BMW unveils electric 3 Series i3 with claimed WLTP range of 912 km

BMW has unveiled the new generation of its popular 3 Series. Most of the attention is on the electric version. The new BMW i3 50 xDrive electric sedan is claimed to offer a WLTP range of up to 912 km.

The car has an 800V electrical architecture and 400 kW DC fast charging, which puts it ahead in technology as well. According to the company, 10 minutes of fast charging can add up to 423 km of WLTP range.

The i3 50 xDrive has a dual electric motor setup. The car produces 469 hp of power and 645 Nm of torque. It has a 108.7 kWh battery and goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds.

BMW has also introduced a second electric version, the i3 40 xDrive. It has an 82.8 kWh battery and 374 hp of power, with a WLTP range of up to 710 km. Both electric models have one electric motor on each axle and come with all-wheel drive. The i3 M60 xDrive will follow next year.

The new 3 Series will also be offered with petrol, 48V mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. In the petrol range, the M350 xDrive is the powerful model. It has a 3.0-litre inline 6-cylinder engine and a 48V mild-hybrid system. The engine produces 443 hp and the car reaches 100 km/h from a standstill in 4.1 seconds.

The interior has also changed significantly. The new 3 Series gets Panoramic iDrive, a 17.9-inch central screen and an optional 3D head-up display. Operating System X can be controlled by touch, physical controls and voice commands. Features such as Amazon Alexa+ and Harman Kardon audio are also available.

The electric i3 is the first 3 Series built on the Neue Klasse architecture. It uses technology such as Gen6 eDrive, new cylindrical battery cells and bidirectional charging. The electric i3 will be produced at the Munich plant, while the petrol 3 Series will be built at Dingolfing.