BMW i3 Unveiled: It Will Be More Popular Than the Company’s Best-Selling "3-Series"

It might be hard to imagine a model more in demand than BMW's classic 3-Series sedan. Nevertheless, the company's new model is expected to open a completely new chapter. This fact is clearly reflected in the presentation of the BMW i3, which looks nothing like the previous "3-Series." Built on the new "Neue Klasse" platform, production will begin in Munich in August, with the first deliveries scheduled for the fall. The new BMW i3 differs fundamentally from the gasoline-powered 3-Series, not just in its powertrain but in its basic architecture. The "Neue Klasse" design stands out with its innovation: a unified block combining the kidney grille and headlights, flush door handles, and more prominent wheel arches. The car is equipped with the "Panoramic iDrive" system, a wide display located beneath the windshield, a media system with a 17.9-inch screen, an optional 3D head-up display, and a new steering wheel with illuminated control buttons. So far, information has been released for only one version—the "i3 50 xDrive." It is equipped with two electric motors (one on each axle) with a total output of 463 horsepower. The electric vehicle features the sixth-generation "eDrive" system, 800-volt architecture, and cylindrical battery cells. Its range on a single charge is 708 kilometers (according to EPA) or 900 kilometers (according to WLTP). The car supports charging up to 400 kW, which allows it to gain enough charge for 400 km in just 10 minutes. Additionally, the vehicle can provide electricity to external devices or a home, or even feed energy back into the general grid.