The new 3 Series breaks with a 50-year tradition by dropping diesel engines, while retaining petrol versions with 48-volt mild-hybrid systems. BMW has introduced the electric i3 on its Neue Klasse architecture as the battery-powered option in the new line-up. The i3 is a clean-sheet electric sedan, distinct from the combustion-powered 3 Series, and shares its Neue Klasse platform with the iX3 electric SUV. The architecture brings BMW's sixth-generation battery technology and an 800-volt electrical system.
Spain's launch edition is the i3 50 xDrive, listed at €74,650 with deliveries scheduled before autumn ends. Its dual-motor system produces 469bhp and 645Nm of torque, while the 108.7kWh battery supports a claimed 912km on the WLTP test cycle. Acceleration from 0 to 100km/h takes 4.7 seconds. BMW's reported figures also include a 0.21 drag coefficient and energy consumption of around 18kWh/100km.
That certified range is not a motorway estimate. BMW expects about 700km of sustained motorway driving, a substantial difference for buyers planning longer journeys. Independent road tests have also recorded lower ranges under harder use: Finews estimated around 500km after 200km of spirited driving, while BMWBlog reported consumption of about 16.1kWh/100km during a harder-use test, equivalent to an estimated 676km from a full battery.
DC charging is rated at up to 400kW through the car's 800-volt system. BMW says that under suitable conditions the car can recover around 423 to 424km of WLTP range in ten minutes; a 10–80% charge is reported to take about 21 minutes. Charging performance depends on the charger, battery temperature, state of charge and charging curve. BMW also plans the i3 40 xDrive, with a 374bhp output and an 82.8kWh battery associated with a stated range of up to 710km. It is reported to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds and accept DC charging at up to 300kW.
The €74,650 figure is the stated launch-edition price; the Honda Prelude report illustrates why Spanish car offers need their cash and finance terms kept distinct. BMW has not specified financing conditions for the i3 in the supplied details.
Petrol versions begin with the 318 at 156bhp. The 320 produces 211bhp, while the six-cylinder M350 xDrive tops the combustion range at 443bhp. BMW plans to add plug-in hybrids and a high-performance i3 M60 before 2027.
BMW also plans to enable Level 2 hands-free driving on motorways in 21 countries, including Spain, by the end of 2026. Electric i3 production is assigned to Munich, while combustion versions will continue to be built in Dingolfing.
