BMW has opened order books for its new i3 electric sedan, confirming technical specifications for the all-electric 3 Series replacement.
The BMW i3 50 XDrive First Edition launches at £57,905, ahead of the full model rollout this autumn.
This special launch edition builds on the regular 50 xDrive specification. Standard features include electrically adjustable seats, three-zone automatic climate control, heated steering wheel, 3D head-up display and Harman Kardon stereo. The First Edition also gets 22kW AC charging capability.
Regular Model Pricing and Competition
Starting autumn 2026, the standard BMW i3 50 xDrive will cost £53,005. That’s considerably more than the current hybrid 3 Series but undercuts the rival Mercedes C-Class at £57,995.
The i3 delivers significantly more range than Mercedes’ offering – and becomes the UK’s longest-range EV.
The regular 50 xDrive covers up to 567 miles per charge. This impressive range comes from a massive 108.7kWh battery pack and BMW’s latest sixth-generation eDrive technology.
Performance and Charging Capabilities
BMW uses a dual-motor setup for all-wheel drive, producing 463bhp and 476lb ft of torque. That’s the same arrangement found in the iX3 SUV.
The four-door sedan accelerates from 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds.
Peak DC charging reaches 400kW – meaning the i3 can add 249 miles of range in just 10 minutes of charging.
BMW hasn’t confirmed additional powertrains for the i3, but a single-motor rear-wheel-drive variant seems likely. The company already offers the iX3 with this configuration, using a rear-mounted 316bhp motor and 82.6kWh battery for just under 400 miles of range.
If BMW launches a rear-drive i3, it’ll likely start around £50,000.
High-Performance M3 Variant Coming
BMW has confirmed plans for an all-electric M3 based on the new i3 platform.
The performance sedan – previewed at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans – should go on sale in 2027. It’s expected to use a 1,000bhp four-motor setup for exceptional performance.
