BMW i3 Officially Introduced as 3 Series Shifts to Electric Power

Jakarta (ANTARA) - BMW has officially introduced the BMW i3 50 xDrive, which marks a major shift in its product lineup as the first model from the iconic 3 Series to fully transition to electric power. According to Arena EV on Wednesday (18/3) local time, this latest model is part of the new generation “Neue Klasse” platform, which promises a significant leap in electric vehicle technology. The BMW i3 50 xDrive is equipped with two electric motors positioned on the front and rear axles. This combination produces power of up to 345 kW or around 469 horsepower with torque reaching 645 Nm, delivering the characteristic performance of a sports sedan. The signature “four-eyed” headlights on the front are retained, but now integrated into a unified headlight and grille design. The vehicle’s interior is designed to be more spacious thanks to the absence of a conventional engine and transmission tunnel. One of the key features is the BMW Panoramic iDrive system, which introduces a new interface for driver interaction with the vehicle. For range, the BMW i3 can cover up to 900 kilometres based on the WLTP standard. The vehicle also supports DC fast charging up to 400 kW, allowing an addition of around 400 kilometres of range in 10 minutes. The battery technology employed adopts an 800-volt system with cylindrical cells, enabling higher energy density in a more compact size. Production of this model will take place at BMW’s main plant in Munich, Germany, which has been upgraded to support electric vehicle manufacturing. Mass production is scheduled to start in August 2026, with the goal of fully transitioning all production at the facility to electric vehicles by 2027. The first deliveries of the BMW i3 are planned for autumn 2026, with an initial price estimated at around €46,900 (Rp912 million) for the standard variant.