The All-New BMW i3 Prices and Specs Revealed

Out with the slightly dated image of the G20 BMW 3-series and in with a fresh Neue Klasse look, and it’s nothing short of a revelation. And these comments are summed up by Mike Reichelt, Head of Neue Klasse BMW, who said: “The BMW 3 Series has been an icon of our brand for seven generations and therefore more than five decades. It encapsulates pure driving pleasure, innovation and timeless design. With the Neue Klasse and its technology clusters, we are literally skipping a vehicle generation. This is the DNA of our sporting saloon in a completely new vehicle concept as we write the next chapter in the BMW 3 Series success story”.

Price

Launching with the BMW i3 50 xDrive First Edition, priced from £57,905, it’s undercutting the outgoing petrol-powered BMW 340i xDrive by around £5,000 for similar speed, range and abilities. Order books are open now.

A less expensive BMW i3 50 xDrive will launch in the U.K. in the autumn 2026 and will be priced from £53,005, but there is a strong possibility that BMW will also offer the i3 with rear-wheel drive and the smaller 82.6 kWh battery pack, as found in it’s SUV sibling, the iX3.
Even with the smaller battery, it’s not difficult to imagine the i3 exceeding 400 miles of range, which could bring it into price parity with the petrol 3-series.

Exterior

The looks may cause a stir to traditionalists, but it’s worth remembering that when BMW revealed their oversized double kidney grilles for the 4-series and M3, there was a lot of online debate. Undoubtedly that did nothing to dent sales, and if you find this new i3 too striking and too different, I feel confident that views will change over time, and sales won’t be negatively impacted as a result.

However, BMW does offer a fresh direction. Gone is the oversized grille (which I welcome), and what has arrived is sharp, modern styling that strikes not just a fresh new look, but also a fresh new start.

BMW makes a stir with each generation of their new cars, and the three series is perhaps their most sensitive cars that they work hard to get right, as it’s one of their biggest, and most iconic sellers.

Interior

One departure from previous generations is the new BMW Panoramic iDrive with BMW Operating System X that offers a unique narrow display placed at the bottom of the windscreen that runs the width of the car.

BMW have moved the operating system so it’s optimised around the driver, keeping essential data in the eyeline and bringing other information into the periphery as it states “the multimodal operating logic of BMW Panoramic iDrive combines touch, haptic and voice-based interactions”. This replaces the old iDrive centre console wheel and interchangeable menus on the central display. The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant can also be controlled using natural language, thanks to integrated Alexa+.

As a central display, BMW has opted for a rhomboid shape, rather than a traditionally rectangular display. It’s a statement piece that does have a few drawbacks which is perhaps most noticeable when using Apple CarPlay or AndroidAuto, as these will sit in a rectangle within the rhomboid, rather than utilising the who retail area of the screen.
It is, nonetheless, striking, but I suspect that it might work better from the driver’s seat than the pictures suggest.

Performance

The BMW i3 50 xDrive is powered by a front and rear electric motor providing all-wheel drive grip, and a very agreeable 469 hp, with 645 Nm of torque. This will thrust the i3 from a standstill to 62 mph in just 4.7 seconds.

However, what may hamper performance a little is the weight of that battery pack. It’s powered by new cylindrical cells with a net capacity of 108.7 kWh, but the pack forms part of the structure of the car, reducing parts, and removing a little weight vs a non-cell-to-pack design.

Sitting on 800V architecture translates to extremely fast rapid charging times, with up to 263 miles of range added in just 10 minutes when using a 400 kW DC rapid charger. The i3 also supports bidirectional charging, too.

The First Edition offers a range of up to 563 miles on the combined WLTP test cycle, with the lower cost version (launching in August) expected to deliver 567 miles of range.

The First edition also gets the uprated onboard 22 kW AC charger over the standard 11 kW AC charger. This is only useful if you regularly use a three-phase supply as it slashes fast charging speeds by 66% over the normal 7 kW home charger, for example.

Equipment

As with many German brands, the options list is quite extensive and this is where customers really need to be cautious with the check box on the on-line configurator, because it can increase the cost of the car by many thousands. This flies in stark contrast to Chinese manufacturers that prefer a couple of trim lines and no options.

For example, even with the launch edition BMW will charge extra for rear seat heating, a panoramic glass sunroof with climate comfort glazing, and an electrically operated tow bar.
The BMW Digital Premium can also be specified at a cost that brings BMW Maps functionality, the Security Assistant and data for a wide range of entertainment.
On top of that, there’s also additional driving and parking functions offered that include Parking Assistant Plus, Parking Assistant Professional and the Motorway Assistant, all at an additional cost to the £57,905 asking price.

Colours, Wheels and Trims

Six exterior paint finishes are available for the BMW i3 50 xDrive First Edition, including new M Le Castellet Blue, plus there are three aerodynamic light-alloy wheels to choose from that are 19 inches or 20 inches in size.

There’s also a choice of interior trims from the Contemporary and BMW M-themed interior designs that are available in a variety of colours.

And then there is a range of steering wheel choices, including a white BMW Individual steering wheel (only in conjunction with the Contemporary interior design, Bicolour Digital White).

Conclusion

Whilst I welcome the new i3 and its new look, plus the petrol-car range over 560 miles and the super-fast charging speeds, this will undoubtedly get a lot of eyes on the EV industry and set the ball rolling for others to catch up in that regard.
But, that range comes with a very battery pack, the size of which used to be reserved for the luxury limo’s like the i7. This will add significant weight to the car, and this is where careful testing by automotive journalists will determine if BMW has disguised that mass well, whilst making it feel like a traditional 3-series to drive. That’s the challenge.

However, I’m always a little sceptical of seemingly reasonable list prices of German premium cars because invariably they miss a lot of equipment that other brands include and often with a lower price.
Having said that, it does offer a decent amount of customisation that will help customers pick what’s right for them.

And whilst the central display offers something different, it forgoes practicality where customers probably aren’t that bothered by a stand-out piece of screen design, especially if that retail space isn’t being fully used.

Other than that, BMW has moved the game on considiberally, both with the range offered, the charging speeds and price matching with equivalent petrol cars. The new i3 is a totally uncompromising electric car, with fantastic sharp styling, and i’m looking forward to seeing many of these on the roads in the coming months.

Author

Graeme Cobb is a car enthusiast who loves writing about cars, EVs and the automotive industry. 100% Amateur.

You can find Graeme on 𝕏 at @graeme_cobb