BMW Has A 3 Series-based i3 Electric Sedan For China

There’s a new BMW i3 electric sedan in the works for China based on the long-wheelbase 3 Series. It’s likely to be revealed sometime in 2022, possibly at the Beijing International Auto Show. It’ll slot below the i4 luxury sedan and rival the Tesla Model 3 in the Chinese market, but isn’t likely to be sold in other countries. 

In the unofficial images, the i3 has blue accents on the covered front grille, but closely resembles the ubiquitous 3 Series otherwise. You’d be hard-pressed to tell the EV and petrol sedan apart in the profile -- the i3’s aerodynamic wheels are the only difference. On a side note, the new i3 is nothing like the electric hatchback BMW had sold globally. 

The rear fascia features blue accents below the bumper and an ‘eDrive 35L’ badge on the tailgate. Sensors on the sides and at the base of the front bumper tell us that the i3 is likely to have adaptive cruise control and other driver assistance and active safety features. 

Also read: All-electric BMW i4: Technical Specifications And Interior Revealed

Reports suggest the i3 makes 340PS, so it might borrow some of its hardware from the rear-wheel-drive i4 eDrive 40 variant. If it also borrows the i4’s 83.9kWh battery pack, the i3 could boast range figures as high as 590km. BMW’s electric architecture allows for up to 200kW of DC fast charging (164km of range in 10 minutes of charging). 

BMW i4 interior image used for reference

Little is known about the new i3’s interior, since no pictures or details are available yet. The BMW i3 is expected to be loaded with features similar to the 3 Series sedan, and could feature the i4's twin-screen dashboard layout. It’ll rival the Tesla Model 3 in the Chinese market, and slot below the i4 in the carmaker’s lineup. 

Also read: Facelifted BMW 3 Series Sedan Leaked In China, Could Debut In 2022

The new i3 sedan isn’t likely to make it outside the Chinese market, so an India launch doesn’t seem to be on the cards. However, BMW is set to launch the i4 electric sedan in India sometime in early 2022. Watch this space and our Instagram handle for details about BMW’s upcoming luxury EV. 

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