We got a first look at the new car in Spain last year, and while there was a lockdown on the media sharing images and details of the car until now, reasonably accurate AI-generated renderings quickly began to surface on social media following the preview.
The i3 is the second of BMW’s Neue Klasse designs to be launched, following in the tyre tracks of the superb iX3, the first models of which have been appearing on Irish roads over the last few weeks.
These Neue Klasse cars represent a departure for BMW. They are blank-canvas designs that incorporate the very latest battery technology, driver assistance and infotainment systems.
The 3 Series has always been the bedrock of BMW sales, so it is fair to say this i3 Neue Klasse is a big deal for the manufacturer.
If the iX3 order book is anything to go by – you can’t get one of those until next year – the i3’s impressive spec and range are sure to make it a seriously attractive proposition for private and fleet buyers in Ireland.
Alan Murphy with the BMW i3
In terms of styling, it’s a case of evolution rather than revolution with the new car. Those classic 3 Series proportions are still there, albeit with a slightly futuristic shark-nosed look at the front and some funky new lighting.
The car looks beautiful in the metallic “M Le Castellet Blue” launch colour, which accentuates the Neue Klasse design cues – particularly the “valleys” on the bonnet and the boot – and gives the car a chameleon-like appearance in different lighting. Flush door handles and gloss black accents give the car a sleek profile.
Inside is the new tech and styling first seen on the iX3, and the layout and use of technology here is similarly exceptional.
Gone is the bolt-on widescreen dash that has been a feature of new BMWs for the last three years, replaced with the new Panoramic Vision display and Free-Cut central display screen.
Projected on to a black space at the bottom of the windscreen, essential information is displayed closer to the driver’s eyeline than on a traditional instrument cluster, while much of the information shown can be customised by swiping widgets on the high-resolution central screen.
It is slick technology that really works on the road.
The launch models feature the Veganza “Digital White” interior and that slightly weird steering wheel from the iX3.
The rear of the BMW i3
The white looks beautiful when new, but time will tell how this will look after a few thousand kilometres of use. The darker options might be a safer bet for most customers and can be brightened up with an optional panoramic glass roof.
The real promise of the i3, however, lies under the skin. The Gen6 eDrive system uses dual motors on the front and rear axles and features 800-volt technology.
To increase efficiency and range, the four-door saloon has a completely closed, smooth underbody, and the top-end model will sit on specially designed 21-inch aerodynamic M-Sport rims.
Power output is a claimed 469hp, with a healthy torque figure of 645Nm.
The 400KW DC charging capability would see 400km of range added in 10 minutes on suitable high-powered chargers.
The claimed range for the i3 50 xDrive launch model is a remarkable 900km (WLTP).
Given the efficiency we achieved at the iX3 launch, that should translate into a safe 750-800km real-world range on a single charge – game-changing territory for a car in this segment.
Pricing in Ireland and on-the-road launch dates for the BMW i3 will be confirmed in October.