Overview
- The launch i3 50 xDrive pairs dual motors rated at 345 kW and 645 Nm with an 800‑volt system that supports up to 400 kW DC and optional 22 kW AC charging, with BMW claiming roughly 400 km added in about ten minutes under optimal conditions.
- BMW cites a usable battery capacity of about 109 kWh using new 4695 cylindrical cells in a cell‑to‑pack design, with initial supplies from CATL and EVE sourced from China before Hungarian plants ramp up.
- Pre‑series builds are already under way in Munich, and BMW has not released pricing; multiple outlets estimate around €65,000 for the first all‑wheel‑drive variant, with lower‑cost versions expected later.
- BMW positions the electric i3 as strategically central to the Neue Klasse and potentially more important than the combustion 3 Series in some EU markets.
- Audi separately revealed a revived A2 e‑tron and said production will start this year in Ingolstadt, though it withheld specifications and pricing.