BMW i3 sedan specs leaked

UPDATE, January 5, 2022: The new China-only BMW i3 electric sedan's specs have been leaked shortly after news of the car first broke, giving a better idea of what will underpin the four-door.

A 70.27kWh battery pack will be used to provide energy which powers the i3's 250kW electric motor, producing 410Nm of torque and achieving a driving range in excess of 520km on the NEDC cycle.

External dimensions aren't dissimilar from its internal combustion engine-powered 3 Series counterpart – length is now 4872mm (+43mm), width is bumped up to 1846mm (+19mm) and height now stands at 1481mm (+18mm).

According to BMW Blog, the interior will feature BMW's iDrive 8 infotainment system with two LCD screens – likely borrowed from the i4 and iX – while 5G mobile network functions are also expected to be included as standard equipment.

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The story to here

December 9, 2021: BMW's latest electric vehicle has been revealed as a Chinese market-only 3 Series, adopting the i3 name previously used by its revolutionary EV.

Leaked documents from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology show an application for the BMW i3 to be sold in the world's largest new car market, detailing the tech specs of BMW's latest EV.

Powered by a 250kW electric motor on the rear axle, the i3 features eDrive 35L badging on the boot, likely referencing the rear-wheel electric drivetrain (as opposed to xDrive AWD) and its 335 horsepower output.

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The documents claim a top speed of 180km/h, which is reasonable given the i3's 2029 kilogram kerb weight, while the car is fitted as standard with 18-inch wheels all round, upgrading to 19-inch alloys for those who want them.

Also shown off are the optional extras available for the i3, with BMW's distinctive grille given blue highlights (as per the rest of its electric range) in addition to different lower valances.

It's not yet known whether we'll see an all-electric 3 Series on the road outside of China in the near future, but with BMW pushing for a wider range of EVs starting with the i4, iX3 and iX, it's likely the i3 will serve as an experiment in popularity amidst the world's most competitive new car market.