BMW’s electrification plans include a number of new and existing models going the electric route. And this will most certainly include the brand’s most popular offerings. While iX and the i4 are the more popular electric models that we know about, BMW seems to be working on a more affordable EV that will be quite practical as well. It’s the BMW i3 or the 3 Series equivalent that seems to be in the works and was recently spotted testing for the first time ever in Germany.
This is the BMW i3 sedan and not the i3 hatchback that recently went out of production. This i3 sedan will essentially wear an electric motor instead of an ICE one and make its way to markets like China, where the popularity is higher for such models. It will be interesting to see if it’s called the i3 given the naming confusion it could go on to create with the erstwhile hatchback.
But we have known that the BMW i3 sedan has been in the works for a while. It’s about the same size as the petrol and diesel-powered 3 Series, and is likely to look identical as well. But you could see some highlights to distinguish its electric nature. This will include blue accents on the kidney grille, along with an M Sport package. The upcoming i3 sedan will also get aero wheels as opposed to standard alloys in a bit to improve aerodynamics and range. And, of course, no exhaust tailpipes!
Inside, the BMW i3 sedan will carry over the 12.3-inch digital instrument console and a bigger 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The latter is expected to be a new unit and will be the biggest-ever in the 3 Series family. It will also feature the latest BMW iDrive 8 infotainment system that we saw on the iX. While details on the powertrain aren’t out, we do expect the BMW i3 sedan to make about 335PS from its electric motor with a range of around 483 km on a single charge.
The BMW i3 sedan is likely to come in the long-wheelbase guise for China. Something we know as the Gran Limousine edition. And possibly, the standard wheelbase version will make its way to markets like Europe and North America, maybe even India in the future. The BMW 3 Series electric is expected to begin production from next month onwards.
