BMW Boss Confirms 3-Series Touring Will Live On in Neue Klasse Era

The next-generation 3-Series wagon will adopt the brand's new Neue Klasse platform.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 11:02pm

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During the debut presentation for the new i3 sedan, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse confirmed that the 3-Series Touring wagon will continue on in the Neue Klasse era. Zipse revealed a silhouette of the upcoming 3-Series Touring, showing it will feature the familiar Neue Klasse front end design but with a different roofline and rear end compared to the sedan. While Zipse didn't share specifics on powertrain options, he did clarify that the vehicle will be called the 3-Series Touring, not the i3 Touring, hinting it may not be fully electric.

Why it matters

The 3-Series Touring wagon has long been a popular variant of BMW's iconic 3-Series lineup, offering added practicality and utility over the sedan. Its continuation in the Neue Klasse era signals BMW's commitment to maintaining its core model lineup as it transitions to new electrified and platform architectures.

The details

During the i3 sedan debut, Zipse confirmed the 3-Series Touring will be part of BMW's plans to launch 40 new models globally by the end of 2027. He showed a silhouette of the upcoming wagon, which features the familiar Neue Klasse front end design but a different roofline and rear end compared to the sedan. Zipse was careful to refer to the vehicle as the 3-Series Touring, not the i3 Touring, suggesting it may not be a fully electric model and could retain combustion engine options.

  • BMW plans to release an updated version of the combustion-powered 3 Series for 2027, which should adopt Neue Klasse styling cues.

The players

Oliver Zipse

The CEO of BMW who confirmed the continuation of the 3-Series Touring wagon in the Neue Klasse era.

BMW

The German automaker that is transitioning its lineup to the new Neue Klasse platform, while maintaining core models like the 3-Series Touring.

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What they’re saying

“Here on stage today is just one variant of the 3-Series. But the 3-Series has always been about much more than just a sedan. And that won't change in the future either. But you might ask, 'What other variants will there be?' I don't want to reveal everything today, but there's one model I am happy to confirm: the BMW 3-Series Touring.”

— Oliver Zipse, CEO

What’s next

BMW plans to release the updated combustion-powered 3 Series, including the Touring wagon variant, in 2027 with Neue Klasse styling.

The takeaway

BMW's commitment to maintaining the 3-Series Touring wagon in the Neue Klasse era demonstrates the automaker's understanding of the model's importance to its loyal customer base. This pragmatic and versatile variant will continue to be a core part of the 3-Series lineup as BMW transitions its lineup to new electrified and platform architectures.