,000.
New BMW iX5 M
Alongside the electric iX5 will be a high-performance M version, and we’ve spotted it on the Nurburgring racetrack during development testing. It appears to have a much beefier bodykit than the standard car, and we expect it to be packing some serious power.
There are very few official details about what’s going on under the skin, but it’s likely to have a quad-motor setup similar to the forthcoming electric M3. That could provide 800hp, but you’ll have to wait for the full reveal in 2027 to find out for sure.
New BMW i4 Cabriolet
Joining the new 3 Series will be the two-door 4 Series, and the drop-top version has been spotted testing. There are no real details around this car just yet, but you can expect it to use the same 108kWh battery as the i3 and have well over 500 miles of range.
A full reveal isn’t likely before 2027.
BMW 5 Series
It may have only been around for a couple of years, but a heavy facelift is on the cards for the BMW 5 Series. The biggest changes are expected to be the front end, which looks as though it’s getting a similar light design to the i3, and the interior. That rhomboid screen and the panoramic windscreen display from the i3 and iX3 will almost certainly be featured inside, but you’ll have to wait until 2027 to see the final car.
BMW M5
The BMW M5 will also get the same styling and interior changes as the 5 Series, but there’s no electric version on the cards. The 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 hybrid system will carry over to the updated car, but there’s no word on whether the 727hp figure will be increased.
BMW iX1
BMW’s smallest SUV has been around for a few years now, and the all-new version has been spotted by our spy photographers. In keeping with the common theme, it appears to have the iX3’s front fascia with the vertical kidneys hiding behind the disguise. A full reveal is coming next year.
BMW iX4
This is a swoopy coupe version of the BMW iX3. The new iX4 will use the same 108kWh battery pack as that car, as well as the dual-motor setup, meaning it’ll have around 500 miles of range and 470hp. A full reveal is coming next year, and you can expect a starting price of just over £60,000.
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