BMW unveils its best-kept secret: this is the new i3

BMW has just unveiled in Munich the design of the long-awaited i3, its second model based on the Neue Klasse following the debut of the iX3 SUV last September. Although the official presentation of this electric saloon will take place later, the Bavarian brand did not want to wait another day to show us its definitive look.

The name i3 is not new for BMW: the original model was a pioneering compact fully electric car with a carbon fibre structure and a completely innovative design that marked an era.

Now, the i3 returns, but it plays a very different role, as the electric flagship of the brand’s mid-size range, forming part of the legendary 3 Series.

Without a doubt, it is a BMW of the Neue Klasse

The design shown by the Bavarian brand in Munich remains very close to the Vision Neue Klasse prototype presented in 2023, with only minimal adjustments to make it production-ready: the lines are slightly softer, elements such as the black recycled-plastic front splitter have been removed, and an air intake has been added below the number plate. In any case, it keeps distinctive features such as the integration of the headlights with the kidney grille in an innovative light signature, horizontal rear lights that almost reach the central logo, a long wheelbase, short overhangs and pronounced wheel arches that reinforce its dynamism.

What is truly revolutionary, however, is under the bodywork. Built on the Neue Klasse platform with a 800-volt architecture, the i3 features sixth-generation motors and the advanced Heart of Joy system, a central computer ten times faster than its predecessors, capable of precisely managing dynamic behaviour and power delivery.

The version presented, the i3 50 xDrive, combines all-wheel drive with two motors, which together deliver 345 kW and up to 645 Nm of torque. BMW promises a provisional range of up to 900 km under the WLTP homologation cycle, well above the 805 km of its bigger sibling, the iX3. This is the result of a battery of approximately 108 kWh with large cylindrical cells (4695 format) in a cell-to-pack arrangement, greater aerodynamic efficiency and general optimisations.

Regarding charging, the new i3 supports a maximum power of 400 kW, making it possible to add up to 400 km of range in just ten minutes. It also includes bidirectional charging (Vehicle-to-Load, Vehicle-to-Home and Vehicle-to-Grid).

You’ll feel right at home

Inside, the characteristic steering wheel of the Neue Klasse, the tilted central screen and the Panoramic iDrive, the display that stretches from one side of the windscreen to the other and which it also shares with the iX3, are present.

Finally, it should be noted that BMW has confirmed the upcoming launch of a Touring (estate) version to add more versatility.