BMW unveils the i3 sedan based on the "new class" platform

The new BMW i3 electric sedan will enter mass production in August this year at the company in Munich, with first deliveries starting this fall. This was announced on March 18 by the press service of the German brand as part of the presentation of the new model.

The BMW i3 shares the Neue Klasse ("new class") platform with the iX3 crossover, which was introduced last year, and shares styling with it both externally and internally. The dimensions of the novelty are 4760 × 1865 × 1480 mm with a wheelbase of 2897 mm.

The electric sedan is presented in the modification 50 xDrive, which has a twin-engine all-wheel drive power plant with a capacity of 469 hp (645 Nm). The dynamic characteristics and battery capacity have not yet been disclosed, however, it is stated that according to the WLTP calculation method, an electric car can travel 900 km on a single battery charge. The latter, when charged from a fast 400-kilowatt station, can replenish energy for 400 km in 10 minutes. The battery can power external household appliances.

The interior features a small number of physical switches, and functions are controlled via a menu on the 17.9-inch central display. A Panoramic Vision screen with customizable widgets stretches from rack to rack. Like the iX3 crossover, the sedan is equipped with four supercomputers, which BMW calls "superbrains" responsible for the operation of various electric car systems.

Despite the appearance of the electric BMW 3 series, the Bavarian brand is not going to abandon the fuel option: it is expected that the model with an internal combustion engine will replace the generation this year.

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The day before, it was reported that BMW had turned an April Fool's joke into a racing car. A year ago, BMW prepared images of a non-existent station wagon racing car for April 1. The reaction of the brand's fans and car enthusiasts on social media to this model "turned out to be overwhelming," which prompted BMW to build such a car in reality.

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