BMW i3 40 xDrive announced. BMW does not want to set a record of 1,000 WLTP range units for now; it prefers to reduce the battery size.

BMW unveiled the new BMW Series 3 and also announced that the BMW i3 40 xDrive and BMW i3 M60 xDrive M Performance will be available soon. The company could already claim a record WLTP range of 1,000 miles or more if it were to introduce the BMW i3 50 eDrive, but for now it hasn’t done so. And actually, it doesn’t have to, as competitors are either falling behind (Mercedes) or have other priorities or issues (Tesla, Lucid, Nio, Genesis).

New BMW Series… i3

The launch was primarily a celebration of the gasoline-powered BMW Series 3, but the photos released of the BMW Series 3 and the BMW i3 Neue Klasse allow for a direct comparison between the two vehicles. Observers who pay close attention will notice exactly the same issues as when comparing the Tesla Model Y to the Tesla Model 3: the gasoline version appears “underwhelming.” It also has a strangely elongated front grille, giving it an unproportional look. On the other hand, the BMW i3 resembles muscle cars due to its larger (?) side surface and the bulges on its grille:

The selective yellow lights in BMW Series 3 daytime running lights. During the day it doesn’t really matter, but those who have tested them at night know they’re not good. Fortunately, they aren’t legal in Europe. By the way, note the different grilles on both cars (c) BMW

From our perspective, the most interesting announcements are the BMW i3 M60 xDrive M Performance, which is set to arrive in 2027, and — perhaps the key piece of information — the BMW i3 40 xDrive. This reveals that BMW wants to retain all-wheel drive, reduce its power to 275 kW/374 hp, and cut the battery capacity to around 89 (82.8) kWh. The result will be a range of 710 WLTP units. The 0-100 km/h acceleration time for this variant is 5.4 seconds, and the price of the BMW i3 40 xDrive starts at 262,500 złoty:

The BMW i3 40 xDrive, with its largest wheels, may only have a WLTP range of 565 units, which is comparable to Volkswagen’s larger electric vehicles equipped with 82 (77) kWh batteries. Therefore, those seeking the longest possible range on battery power should avoid excessive visual tuning of their vehicle. The advantage lies in its ability to charge from 10% to 80% in 21 minutes, with a maximum charging power of up to 300 kW. Unfortunately [for customers], BMW sees Lucid as no competition, so it does not plan to develop the BMW i3 50 eDrive version, which features rear-wheel drive and the largest battery, potentially achieving a WLTP range of 1,000 units or more instead of the maximum 912 units.

The BMW i3 40 xDrive (on the left) and BMW i3 50 xDrive. The markings on the license plates are interesting, suggesting that these models were named “one tier higher” than originally planned. Or perhaps a slightly different car was expected to debut as part of the launch, such as the BMW i3 35 eDrive. But high demand for the new BMW i3 has prompted the manufacturer to focus on versions with higher profit margins.

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