- BMW i3 - the full reveal
- Electric 3 Series begins production in August 2026
- Will be the world’s longest-distance EV with 559-mile range
- Sporty shark-nose design with new horizontal kidney grille
- ‘Shy Tech’ and ‘Soft-Stop’ innovations explained
Say hello to the BMW i3 - a ground-breaking new saloon that’ll boast the longest range of any EV in the world.
When the i3 - BMW’s new electric 3 Series - arrives later this year it’ll be capable of travelling a colossal 559 miles on a single charge
That’s more than any EV currently available, eclipsing the likes of BMW’s own iX3 (up to 500 miles), the Volvo EX60 (up to 503 miles) and the Lucid Air Grand Touring (not yet available in the UK but which gets a 512-mile range).
Production begins in August 2026 - and it’s sure to be one of the most in-demand cars on the face of the planet when it hits roads.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the BMW i3?
The i3 is BMW’s electric take on the long-running 3 Series. And to quote Anchorman, it’s kind of a big deal.
The 3 Series is an absolute lynchpin of the BMW range, having graced our highways since the mid 1970s and having also sold like hot cakes ever since.
The latest i3 isn’t just fully electric for the first time, it’s also wearing brand new clothes.
They come in the form of the German firm’s fresh ‘Neue Klasse’ design language, which is also seen in the recently-launched iX3 SUV.
Die hard 3 Series fans needn’t be worried. BMW says the car’s silhouette is ‘instantly recognisable as a 3 Series’ and it gets a ‘2.5-box stance’ with a long wheelbase, short overhangs, flush door handles and sloping roofline.
There’s an aggressive shark-nose with a sleek, horizontal kidney grille that should sit well with motorists who’ve grown weary of BMW’s overbearing and in-your-face front ends of recent years.
The car is seen here in Saloon form but a Touring estate model is also on the way.
What about the existing BMW i4? It's set to be discontinued next year, with the electric baton passed to the i3 instead.
What’s the range of the BMW i3 electric 3 Series?
This is where things get VERY interesting.
We already knew that the BMW i3 would be launching with the all-wheel drive ‘50 xDrive’ powertrain - the one you can also get in the iX3 SUV.
And we already know that the iX3 is capable of travelling 500 miles between trips to the plug. We expected the i3 to beat its SUV sibling on range thanks to the fact that it’s sleeker and more aerodynamic.
But we perhaps weren’t quite prepared for a stated 559-mile figure - a range that absolutely obliterates the competition. The BMW i3 will be the world’s longest distance EV - and by some margin.
Underpinning everything is a high-end 800-volt electric architecture and new high-voltage batteries with energy-dense cylindrical cells.
Charging speeds of up to 400 kW can add around 249 miles (400 km) of range in just 10 minutes.
Drivers can also charge their BMW i3 at AC speeds up to 22 kW while bidirectional charging (which turns an EV into a mobile energy storage unit) is a given.
How powerful is the new BMW i3 electric 3 Series?
The BMW i3 will launch with the 50 xDrive model before other variants join the party.
A 112 kWh battery powers two electric motors (one on the front axle, another on the rear) and they provide power of 469 hp and 645 Nm torque.
BMW hasn’t yet told us how fast the i3 saloon will accelerate, but you’re looking at a sprint of around 4.0 seconds flat.
What’s the cabin of the BMW i3 like?
Space age is about right - the i3’s interior looks absolutely glorious.
The cabin is dominated by BMW’s Panoramic iDrive, which consists of four key components: the BMW Panoramic Vision display, the optional BMW 3D Head-Up Display, the driver-oriented 17.9-inch Central Display and the new multi-function steering wheel.
Yep, it’s the same steering wheel you get in the BMW iX3 and will divide opinion.
That steering wheel also comes with new ‘Shy Tech’ wizardry, which ensures the buttons on the wheel are only lit when the actual functions are available.
The idea here is that you can access what you need safely and more efficiently without ever needing to take your eyes off the road.
Elsewhere there are electrically operated door openers and you can upload a selfie to the infotainment system so that the car can personally greet you when you get in.
What is the BMW Heart of Joy?
The Heart of Joy is BMW’s fancy new name for one of its high-performance superbrain computers.
The Heart of Joy primarily manages driving dynamics, while separate computers are dedicated to automated driving and parking, infotainment, and essential and comfort functions like vehicle access and climate control.
BMW says they offer up to 20 times higher computing power compared to previous models.
Why is that a good thing?
Well, with the Heart of Joy, that better responsiveness translates to a sharper and more agile driving experience.
BMW explains: “The Heart of Joy reduces the number of necessary control interventions. The resulting cornering behaviour is more consistent and predictable, which contributes to an even greater feeling of safety.”
There’s another bit of tech called ‘Soft-Stop’. Here the electric motors' precise control ensures the new BMW i3 ‘decelerates smoothly without any jerks or braking noise’.
As with a lot of modern EVs with so-called ‘one-pedal driving’, regenerative braking does the lion’s share of the graft while traditional friction brakes are only needed during sporty driving or when emergency braking is required.
Full UK pricing and model spec will follow later in the year.
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