“When it [Neue Klasse] hits the market, it will be concentrated on the 3 Series segment and at that point in time the market will have developed into a size where it is reasonable to have only one drivetrain in that architecture.”

The second part of his statement is interesting as Zipse suggests there might not be a need for a combustion engine anymore. As a refresher, Neue Klasse was announced as a platform mostly dedicated to EVs, but with ICE support. Zipse’s comment indicates it might evolve into an electric-only architecture.

Neue Klasse Will Be Used From The 3 Series And Upwards

BMW’s top brass added Neue Klasse will be “mainly focused on the midsize segment. It does not cover from the lower segments all the way to the luxury segments”. Separately, a company spokesperson told ANE “there is more to come” following the initial model due in 2025.

What else is known about the Neue Klasse? The luxury brand has already ruled out swappable batteries. Solid-state batteries will be supported, while high-performance M cars riding on the NE underpinnings are planned. Expect “bold and meaningful” designs from the new wave of EVs. These will make use of recycled materials and sustainably sourced steel.

Before a global electric counterpart of the 3er arrives in 2025, BMW has technically unveiled a regional model already. The i3 eDrive35L will be made and sold in China as a long-wheelbase 3 Series Sedan turned into an electric vehicle.

Source: Automotive News Europe

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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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Next up, the BMW i4 won Top Gear’s Best Electric Exec award. It seems that the BMW i4 gets praise for everything the 3 Series used to get praise for; sharp driving dynamics and powertrain, a simple but handsome and well-made cabin, and a silky smooth powertrain. The only complaint is that it doesn’t make a classic straight-six noise. Much has been said about the cost of the BMW i4, since its release. Surprisingly for a BMW, that talk has been positive. Despite its M3-conquering performance, the BMW i4 M50 is actually cheaper than its gasoline-powered sibling from the M Division. Even when it’s fully loaded, to its maximum possible spec, the BMW i4 M50 is still only about $2,000 more than the base-spec BMW M3 Competition xDrive.

In addition to the BMW iX and i4 receiving some awards from Top Gear, another electric BMW received an even bigger, more important award. The BMW i3 was given an EV Lifetime Achievement award. It’s nice to see the i3 get some recognition and, when TG explains why the i3 is still more spacious and lighter than the far newer Honda E.

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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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While most vehicles enjoy their best years in terms of sales during the first part of the life cycle, it was the other way around for the i3. So much so that BMW extended the model’s production run to meet strong demand. You could say it aged like a fine wine, but all good things must come to an end. Why is the company pulling the plug now?

Customer tastes have changed, and people are looking for something else when shopping for EVs. Specifically, the typical buyer wants a bigger and therefore more practical car than the i3. That’s the explanation given by a BMW spokesperson in an interview with German publication Automobilwoche, a sister site of Automotive News. But it’s not the only reason.

The company representative went on to specify electric cars should look “normal” in the sense they should mirror combustion-engined models. Well, that’s certainly not the case for the i3. While any other car from 2013 looks more or less outdated, the diminutive hatchback still seems like it traveled back from the future.

Automobilwoche says “quite a few BMW employees” have found the exterior design polarizing, mainly due to the unconventional shape. Apparently, the styling has “deterred many customers”. Even to this day, it’s unclear whether i3 has made any money with the EV and its range-extending counterpart.

The other EVs don’t have the same design “problem” as the i3 since BMW has shaped them like traditional cars. It will be the same story with the 7 Series / i7 and 5 Series / i5 pairs. The iX1 and MINI Countryman EV – which are seen as the i3’s indirect replacement – won’t rock the boat design-wise. In addition, the BMW spokesperson believes the two have the potential to generate much higher sales than the i3 by being considerably larger and consequently more spacious.

[Source: Automobilwoche via Automotive News Europe]

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Based on the long-wheelbase 3er built and sold in the People’s Republic by the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture, the i3 Sedan will be available with a 70.27-kWh battery pack. It will store enough juice for 526 kilometers (327 miles) of range, which represents a decent figure at a first glance. However, the rating is based on the overly optimistic New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), so an equivalent WLTP figure would be much smaller, and a hypothetical EPA rating would decrease the number furthermore.

Officially labeled as the BMW i3 eDrive 35L, the China-spec electric sedan will be 4872 millimeters (192 inches) long, 1846 mm (72.7 in) wide, and 1481 mm (58.3 in) tall, with a wheelbase of 2966 mm (117 in). By having to carry around a large battery pack, it goes without saying the zero-emissions 3 Series is a lot heavier than its combustion-engined counterpart. Case in point, it tips the scales at 2,029 kilograms (4,473 pounds), which is more than the BMW M5.

Equipped with a single electric motor, the purely electric sedan will offer 335 horsepower (250 kilowatts) and an instant torque of 410 Newton meters (302 pound-feet). An acceleration figure has not been disclosed, but we do know the EV tops out at 112 mph (180 km/h), which is likely electronically governed.

In terms of efficiency, it will consume 14.3 kWh for every 62 miles (100 kilometers) covered, but we’d wager that’s going to be possible only with the standard 18-inch alloy wheels since the optional 19-inch set will likely negatively impact the range.

BMW has yet to formally unveil the i3 Sedan in China, although an official premiere should be right around the corner.

Source: d1ev.com

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Revealing images of the 2022 BMW i3 Sedan have been published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and it didn’t take too long for them to make the Internet rounds. The reinvented i3 is based on the locally produced 3 Series Long Wheelbase, which makes sense since a longer distance between the axles allows the engineers to install a larger battery pack.

The fact BMW is using the i3 moniker suggests the little hatch is on its way out since it would be rather confusing to sell two entirely different EVs with the same name. The exterior design is pretty much the one we all expected, featuring the typical blue “i” accents, a closed-off grille, and aerodynamically optimized alloy wheels.

The grainy images make it hard for us to decipher the model’s designation on the trunk lid, but we believe it says eDrive 35L. The first half suggests we are dealing with a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive variant as otherwise it would’ve said xDrive thanks to dual motors. The “35” indicates it’s a lesser-powered version, with the documentation provided by MIIT revealing it packs 335 hp (250 kW). However, the output matches the i4 eDrive40 available globally.

Additional technical specifications include the vehicle’s size, stretching at 4872 millimeters (192 inches) long, 1846 mm (72.7 in) wide, and 1481 mm (58.3 in) tall, with a wheelbase of 2966 mm (117 in). It weighs 2,029 kilograms (4,473 pounds) and is offered with a choice between 18- and 19-inch alloy wheels. It tops out at 112 mph (180 km/h), which is likely electronically limited. Details about the battery and range are not available for the time being.

Much like the conventionally powered long-wheelbase 3 Series Sedan, the fully electric i3 represents a product of the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture in China. An official reveal is likely a few weeks or months away.

Note: BMW 330e plug-in hybrid sedan pictured at the top

Source: China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) via cochespias / Facebook

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In this new comparison test from Car Magazine, we get to see which used electric car is the best buy in the UK and the BMW i3 is one of the contenders.

The BMW i3 faces some tough competition in this comparison; the Nissan Leaf, Renault Twizy, Renault Zoe, and even the Tesla Model S. Admittedly, most car enthusiasts wouldn’t even blink and take the Tesla. Objectively speaking, the Model S is a better electric car than the i3 in every possible way.

However, the Model S is expensive on the used market and its main selling points are its charge network and supercar straight-line performance. . If you’re someone who can charge at home often, it might not be worth the extra cost, especially because its ride isn’t great for UK roads, its steering is lifeless and slow, and it can suffer quality issues that no other car in the test will.

While the BMW i3’s battery range is laughable compared to the Model S’, as is its charge speed, the little electric Bimmer can be had for much cheaper than the Model S and it’s more interesting to drive. It still feels futuristic today, thanks to its carbon chassis and funky interior, its visibility outward is SUV like despite sitting relatively low to the ground, and its steering and driving dynamics are far more fun than anything else in the group.

The other cars in the test have their merits as well but, in reality, it’s a two-horse race between the Tesla and the Bimmer. Which one is best? Read the story to find out.

[Source: Car Magazine]

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As you would expect from such a limited-run product, the Unique Forever Edition will come with a special combination of colors and equipment and will be available in both standard i3 configurations and i3s. According to BMW, the naming of the new special edition refers to the unique character of the world’s first premium automobile designed from the outset for purely electric mobility.

The edition vehicles are characterized by particularly high-grade and exclusive design and equipment features. Two BMW Individual paint finishes will be available for the first time for the BMW i3: Aventurine Red metallic variant is combined with an accent in Frozen Grey metallic and the Storm Bay metallic paint finish with an accent in Frozen E-Copper. The interior surfaces of the BMW grille are also finished in the respective accent color.

Other special features include the omission of the trim strip and model lettering on the luggage compartment lid and a black insert for the rear bumper. In the interior of the edition vehicles, the contents of the Suite equipment world – including the Vernasca Dark Truffle leather combination, the leather instrument panel, the fine wood surface in dark matte oak, the leather steering wheel, the Carum grey roof lining and the ambient lighting – are supplemented by specific design elements.

The front headrests are embroidered with the words “Unique Forever”, the door trim panels in the area of the exterior mirrors bear the inscription “One of 2,000“. All the special edition models will be built, as usual, in Leipzig, using wind power alone. Of the 2,000 units scheduled for production, 350 are reserved for the German market alone. BMW didn’t publish any photos of the models at the time of writing but we’ll keep you posted once they do.

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Sales and supply didn’t help its case either. According to InsideEVs, BMW of North America sold only 511 units of the i3 electric hatchback in Q2 2021. The total number of i3 models delivered to U.S. customers in 2021 reached 851 units. Cumulatively, BMW sold in the U.S. 44,473 i3 since its market introduction in 2014. Over the last 12 months, the i3 inventory for the U.S. was at its lowest point and customers often had difficulties securing a production slot. Current dealer bulletins suggest that there are only around 180 production slots remaining.

BMW’s first production series electric car was off to a rocky start in 2013, but over time, it gained a cult and became a good seller for the Bavarian automaker. The i3 hatchback with its quirky looks but fun driving dynamics is a popular choice in Europe, especially in the Northern hemisphere.

When BMW launched the i3 and i8 in 2013, the two projects were not only considered the most advanced within BMW, but also in the automotive world. The first electric BMW and also the first hybrid sportscar from Munich made use of BMW’s knowledge in carbon fiber construction, but at a much larger scale. The cars were innovative when it came to sustainability, production processes and manufacturing of series cars, and have won several awards over the years.

Overall, the i3 was and still is a successful BMW product. It might not have the sales numbers to back it up, but the entire company has certainly profited from its birth.

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