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Fresh renderings reignite the 3 Series Touring debate
New fan-made renderings of BMW's next-generation 3 Series Touring have circulated online, and they’re already dividing opinion. Crafted by Instagram artist @avarvarii, the visuals imagine the long-roof wagon wearing BMW’s Neue Klasse design language — a bolder, polarizing direction the brand has adopted for its future models.
What stands out in the design
The rendering emphasizes a few signature changes we’ve seen teased across other Neue Klasse previews:
- A pair of short but unusually wide kidney grilles that dominate the front fascia.
- New headlight units with a revised DRL signature, lending a fresher, sharper face.
- A more aggressive front bumper and a slightly shorter hood, which accentuate a sportier stance.
- XM-like taillights at the rear, a look some will find controversial.
Overall, the Touring is presented with roughly the same footprint as today’s G21, but with much more pronounced styling cues. The result is familiar in silhouette yet unmistakably different in detail — the kind of evolution that will appeal to some buyers and alienate others.
Production footprint and market reach
BMW’s outgoing seventh-generation 3 Series (G2X family: G20 sedan, G21 Touring, G28 LWB sedan and BEV i3) has been made in Munich since launch, and also assembled in Mexico, Brazil, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and India. The next-gen Touring will likely continue to target strong overseas demand — especially in Europe — but the five-door wagon is expected to remain scarce in North America where consumer appetite for wagons is limited.
Timeline, powertrains and variants
Industry expectation is for BMW to unveil the next 3 Series (sedan and Touring) in 2026, with the sedan marking the 2027 model year. Performance and electrified variants will arrive later: the conventional M3 and the battery-electric iM3 are widely expected around the 2028 model year.
While BMW has committed more models to the Neue Klasse architecture and electrification roadmap, the 3 Series line-up will likely include a mix of internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, and full-electric models — mirroring the company’s broader strategy to bridge ICE buyers and EV adopters.
How it stacks up against rivals
The 3 Series Touring has long competed with the Audi A5/A4 long-roof and the Mercedes C-Class Estate. The new design direction gives BMW a chance to differentiate its estate offering with a sportier, more aggressive personality, but whether that translates into broader market appeal depends on how buyers respond to the bolder front end and LED signatures.
Highlights:
- Expected debut window: 2026 public reveal; 2027 model year sedan launch.
- Touring availability: likely Europe and select overseas markets; limited North American presence.
- Line-up: ICE, plug-in hybrid, and full-electric (iM3) possibilities; M performance variant to follow.
Final thoughts: yay or nay?
BMW’s next 3 Series Touring looks poised to be a modern, sharper take on the classic estate: familiar in proportions, but markedly different in expression. For enthusiasts who prize driving dynamics and practical cargo space, the Touring will remain relevant. For styling purists, the Neue Klasse face may take time to warm up to.
Is the new Touring objectively better than the outgoing model? Not necessarily — it’s different. Whether you say “yay” or “nay” will depend on how much you value progressive design over the more understated elegance of the current generation.
Quote: "The Touring keeps its DNA — more muscle in the face, same sensible silhouette underneath."
Source: autoevolution
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