BMW is developing an all-electric 3-series vehicle. We’d previously identified him as Erlkönig. The first images of the Chinese manufacturing model are now available.
The photos, which originate from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), show a long version of the entirely electric BMW 3 Series for the Chinese market. The BMW is identified as the i3 in the recordings as a model identifier.
As a result, the 3 Series is identical to the tiny electric car that Bavaria uses in the rest of the globe. The word eDrive 35L is also visible on the boot lid. Chinese paperwork accompanying the images reveal a power output of 250 kW (340 hp), which corresponds to the designation 35L.
And, given it reads eDrive rather than xDrive, it’s safe to infer that this model, like the 286-horsepower iX3, is exclusively available in China.
The electric drive in the China i3 would have the same power as the i4 eDrive40, which BMW likewise specifies at 250 kW. The i4 eDrive40 in this nation has a torque of 430 Nm and a gross battery capacity of 83.9 kWh, according to the manufacturer. WLTP ranges of up to 590 kilometers are possible with the i4.
The previously spotted Erlkönig is nearly identical to the current G20 3 Series, with slight differences at the front and back. The exhaust tailpipes are lacking in the rear apron, for example, and the front apron is more closed in the bottom section.
Last but not least, the “Electric Test Vehicle” label already revealed what was being tested on the road.
Is the electric 3 Series then referred to as the i3?
The name of the BMW electric 3-series has yet to be decided. From a marketing standpoint, the BMW i3, as the vehicle is likely to be known in China, should make sense, although the little i3 Stromer will continue to be produced in this nation until 2024. BMW might be able to assist themselves by labeling the vehicle “BMW i3 Sedan.” After the BMW i4, the i3 car is expected to join the market in 2022.
On the CLAR platform, the 3rd Electric
The electric BMW 3 Series, like the BMW i4, is built on a modified CLAR chassis from Bavaria. It’s made for cars with internal combustion engines, such as the BMW 3 or 4 Series, as well as electric vehicles.
The BMW 3 Series is presently only available in a plug-in hybrid version 330e with 292 horsepower and a range of 62 to 71 kilometers, depending on whether the buyer opts for rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or the Touring station wagon.
Keyword: BMW 3 Series Electric 2022: Electric 3 Series Called i3