BMW’s electrifying new 3 Series
Performance and dynamics remain key cornerstones of the first fully electric BMW 3 Series, which arrives boasting a Tesla-beating 900km of battery range.
The new BMW i3 electric sedan looks set to lob a hand grenade into the applecart of Tesla’s Model 3 when it arrives in Australia early next year boasting a battery electric range of 900km (WLTP).
The Model 3 is currently Australia’s best-selling electric sedan and boasts an impressive 750km (WLTP) range in Long Range RWD trim, but that figure will look positively anaemic against the specs of the slick new BMW i3.
BMW Neue Klasse platform powers next-generation EVs
Unveiled in BMW’s home town of Munich in mid-March, the i3 sedan is the second model to spring off the Bavarian car maker’s state of the art Neue Klasse platform, following the global debut of the iX3 medium SUV in September 2005.
Local pricing for the iX3 has already been released with deliveries of the first new variant, the iX3 50 xDrive, set to begin mid-year priced from $109,900.
BMW i3 vs BMW iX3: range and efficiency comparison
The iX3 features the same 108.7kWh battery that powers the i3 sedan, but the SUV’s blockier shape and heavier kerb weight means its maximum range of 805km trails the slipperier sedan by almost 100km.
BMW i3 performance, powertrain and outputs revealed
As with the iX3 SUV, the sedan lineup will be led by the launch of the BMW i3 50 xDrive, featuring an electric motor on both the front and rear axles delivering combined system output of 345kW/645Nm.
By way of comparison, the current-generation M3, BMW’s long-standing halo performance model, produces 335kW/550Nm from its 3.0 litre twin turbocharged inline six cylinder engine.
BMW i3 design: electric evolution of the 3 Series
As well as carrying the exhilarating performance and sporty character of the 3 Series nameplate into the electric era, the first fully electric BMW 3 Series carries forward some familiar 3 Series design cues with its sporty silhouette and 2.5 box design.
Other notable design features include a long wheelbase, prominently flared wheel arches, a low and wide stance, sloping glasshouse, and short overhangs.
Up front, a quartet of headlights flank a fresh take on BMW’s trademark kidney grille, creating a distinctive light signature, while at the rear horizontal taillights emphasise the i3’s low, wide stance.
BMW i3 interior, technology and digital cockpit
Inside, the spacious interior is geared towards driver-oriented sportiness, with a panoramic iDrive screen display stretching across the dash.
The vehicle operating system is powered by BMW’s so called ‘Heart of Joy’ high performance computer system, a trio of computers that form the centrepiece of the vehicle’s new software and electronics architecture, promising 10 times faster response than previous systems.
BMW i3 charging speeds
In addition to its impressive long-distance capabilities, the new BMW i3 can handle DC fast charging at up to 400kW, drastically reducing its charge time on the most powerful chargers.
BMW claims the i3, with its 800 volt architecture, can add up to 400km of range in just 10 minutes of charging.
The i3 also features bidirectional charging functions including Vehicle to Load, Vehicle to Home and Vehicle to Grid, although local details on these capabilities won’t be announced until close to the car’s Australian launch.
BMW i3 Australia release date and production details
The i3 will be manufactured at BMW’s home plant in Munich, with production due to start in August 2026 and Australia bound vehicles due here in early 2027.
The Milbertshofen plant has been producing combustion powered BMWs for more than 100 years but from 2027 it will switch to fully electric vehicles exclusively.
BMW is emerging as a leader in premium electrified vehicles with its current Australian EV portfolio comprising the iX1, iX2 and i4, all of which made a solid contribution to the brand’s record breaking sales in 2025, marking BMW’s third consecutive year as Australia’s best selling premium car maker.
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