Although not necessarily noticeable, the eDrive35L sits 44 mm (1.73 inches) lower than a gasoline- or diesel-fueled 3 Series. The i3 Sedan is the first 3er ever with air suspension, albeit it’s only at the rear axle. Another change we’ll see on the global 3 Series is the switch to the iDrive 8 shared with the i4. The latter’s bulky gear lever has made way for a simplified switch in the same vein as the iX’s. It sits next to the familiar blue start/stop button and the dial to control the latest-gen infotainment.

As a refresher, the BMW i3 is based on the locally produced long-wheelbase configuration, hence the letter “L” at the end of the car’s name. The i3 Sedan is not the only China-built electric BMW as the iX3 is also produced there. However, the difference between the two is that the RWD-only crossover is available in export markets.

Source: 科技小辛 / YouTube

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BMW China talks about redesigned LED headlights with new angel eyes. In addition, the i3 Sedan also gets the so-called Angel Wings with LED projectors doing their thing when you open the doors. The BMW i3 sedan also gets the iDrive 8 operating system while the bulky gear lever has been replaced with a small switch.

One feature tucked away in the press release represents an absolute novelty for the 3 Series. For the first time since the model line was introduced in 1975, the i3 Sedan gets air suspension. It’s only for the rear axle and comes to improve the ride quality as seen in superior BMWs. Compared to a combustion-engined 3 series, the i3 sedan has been lowered by 44 millimeters (1.73 inches).

Air suspension is long overdue considering archrival Mercedes C-Class has had Airmatic for many years. It’s unclear whether the facelifted 3 Series for international markets will gain this feature.

Source: BMW China

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The top model is the BMW i3 eDrive35L in a RWD configuration with a rear electric motor. With 282 hp (210 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) on tap, it’ll do 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) run in 6.2 seconds. Just like the iX3 also made in China, the i3 sedan uses components developed for the Gen5 eDrive powertrain also found in the i4 and iX.

The 3 Series swallows 480 liters of cargo, but the i3’s volume is 410 liters due to the added hardware. Once the battery is depleted, it’ll take 35 minutes to charge it from 10% to 80% using a DC connection at 95 kW. Should you be in a hurry, 10 minutes of DC charging equate to 60 miles (97 km) of range. Using AC, the battery pack is charged at 11 kW.

Facelift Design

Furthermore, the BMW i3 eDrive35L comes with redesigned headlights and sharper daytime running lights. As for the taillights, we can only see a section in a cutaway where they appear to be unchanged.

It gets the typical closed-off grille with blue accents and an “i” badge, along with a resculpted front bumper. Additionally, a look at the side profile reveals aerodynamically optimized wheels and charging ports on the front-left and rear-right fenders.

The silent and stretched 3 Series Sedan has a bespoke suspension catering to China’s roads. It was developed by BMW in collaboration with joint-venture partner Brilliance. The two will assemble the car at the factory in Lydia, Shenyang, with no plans to export the i3. Sales start in May.

Source: BMW

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