BMW has confirmed that the highly anticipated BMW i3 will make its official debut on 18 March. A short teaser video posted on the brand’s Instagram account shows the front end of the upcoming electric (EV) sedan completely uncovered, briefly highlighting its startup animation.
In the video, the car is briefly shown under soft side lighting, subtly revealing its front fenders. As part of its startup animation, the BMW i3 also displays an illuminated kidney grille, giving us a clearer look at its front-end design.
While it shares the same design philosophy as the BMW iX3, the front end seems to look noticeably different. Instead of the vertically oriented kidney grille seen on the SUV, the sedan appears to use a horizontally positioned grille that sits flush with the headlight assembly.
So, what do we know so far? What has been confirmed is that the upcoming i3 will be the second model built on the dedicated Neue Klasse platform, similar to the one found on the iX3. Reportedly codenamed NA0, the car could potentially come in several variants including: i3 50 xDrive, i3 40 xDrive, and i3 40 sDrive (the RWD version). Of course, this will all be subject to different regions and may not be the same as it comes to our shores.
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So what do we know so far? The upcoming BMW i3 will be the second model built on BMW Neue Klasse platform, following the BMW iX3. Reportedly codenamed NA0, the sedan is expected to be offered in several variants, including the i3 50 xDrive, i3 40 xDrive, and a rear-wheel-drive version, potentially called the i3 40 sDrive. Of course, the final lineup will likely vary by market, so the variants available in Malaysia may differ.
Looking at the BMW iX3 in its 50 xDrive configuration, the model pairs a front electric motor producing 167 hp and 255 Nm of torque with a rear motor delivering 326 hp and 435 Nm. Combined, this results in a total output of 469 hp and 645 Nm. That’s enough to propel the SUV from 0-100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 210 km/h — an impressive figure considering its 2,360 kg curb weight.
Built on the 800V BMW Neue Klasse platform architecture, the BMW iX3 features a 108.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack delivering up to 805 km of range (WLTP). It supports 11 kW AC charging as standard, with an optional 22 kW onboard charger available. DC fast charging of up to 400 kW is also supported, allowing the battery to charge from 0-80% in just 21 minutes, or recover around 372 km of range in only 10 minutes. Expect the upcoming BMW i3 to boast similar numbers.
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While nothing has been shown of the interior just yet, the BMW i3 is expected to largely mirror the cabin design of the BMW iX3. This includes BMW Panoramic Vision, which spans the base of the windscreen. In the iX3, the setup is paired with a large 17.9-inch central infotainment display and a distinctive two/four-spoke steering wheel design.
The BMW i3 represents the next generation of the BMW 3 Series lineup, signalling a major shift for one of the brand’s most important models. While some purists may be disappointed that it’s launching as an EV, the sedan has been confirmed to debut first as a fully electric model, with internal combustion variants expected to follow later.An all-new BMW M3 is also reportedly in development, and is widely expected to retain a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine.
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