BMW 3 Series adds i3

BMW has given its 3 Series an electric option for the first time, with the new i3 joining petrol-powered models in the sedan’s eighth generation.

The new lineup brings BMW’s Neue Klasse design and technology to one of its longest-running nameplates. The 3 Series dates back to 1975, when the first model rolled off the production line at the company’s Munich plant.

The fully electric i3 will initially come in two all-wheel-drive versions, the i3 40 xDrive and i3 50 xDrive. Both use BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive technology, with an 800-volt electrical system and newly developed batteries.

The i3 50 xDrive produces 469 horsepower and 645 Newton-meters of torque from its two electric motors. It can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 4.7 seconds and has a claimed range of up to 912 kilometers under the WLTP test cycle.

Its 108.7-kWh battery supports DC fast charging at up to 400 kilowatts. BMW says a compatible charger can add as much as 423 kilometers of range in 10 minutes under specified test conditions.

The i3 40 xDrive uses a smaller 82.8-kWh battery and produces 374 horsepower. Its claimed range reaches 710 kilometers, while maximum DC charging capacity is 300 kilowatts. A 10-minute charging session can add up to 337 kilometers of range under ideal conditions.

Actual figures will depend on road conditions, battery temperature and the power available from the charger.

BMW has also retained combustion engines in the new 3 Series. The entry-level 318 uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 156 horsepower, while the 320 produces 211 horsepower. Both feature 48-volt mild hybrid technology and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

At the top of the petrol range is the M350 xDrive, which uses a 3.0-liter inline-six engine with mild hybrid assistance. Its combined output reaches 443 horsepower, enough for a zero-to-100-km/h time of 4.1 seconds.

A plug-in hybrid version is due in 2027, along with the more powerful electric i3 M60 xDrive.

Despite their different powertrains, the new models share nearly identical exterior designs. BMW has revised its familiar kidney grille and headlights into a single visual unit. Short overhangs and wider tracks give the sedan a broader stance.

The electric i3 measures 4,760 millimeters long and has a 2,897-mm wheelbase. Interestingly, its wheelbase is 37 mm longer than that of the slightly longer petrol-powered sedan.

The cabin introduces BMW Panoramic iDrive, which projects vehicle information across the lower portion of the windshield. A 17.9-inch central touchscreen handles many of the car’s functions, while an optional 3D head-up display places additional information in the driver’s line of sight.

The electric models also feature BMW’s Heart of Joy computer, which coordinates power delivery and vehicle dynamics. BMW says the system processes control information up to 10 times faster than its previous technology.

BMW has yet to announce Philippine availability and local pricing for the new generation.