BMW (BMW.DE) officially unveiled its new i3 EV on Wednesday, a sedan loaded with the automaker’s sport-oriented DNA and a Tesla-fighting 440 miles of estimated range.
The new i3, the second model built on BMW’s next-gen Neue Klasse platform, is longer, wider, and taller than the outgoing 3 Series and previews the design of the upcoming gas-powered 3 Series, the standard bearer in the class.
The new BMW i3 50 xDrive. · BMW
The i3 launches with the 50 xDrive variant, an all-wheel-drive dual-motor setup pumping out 469 horsepower, putting it in direct competition with Tesla’s (TSLA) Model 3 Performance, which delivers 510 horsepower.
BMW is claiming 900 km of range on Europe’s WLTP cycle, translating to an EPA-estimated 440 miles on a single charge, with charging capability that can add around 250 miles in just 10 minutes. Tesla’s Model 3 Premium has 363 EPA-estimated miles of range, with the Performance coming in lower at 309 miles
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The new BMW i3 50 xDrive. · BMW
The i3 powertrain is based on sixth-generation eDrive technology with an 800-volt architecture and new high-energy-density batteries, with 0-60 mph targeting four seconds.
The interior also gets a significant overhaul, featuring a panoramic display stretching 40 inches across the instrument panel and an updated iDrive system, alongside BMW’s new Heart of Joy computing platform that operates 10 times faster than previous systems.
While US pricing hasn’t been released, BMW is expected to launch the car in the US at around $55,000, putting it above the Tesla Model 3 Premium AWD, which starts around $47,490, but right at the Model 3 Performance’s MSRP of $54,990.
Inside the new BMW i3 50 xDrive. · BMW
BMW said production kicks off in Munich this August, with European deliveries starting later in the fall. US deliveries are expected in 2027, with BMW likely bringing more performance variants along the way, including a fully electric M3 confirmed earlier.
The i3, along with the iX3 SUV and four additional upcoming Neue Klasse models, represents the single largest financial investment in BMW’s history, a massive bet that premium EV buyers are still around and will gravitate toward BMW.
The new BMW i3 50 xDrive. · BMW
EV sales in Europe have been climbing steadily, but in the US, the loss of federal EV tax credits has put a damper on sales.
Whether the i3 can chip away at Tesla’s grip on the premium EV sedan market in the US remains to be seen. But with its range advantage, faster charging, and BMW’s sporty reputation, the i3 is Tesla’s most credible challenger in the midsize premium sedan market.
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Pras Subramanian is Lead Auto Reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram.
