BMW i3 2026: Car of the Year award, specs and range

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The new BMW i3 has landed its first major award before it has even reached most markets. BMWBLOG reports that Britain's CAR Magazine has given the electric sedan the Car of the Year 2026 title at the inaugural Genius Awards. The related BMW iX3 was named Electric Vehicle of the Year at the same event.

The technical side of the story has been refined over the past few months. At the March premiere of the i3, BMW pointed to a range figure of around 895 km WLTP, but the latest European specification for the i3 50 xDrive now lists a maximum of 912 km WLTP. The First Edition version is rated at 906 km.

The dual-motor i3 50 xDrive produces 345 kW, or 469 hp under the European standard, and 645 Nm of torque, with 0-100 km/h taking 4.7 seconds. The figure that matters most for long trips is the battery capacity of 108.7 kWh. Maximum DC fast-charging power reaches 400 kW, and BMW says the First Edition can add roughly 423 km of WLTP range in ten minutes under optimal conditions.

The American figures look different not because of a different powertrain, but because of methodology: BMW USA quotes 463 hp and a preliminary range of up to 440 miles, or around 708 km, under the EPA procedure. Final EPA certification has yet to confirm that result.

The early award stands out against the backdrop of the whole Neue Klasse launch. The iX3 crossover has already picked up two World Car Awards 2026 titles - World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle. Now the sedan is getting its own recognition, and it will have to compete not only with Tesla and Mercedes-Benz, but with a fast-growing number of Chinese EVs in Europe.

BMW had earlier planned to start series production of the i3 in Munich in August 2026, with first European deliveries in the autumn - production has now begun on 6 August, and the delivery timeline is confirmed. The next real test for the model won't be more awards, but final American EPA figures, US pricing, and how the first series-production cars perform on the road.