2025 BMW i3 electric sedan will offer an 800km range
What's the story
BMW is all set to launch its first fully electric member of the 3 Series family, the i3. The new model will be based on the Vision Neue Klasse concept first shown in 2023 and will sit on a bespoke electric Gen6 platform. The company has promised that this new addition will offer "sheer driving pleasure" and an impressive range of over 800km.
Market competition
The i3 will be a game-changer for BMW
The i3 will be a major player in BMW's plan to take on Tesla and Chinese premium brands like Xpeng and BYD's Denza. The car will come with different power outputs, including a high-performance electric M3. The launch model is likely to be a 50 xDrive, similar to the recently revealed iX3 SUV. It could offer up to 464hp and 650Nm from a dual-motor set-up powered by a 108kWh nickel manganese-cobalt battery.
Tech specs
The Gen6 platform supports charging speeds of up to 400kW
The Gen6 platform of the i3 has an 800V architecture that can enable charging speeds of up to 400kW. The car will also feature BMW's new Panoramic iDrive system, seen in the iX3. This system combines an angled touchscreen with a projected head-up display that runs the length of the front windscreen for displaying key data closer to the driver's eyeline.
Performance
The 'Heart of Joy' system is a major breakthrough
BMW's engineers have focused on making sure the i3 can match petrol 3 Series models in terms of ride and handling. The new centralized computing architecture, built around a greatly reduced number of processing chips, plays a key role in this. It includes the 'Heart of Joy' system that combines all driving experience controls for faster and more intuitive reactions.
Braking tech
Energy recuperation is another area where the i3 excels
The 'Heart of Joy' system also integrates the braking and energy recuperation systems, switching between them automatically to provide maximum stopping power. BMW claims that 98% of retardation can be done via the energy regen system.