Just when you thought the days of small sedans might be numbered, BMW has gone ahead and made them desirable all over again with its all-new BMW i3.
Drop-dead gorgeous in the flesh, the first ever all-electric BMW 3 Series is clean, bold and unashamedly sporty, while the i3’s shapely wide front and rear arches and squat proportions manage to provide a hi-tech and modern look while referencing some of the brand’s glorious back catalogue.
Upfront, we think many will love the new interpretation of the kidney grille that has slimmed down and switched to a neat horizontal illuminated narrow graphic.
It’s almost as if the current M4’s horrific toothy Bugs Bunny jump scare snout never happened.
Speaking of which, a wild 750kW M3 with quad-motors has already been locked in for launch, while the sedan’s body style will be joined next year by a wagon i3 Touring.
MORE: BMW’s new iX3 electric car
The regular 3 Series petrol, diesel and hybrid versions, meanwhile, will come later and should share the i3’s looks but, beneath the skin, be based on an entirely different platform.
For now, BMW has detailed just one version of its new electric sedan, the i3 50 xDrive powertrain that is shared with the closely related iX3 SUV.
Consisting of a pair of motors, the i3 blends 345kW of power and 645Nm of torque with an incredible ability to cover up to 900km on a single charge.
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Unlocking a longer range than any current EV on sale in Australia, BMW says the combination of a large battery (thought to be 108kWh), low drag coefficient and remarkable powertrain efficiency were all key to the unbeatable range.
Highlighting their advances, engineers claim not only is the powertrain 10 per cent lighter, but they’ve slashed energy losses compared to the last i4 by as much as 40 per cent.
When you finally need to plug it in, BMW says the i3 can charge at up to 400kW, with as much as 400km of range added in just 10 minutes, although charging with a more common Australian 400-volt charger will be much slower.
Behind the wheel, the Heart of Joy super brain has been promised to have a transformative effect on the driving experience, working 10 times faster, with 20 times more computing power than ever before, expertly managing the powertrain and trick on-board chassis tech.
Sadly, with mass-scale production only set to start this August, it will be a while before we find out if it the i3 is the pick of a growing litter of fast battery-powered small sedans that will soon include an electric Mercedes C-Class.
MORE: The wild EVs coming to Australia in 2026
Until then, we can appreciate that the i3 is almost as appealing within as it is out.
Like the iX3, the BMW sedan embraces the German brand’s new Panoramic iDrive thin screen that stretches from pillar to pillar and, as well as displaying the speed, is completely configurable.
Below it, mounted centrally, is a large 17.9-inch infotainment screen that’s now tilted towards the driver and runs BMW’s latest slick operating system but, like the iX3, there’s a distinct lack of physical buttons.
Deduct more points for the ugly steering wheel that has spokes at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock and the fact it uses haptic touch buttons, although in BMW’s defence, in the mid-size SUV we found they weren’t as easy to accidentally trigger as the same tech used by VW.
Finally, in the rear row, legroom is acceptable but headroom is limited – the price you pay for those lines but there is at a least a large boot and a small frunk to carry charging cables.
Like the iX3, the i3 will come with a hands-off cruise control that cleverly automatically suggests lane changes on the highway and only needs you to check the mirrors to approve switching lanes.
With up to 11 exterior hues available and a choice of both leather or Econeer for the seats that employ recycled textiles, BMW says you now only need to drive one to two years depending your local energy source before you offset its higher carbon footprint, compared to a petrol equivalent, with the proportion of plastics employed in its construction rising to around 85 per cent.
Since pricing is set to be released late next year, we have no idea what premium BMW will charge for the new i3 but, even without driving it, the new German small sedan is shaping up to be one the hottest EVs to ever be launched Down Under.
