First Look: BMW i3 Touring Spotted Ahead of Launch in Munich

A black prototype slipped through Munich traffic like a quiet promise: familiar face up front, elongated roofline at the rear, and that unmistakable BMW stare. A photographer with an eye for detail caught the i3 Touring testing on public roads, the estate version of the new i3 lineup finally showing itself before next year.

More room, same personality

From the masked front to the taillights, the Touring mirrors the four-door i3 almost exactly. No surprises there. What changes is proportion. The roof stretches back, three-quarter glass grows, and a full-width tailgate reveals a practical cargo area. The rear glass appears to lift separately from the hatch, a small convenience that makes daily life easier for owners who actually use the boot.

Inside, nothing dramatic. The cabin is lifted wholesale from the i3 Sedan: a 17.9-inch central screen dominates the dash, with the new Panoramic iDrive screen sweeping across the lower windscreen area. Optional tech includes a 3D head-up display and multiple user profiles via BMW ID, so the car remembers seat positions, infotainment preferences, and other personal touches for up to eight drivers.

This Touring keeps the sedan's tech and power while finally giving it a proper hatch for cargo.

Under the skin, expect the same 108.7 kWh net battery and a twin-motor layout. Rumors point to an xDrive 50 launch configuration, putting out about 345 kW, the equivalent of 469 PS or roughly 463 horsepower, and around 645 Nm of torque. That translates to a sprint to 100 km/h in roughly 4.8 seconds for the wagon, a hair slower than the sedan, and a WLTP range near 423 kilometers.

BMW watchers will want to note timing. The i3 Touring is expected to arrive by early 2027 at the latest. And for the first time in this generation, reports suggest a U.S. launch may be on the cards, which would broaden the estate's appeal beyond Europe.

It is not a radical rethink of the i3 formula. Rather, it is an extension of the idea: electric performance and high-tech cabins, married to genuine everyday utility. For buyers who need a little more space but do not want to sacrifice sprint figures or the latest cockpit tech, the Touring looks like the sensible, fast answer.