BMW welcomes new i3 to the 3-Series family

The new BMW i3 was revealed on stage in Munich to a whooping and hollering crowd. It is significant in that the i3 was never formally a 3 Series, it was its own entity, but that has changed with this new i3 labelled as the eighth-generation 3 Series. 

BMW Chairman Oliver Zipse did well to get Car Design News on side by rocking up in a mint E46 3 Series, followed in concert by all six other generations of that model. “Each is a reflection of its era,” he said. “There are cars that belong to history, and those that make history. The 3 Series belongs in the second category. With each generation, we’ve refined it further and of course with […] emotional design.”

The BMW i3 was a groundbreaking vehicle at its launch in 2013 but it took time for the design to resonate. Its quirky exterior was polarising at best, and anecdotally has only really begun to gain curry favour among enthusiasts over the past few years. This new i3 is arguably much safer from a design perspective and carries a more conventional sedan bodystyle. 

Design cues showcased by the Vision Neue Klasse concept back in 2023 have largely made it through to production, most notably with that new light signature and wide kidney grilles that, unlike the production-ready iX3, do not stretch into the lower mask. 

In fact, that headlamp-grille combination evokes the design of the original i3 more closely than one might expect. The grille is now illuminated around the periphery and there is a whiff of ‘sharknose’ about the front end which evokes classic models like the E21 3 Series from the late ‘70s and ‘80s.

Driven onto stage in complete darkness, the front light signature cuts through and is incredibly distinctive. BMWs of old have always been recognisable from their lights, most notably with the iconic angel eyes of the late ‘90s and early noughties. The design may be striking, polarising even, but it performs a job that has always been asked of BMWs.

“The new kidney grille fits perfectly with a sporty sedan, combined with a sharp and precise live graphic, giving the new 3 Series a concentrated and modern look,” said design boss Adrian van Hooydonk.

In profile, the new i3 appears almost stout and muscular, at least in its top trim level. The diagonal cuts at either end of the side sills are particularly pronounced with lighter paintwork, emphasising its hips and front fenders in a way that the dark blue paint appeared to hide. The wheel design feels familiar and in keeping with the top end ‘CS’ line models in BMW’s existing line-up, and chunky rear treads dwarf the bicycle-like tyres of the original i3. 

With a sensible three-box sedan format and a market where EVs, touchscreens and intricate lighting are mainstream, there are far fewer risks this time

At the rear, the tail lamps are less pronounced and blocky compared to the Neue Klasse concept, tapering to thin bars as they meet at the central BMW emblem. Each corner bleeds into the rear arch, and viewed side on they do evoke the E90 design in some respects.

The interior is arguably defined by that quirky touchscreen that sits at a jaunty angle and, with corners lopped off at either end, almost has its own Hofmeister kink to it. (Is that a stretch too far?) The panoramic vision display occupies the far horizon of the dash spanning pillar to pillar, mirroring the user interface introduced earlier with the iX3. “It will feel modern and dynamic, putting the driver at ease and in control,” said van Hooydonk.

The IP is vast and low, split into two sections. In reveal spec, the lighter lower half wraps around the cabin and feeds into each door card at the side. The steering wheel is chunky with two vertical prongs connecting at north and south, with multifunctional touch pads within thumb reach.

In terms of performance, the top end i350 X-Drive powertrain option offers 645nm torque and 469 horsepower, with a reported 440 miles (900km) of range based on the WLTP cycle. “Unbelievable,” said Zipse. “It will make you want to take longer trips from now on.” 

Charging speed is also impressive; with a 400kW charger the car can replenish 400km of range in ten minutes. Series production of the i3 will begin in Munich this August, and will continue the trend of being offered in other silhouettes too, with a touring also on the way and no doubt a coupe and convertible.

The original i3 came at a time where electrified powertrains and innovative new materials were genuinely fresh and exciting for the industry. It pushed the envelope and helped steer both BMW and other brands into new territory. It was a risk.

This new i3 was never obligated to carry the torch in the same way, but with a sensible three-box sedan format and a market where EVs, touchscreens and intricate lighting are mainstream, there are far fewer risks attached.

Oh, and a penny for the thoughts of the drivers tasked with sitting motionless, in silence, during the course of the main presentations on stage this morning.