New SA-bound BMW i3 revealed: Bold new look, radical cabin and 900km on a charge
The BMW i3 is built on the Neue Klasse platform, designed specifically for electric vehicles.
Image: Supplied
The BMW i3, as you once knew it, is dead. Long live the new BMW i3.
Revealed in Munich on Wednesday, this sleek new sedan is not an electric version of the existing 3-Series sedan - it’s a new “from the ground up” model. Following in the footsteps of the all-new BMW iX3 revealed last year, the new i3 is the second model to be built around BMW’s all-new Neue Klasse platform that was designed specifically for next-generation electric vehicles (EVs).
But where does this leave the current internal combustion-engined 3 Series? Word on the street is that the 3 Series will be heavily updated, retaining its current ‘CLAR’ architecture but inheriting much of the new i3’s design language and cabin technology.
The sedan features aerodynamic lines and proportions optimized for efficiency.
Image: Supplied
The new i3 certainly is innovative. It features an 800-volt electrical system for faster charging and improved efficiency, while its ‘Gen6’ battery tech, featuring round lithium-ion cells, enables a claimed range of up to 900km on the WLTP cycle. This makes it one of the longest-range EVs on the market.
It supports DC charging of 400kW, adding up to 400km of range in just 10 minutes. The car also supports bidirectional charging, allowing it to function as a mobile power source.
But is it fast?
The BMW i3 50 xDrive uses dual electric motors producing 345kW and 645Nm, offering all-wheel drive.
Image: Supplied
That you can bet on: the i3 50 xDrive model features dual electric motors that deliver a combined 345kW and 645Nm, while also providing all-wheel drive. According to BMW, the pairing of an electrically excited synchronous motor at the rear and an asynchronous motor on the front axle improves efficiency while reducing energy losses by up to 40% compared to the previous generation.
Beyond straight-line performance, BMW says the i3 sets new standards for driving dynamics, with a low centre of gravity, advanced suspension setup and a new “Heart of Joy” control system that processes inputs up to 10 times faster than before, promising sharper handling and smoother responses.
The new BMW i3 is practically a supercomputer on wheels, with four “superbrain” computers taking charge of everything from the driving dynamics to automated driving functions, infotainment and comfort. Furthermore, over-the-air updates will improve the vehicle over time.
The i3 features a full-width Panoramic iDrive display and 17.9-inch central touchscreen.
Image: Supplied
The i3 also ushers in a radical new digital cockpit experience, with traditional displays making way for a “Panoramic iDrive” system that provides a full-width projection across the windscreen. It is complemented by a 17.9-inch central touchscreen and an optional 3D head-up display. The interface also features advanced voice control that uses AI and large language models.
It is highly customisable, and drivers will be able to tailor not just the screens, but the entire atmosphere of the car and its driving characteristics, through an improved “My Modes” menu. Owners will also be able to adjust how information appears across the Panoramic Vision display.
BMW South Africa says the new i3 will arrive on local shores during the first quarter of 2027, with pricing and range details to be revealed closer to the time.
IOL Motoring