New BMW i3: the new electric car makes its debut, offering a glimpse of what the future 3 Series will look like
The Munich-based carmaker has unveiled the design and some technical details of its new-generation electric car, featuring an 800-volt architecture. It has its sights set on Chinese manufacturers
With this new generation, BMW is bringing the 3 Series into the Neue Klasse family for the first time – the platform on which the German brand is building its future. The BMW i3 is the 100% electric version of the new 3 Series, a saloon that marks a departure from the German manufacturer’s previous generation of plug-in cars and will determine whether BMW is capable of offering a credible alternative to the competition from premium cars made in China.
Aesthetically, the new 3 Series reinterprets the classic BMW saloons through the stylistic language of the Neue Klasse, expressed in what the manufacturer calls the ‘2.5-box’ design: the proportions of a sports saloon with an extended wheelbase, short overhangs and a side profile that visually lowers the centre of gravity. The front end reinterprets BMW’s classic four-headlamp layout, integrating the headlamps with driver-assistance sensors. The bonnet is sculpted, the grille and headlights merge into a single light signature, and the wheel arches are pronounced. The rear, which is more understated, is characterised by horizontal tail lights that extend towards the centre, where the BMW logo is positioned.
The interior is spacious and well-organised. Designed specifically for electric vehicles, it features the new BMW Panoramic iDrive, which projects content across the entire lower section of the windscreen, displaying customisable information that is visible at all times. In the centre, the 18-inch display is angled towards the driver; the steering wheel, with its two vertical spokes, features two large control panels, whilst the passenger can control certain vehicle functions – such as music, temperature and navigation – directly from their smartphone.
Powertrain and charging: 800-volt architecture and a claimed range of 900 km
At the heart of the i3 lies the sixth-generation 800-volt powertrain, based on BMW eDrive technology. In the launch model, the i3 50 xDrive, it utilises two electric motors – one on the front axle and one on the rear – which deliver a combined output of 469 cv (345 kW) and 645 Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. The high-voltage batteries feature a round-cell format and a cell-to-pack design, which allows for high energy densities with a flatter battery pack than in previous generations.
The claimed range according to the WLTP cycle is up to 900 km – a figure which, if confirmed in real-world driving, would give BMW a significant advantage over its main competitors. DC fast charging supports power outputs of up to 400 kW: in 10 minutes, up to 400 km of range can be restored, and charging from 10% to 80% takes around 21 minutes. The car also supports bidirectional charging in vehicle-to-load, vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid modes, with the ability to feed energy back into the domestic grid or power external devices such as certain camping equipment.
