BMW i3 Breaks Cover As An All-electric Long Wheelbase 3 Series Equivalent

• Electric powertrain makes 286PS/400Nm, with a 0-100kmph sprint in 6.2 seconds and a 180kmph top speed.

• A 70kWh battery pack helps it run up to a CLTC-claimed 526km.

• A DC fast charger gives it a 10-80 percent charge in 35 minutes.

• Features updates similar to the upcoming facelifted 3 Series, as well as a closed-off kidney grille, aero alloy wheels, and  blue accents below the rear bumper.

• Borrows the i4’s twin-screen setup, running BMW’s latest i-Drive 8 user interface.

• Gets ADAS assists such as active cruise control, automatic park assist, and emergency brake assist.

• Currently exclusive to the Chinese market.

After getting our first glimpse of an all-electric 3 Series sedan via leaked images in December 2021, BMW has now officially taken the wraps off the i3 in China. Yes, the i3 name isn’t new as it used to be a tiny hatchback, but now a luxury sedan adorns this moniker.

Let’s start with the biggest differentiating factor between the i3 and the 3 Series, that is its powertrain. Instead of an internal combustion engine, the i3’s got a similar electric powertrain to the iX3, making 286PS and 400Nm. That’s enough to propel the sedan from 0-100kmph in 6.2 seconds, with a top speed of  180kmph. 

A 70kWh battery pack juices up the electric motor and helps the i3 cover up to a CLTC-claimed (China Light-duty Vehicle Test Cycle) 526km on a single charge. But keep in mind that China's CLTC standards tend to be a bit lenient, so the numbers should drop while testing in the WLTP cycle. As for charging, a 11kW AC charger can do a 0-100 percent charge in 6.75 hrs, while a DC fast charger can juice up the i3 from 10-80 percent in just 35 minutes. 

Looking at it from the outside, the BMW i3 seems to be a preview for what to expect with the upcoming 3 Series facelift whose images had surfaced in China back in July 2021. For starters, we’ve got a revised front bumper featuring a more pronounced air dam, and new arrow-style LED DRLs. The rest of the i3 looks largely identical to the 3 Series aside from a closed-off kidney grille, swanky dual-tone aerodynamic wheels, and blue accents below the rear bumper. Look closer at the rear, and you’ll notice the eDrive35L, with the ‘L’ denoting a long wheelbase trim. 

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

Head inside, and the cabin layout seems to be largely similar to the 3 Series, except for when you look at the top of the dashboard, featuring the biggest change. The i3 will borrow the all-electric i4’s twin-screen setup, comprising the 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and 14.6-inch infotainment unit. More importantly, it runs BMW’s latest i-Drive 8 user interface with a range of digital and personalization party tricks that can be controlled via touch inputs or voice commands. 

In terms of safety, it comes with the ADAS suite of driver assists that include forward collision warning, active cruise control, emergency braking assist, a collision prevention system with lane correction function, and automatic parking assist.

While the BMW i3 is exclusive to China for now, expect the all-electric 3 Series to show up in other markets towards the end of this year. While an India launch isn’t likely to be on the cards, the carmaker is bringing the i4 this year as the third electric offering from BMW India after the iX and the Cooper SE hatchback.