Move over, Tesla – BMW is aiming for the crown of Australia’s longest range electric vehicle with an all-new mid-size electric sedan.
The BMW i3 is scheduled to come onto the Australian market in early 2027, initially in the 50 xDrive version with all-wheel drive and two motors – the only i3 variant described so far.
The 50 xDrive has a range of up to 900 km on the stricter WLTP cycle, outperforming the Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD sedan (750 km) and outperforming BMW’s existing i4 Gran Coupe with electric liftback (up to 613 km).
BMW points out that this range figure is preliminary, but even if it is reduced by a few kilometers it will remain market leading.
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The i3 features an 800V electric architecture and a battery that can be charged up to 400kW using DC, providing an additional range of up to 400km in a claimed 10 minutes, and up to 22kW using AC.
It also features bi-directional charging with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), Vehicle-to-Home (V2H), and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capabilities; Local details of this feature will be announced “in due course,” BMW Australia says.
The battery pack is made of round cells instead of the prismatic cells used in previous generation BMW electric vehicles.
While BMW hasn’t provided any information on battery capacity or chemistry for the i3, the iX3 50 xDrive midsize SUV – which is based on the same Neue Klasse EV platform and features the same dual-motor powertrain with the same outputs – uses a 108 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery.
The i3 will join the iX3, which goes on sale here later this year. The sedan’s slimmer shape has resulted in a 95 km longer range compared to its SUV brother.
The 50 xDrive’s powertrain features an electric motor at the front and rear, giving a total system output of 345kW and 645Nm of torque. The rear engine is the main engine.
That means the first i3 will be more powerful than the only i4 variant currently available in Australia, the rear-wheel-drive single-motor eDrive35 (210kW/400Nm), as well as the twin-motor all-wheel-drive xDrive 40 (295kW/600Nm), which isn’t sold here, although it’s not as loud as the i4 M60, a 442kW/795Nm M Performance model overseas available.
The i3 has a two-joint strut front axle and a five-link rear suspension, with optional adaptive dampers.
The design of the electric sedan is similar to the 2023 Vision Neue Klasse concept, although the “slat” look of the illuminated grille has given way to a more conventional interpretation of the brand’s classic double-kidney grille – albeit with even more extensive lighting than existing Bimmers.
There is an accentuated center section of the hood that culminates in the round BMW logo. Details at the front are angular, with a grooved bumper and daytime running lights reminiscent of existing BMW products.
To the side, there are short overhangs front and rear and a long wheelbase of 2,897 mm. Overall, the i3 is 4760 mm long, 1865 mm wide and 1480 mm high.
The i3 features a fairly conventional sedan silhouette – BMW calls it a “2.5 box design” – as well as flared wheel arches and the brand’s typical Hofmeister kink on the C-pillar.
BMW didn’t follow Mercedes-Benz’s mistake of giving its electric sedan a completely different silhouette than its combustion-powered counterpart, and the brand is expected to make its combustion-powered vehicles closely resemble its electric vehicles, even if they sit on different platforms.
The door handles are flush mounted and pop out, which will likely cause them to violate upcoming Chinese regulations.
At the back, the show car’s distinctive taillights have given way to somewhat more conventional units. These are sharply angled at the ends and run along the boot lid before reaching the BMW logo, which sits in a folded section of sheet metal.
BMW is presenting the i3 with the M Sport package in the new M Le Castellet Blue metallic finish and 21-inch M 1067 M aerodynamic wheels. A total of 11 exterior paint finishes will be available at market launch, including plain, “Frozen” (matt) and metallic paint finishes.
Inside, the i3 is very similar to the new iX3.
There’s a 17.9-inch driver-facing touchscreen infotainment system and an available head-up display, but the highlight of the interior is the huge BMW Panoramic Vision display that stretches across the lower portion of the windshield.
Important driving information is displayed on the left side in the driver’s field of vision, while the content displayed in the middle and right areas can be personalized.
There are several steering wheel designs, including one with a center spoke at the top and a flattened M Sport wheel, and these feature what BMW calls “Shy Tech.”
This means that keys are only illuminated when the corresponding functions are available and they provide haptic feedback.
The center console has a wireless phone charger as well as physical buttons for functions like the parking brake and hazard lights, but it’s largely a buttonless cabin.
A panoramic glass roof is optional, as are multifunction front seats. Econeer upholstery, a recyclable textile composite, is standard. Veganza faux leather and Merino leather covers will be available.
The i3’s interior is available in a variety of colors depending on upholstery and seat type, including Adelaide Grey, Vivid Grey, Agave Green, Digital White, Castanea and Black.
BMW’s New Class vehicles have four high-performance computers, each of which is assigned a core function. For example, the so-called “Heart of Joy” manages driving dynamics and is said to react ten times faster than previous systems.
The German automaker has also divided the electronics into four zones, which helps reduce wiring harness complexity and reduce weight.
BMW promotes the i3’s “Symbiotic Drive” system. This means Level 2 autonomous driving technology with systems that do not turn off when the driver intervenes, resulting in “the symbiotic interaction between driver and vehicle,” according to the brand.
As expected from a new electric vehicle, BMW has made extensive use of recycled materials.
The front bumper, for example, is made from 30 percent recycled plastic and is 85 percent recyclable – compared to 46 percent for its predecessor – while the base material of the engine compartment cover is made from 30 percent recycled marine plastic.
The i3 is a dramatic departure from previous BMWs that bore the nameplate. The first i3 was a city car with carbon fiber construction and a quirky design, while the second was a China-only electric version of the previous 3 Series.
Production of the new i3 will begin in August 2026 in Munich, Germany, before launching locally in early 2027. In 2027, BMW will switch to the exclusive production of New Class electric vehicles at its main plant in Bavaria.
MORE: Discover the BMW i3 showroom
