BMW I3 News

BMW’s first global electric 3 Series has been revealed with a breathtaking driving range of up to 900km.Previewed by CarsGuide late last year but now officially revealed, the BMW i3 is the German giant’s next Neue Klasse (new class) model following the iX3 mid-size SUV that goes on sale in Australia mid-year.The sedan is expected to arrive in Australia in early 2027 and will be sourced from BMW's Munich plant in Germany.The next-gen internal combustion 3 Series sedan, which is based on BMW’s CLAR platform, will likely be revealed later in 2026.The headline news for the new i3 of course is that driving range. BMW says it can achieve EV range of up to 900km, although this is a provisional figure and may change by the time it makes it to production.In the prototype I sat in at the embargoed reveal in November, the mock screen readout showed the battery at 80 per cent capacity with 712km left. That means 100 per cent charge would give you 890km.This is well above the still impressive 805km range of the iX3 in 50 xDrive guise. It also outpaces the Tesla Model 3 Long Range (750km), while versions of the Lucid Air sedan (not sold in Australia) can drive up to 820km.The i3, shown in 50 xDrive guise, uses the same underpinnings as the iX3, which means the sixth generation of BMW’s eDrive, this time with 800-volt architecture. Like the iX3 it uses cylindrical cells for the high-voltage battery. This “cell-to-pack” design means high energy density and, importantly for packaging, reduced battery height.There are two motors, one on each axle, with the rear motor the primary driver for the car, but it is all-wheel drive. Outputs are 345kW of power and 645Nm of torque, matching the iX3.DC charging is technically 400kW, which BMW says can add up to 400km of range in just 10 minutes at a high-powered charging station, but these don’t exist in Australia. AC charging is up to 22kW and the i3 has bi-directional changing capability.The i3 features the same four ‘superbrains’ found in the iX3. It includes the so-called ‘Heart of Joy’, which handles driving dynamics, as well as computers for automated driving and parking, multimedia, and for other functions like vehicle access and air conditioning.Design wise it maintains a sedan silhouette although it loses some of the striking elements of the gorgeous Vision Neue Klasse concept from 2023, like the tail-lights and the low-set glasshouse.The iconic BMW kidney grille and quad headlights take on a new look too. The grille is that in name only - it’s simply blacked-out panels with illumination for the kidneys. Circular headlights are gone and replaced with quad lines and in-set headlights much like on the iX3.The famed Hoffmeister kink remains, and the boot lid kicks up at the edge for a sporty look.At 4763mm long, 1865mm wide and 1482mm tall with a 2897mm wheelbase, the new i3 is 50mm longer, 38mm wider, 42mm higher and with a 46mm longer wheelbase than the current-gen BMW 330 sedan.Inside you’ll find BMW’s Panoramic Vision which projects content and visuals across the entire width of the lower edge of the windscreen. It also has a 17.9-inch central display touchscreen and a multifunction steering wheel with ‘Shy Tech’ controls that appear only when required. There’s also an updated version of its voice control system, a new digital key and an optional 3D head-up display.While BMW previously sold an electric 3 Series in China with the i3 badge, this is the first truly global 3 Series EV. It also marks a return of the i3 badge in Australia after the small tallboy hatchback that was discontinued in 2021.You can expect a Touring wagon version at some point, as well as high-performance electric M3 and lower grade models, too.

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