- BMW will reveal electric 3-Series sedan on March 18.
- Neue Klasse i3 could have up to 500 miles of range.
- Electric M3 and new-look ICE 3-Series arrives later.
BMW has confirmed the debut date for its next big electric car, and this time we mean really big. The new i3 sedan will officially break cover on March 18, bringing battery and bold new styling power to the brand’s best known model line.
Yes, BMW already sells the i4, but that car is technically an electric version of the 4 Series Gran Coupe and uses yesterday’s tech. And though BMW technically already sells an electric 3-Series in China, the upcoming i3 will be the first one built from the ground up as an EV and sold globally.
Related: New i3 And 3-Series Spy Shots Reveal BMW’s Most Striking Split Yet
Don’t worry though, it’ll be followed by a combustion 3-Series that gets an almost identical Neue Klasse visual makeover, but is based on an updated version of the CLAR platform found under today’s ICE-powered model.
Sharper, But Heavier
The teaser image posted on Instagram doesn’t give much away besides the debut date and a clearer idea of it’s new LED face, though BMW did promise the car will be “sharper, smarter and more thrilling than ever.” Based on prototypes and earlier concepts, plus its iX3 SUV sister that debuted last fall, we’ve got a pretty good idea of what that means.
The new i3 is part of BMW’s Neue Klasse architecture, a clean sheet EV platform designed to underpin dozens of upcoming electric models. It also brings a new design language that mixes retro BMW cues with futuristic minimalism.
Kidneys Reimagined
Up front you’ll find a glowing reinterpretation of BMW’s famous kidney grille, though it’s more of a light graphic than an actual grille. Thin diagonal LED signatures will also become a hallmark of the Neue Klasse lineup, a bit like how Peugeot made LED claw marks its motif.
Photos BMW, Baldauf
Inside, the i3 will introduce BMW’s new Panoramic iDrive interface. Instead of a traditional instrument cluster, information is projected across the base of the windshield, though you also get a central touchscreen. BMW says the goal is to keep important data closer to the driver’s natural line of sight while reducing clutter inside the cabin.
500 Miles In One Go
Under the skin things are even more cutting edge, with the latest iX3 again giving us some big clues as to what to expect in terms of spec. BMW’s new 800 volt electrical architecture supports charging speeds up to roughly 400 kW, meaning it’ll be able to add more than 230 miles (370 km) in just 10 minutes on a fast charger, and some versions will offer around 500 miles (806 km) of WLTP range.
The launch model’s powertrain will likely mirror the iX3 SUV’s with a dual-motor setup producing roughly 469 hp (476 PS / 350 kW), though more versions will follow, including milder, more affordable single-motor models, hotter M-lite performance variants and, eventually, an all electric M3.
