Overview
- BMW’s launch variant, the i3 50 xDrive, features dual-motor all-wheel drive rated at 463 hp and 645 Nm, using a front asynchronous motor and a rear electrically excited synchronous unit on sixth‑generation eDrive hardware.
- The 800‑volt architecture enables DC fast charging up to 400 kW (22 kW AC), with BMW claiming under ideal conditions about 249 miles of range can be added in 10 minutes.
- Manufacturer estimates put range at roughly 440 miles, with a targeted 559–560 miles on the WLTP cycle, exceeding any current Tesla, while official EPA figures and pricing are still pending.
- Neue Klasse advances include a cell‑to‑pack cylindrical battery for higher energy density, bidirectional charging (V2L, V2H, V2G), Panoramic iDrive displays, Alexa‑based voice control, and a new multi‑computer ‘Heart of Joy’ system enabling features like smoother ‘Soft‑Stop’ braking and OTA updates.
- Series production begins in Munich in the second half of 2026 with first European deliveries later in 2026 and U.S. sales in 2027 as BMW transitions the plant toward all‑EV output.