BMW says the previously announced i3 electric sedan will arrive in dealerships in the first quarter of next year, starting from $96,900 as the company relaunches its best-selling model in Australia.
Unveiled in March, BMW’s i3 sedan will come in two electric variants alongside two internal combustion engine variants – the first time BMW has developed a combustion-powered sedan alongside its fully electric counterpart.
“Few models have played a more important role in BMW’s history than the BMW 3 Series,” the company says. “Since the arrival of the first-generation model in 1975, the BMW 3 Series has become one of the world’s most successful premium vehicles, with more than 18 million sold worldwide.
“In Australia, the BMW 3 Series has consistently been the brand’s best-selling and most recognisable model, recording more than 185,000 deliveries and accounting for over 30% of total sales since 1991.”
Boasting an 800V architecture and DC charging capability up to 400 kilowatts (kW), the BMW i3 50 xDrive delivers maximum power of 345 kW and 645Nm of torque, with a driving range of up to 912 kilometres (WLTP).
The BMW i3 40 xDrive offers a reduced max power of 275 kW and 520Nm max torque, and a range of up to 710 kilometres (WLTP).
BMW says that both the i3 40 and i3 50 are expected to arrive “from” the first quarter of next year.
The BMW i3 40 xDrive will start from $96,900 before on-roads, while the more powerful i3 50 xDrive will start from $112,900 before on-roads. That compares to the starting price of $83,990 for the BMW 320 base petrol model and $128,900 for the higher performance M350 xDrive.
Their relative performance ratings are provided below. Interesting that the I3 50 xDrive delivers considerably more power and torque than the pricier petrol-baed M3540 Drive.
The full list of standard specifications for the two electric variants is available to read here, and a range of extras are available, including various wheel options, colour choices, steering wheels, interior styling, and the $4,200 M Sport Package.
