The BMW 3 Series is an essential series of the BMW brand that has been synonymous with sporty driving pleasure for decades. In its latest version, the legendary generation is getting a new fully electric BMW i3 50 xDrive, which combines the well-known characteristics of the BMW 3 with new and improved features. The second model of BMW Neue Klasse, BMW i3 50xDrive, represents a leap into a new era of car manufacturing.
Sporty aesthetics and electromobility
BMW i3 50 xDrive sports both back and front electric motor with the combined system power output of 345 kW/469 hp and the maximum torque of 645 Nm. The recognizable sporty silhouette is reflected in the new 2.5-box design, featuring a long wheelbase, short overhangs, and a rear-sloping greenhouse. The four-eyed face features twin headlights and a BMW-style radiator grille. The rear of the BMW i3 is defined by horizontal rear lights. Design-wise, the new Neue Klasse vehicle also represents a contemporary interpretation of BMW’s Sedan design features.
Prominently flared wheel arches accentuate the car’s sporty appearance, while the interior feels spacious and is designed with electromobility in mind. The interior uses all the possibilities of the vehicle concept, as well as the concept of driver-oriented sportiness. Defined by the new BMW Panoramic iDrive, the interior offers a new level of user-focused design.
Smart e-systems
The new BMW Panoramic iDrive presents a new level of BMW trademark driver orientation, ensuring a comfortable ride. The Heart of Joy computer provides ten times faster responses than the previous systems. In combination with 3 other superbrain high-performance computers, the Heart of Joy truly is the heart of BMW’s new software and electronics architecture. Sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology consists of extremely efficient electric motors, 800-volt technology, and new high-voltage batteries with new round cells. Assisted driving experience has been lifted to a new level with BMW Symbiotic Drive.
Battery and charging
Perfect for long rides, the new BMW i3 can go up to 900 kilometers on one charge, while charging times are reduced by 400 kW in 10 minutes (in accordance with ISO 12906 in the WLTP cycle). Due to its cell-to-pack design a flatter high-voltage battery is able to reach high energy densities at pack level while sporting a flatter high-voltage battery. The model also boasts bidirectional charging functions such as Vehicle-to-Home, Vehicle-to-Grid, and Vehicle-to-Load (that required an optional AC charging Professional).
The car is made in BMW’s home factory in Munich, Germany. Production will start from August 2026, while the delivery will begin in the autumn this year. One year later, the production portfolio will be switched to fully electric vehicles only. After decades of excellence in sports vehicle manufacturing, BMW has entered the era of modernisation, embracing electric cars, new technologies, and modern design.
