BMW has opened reservations for the new 2027 i3 electric car in the United States one week ahead of the expected date, citing strong demand for the model from the outset. Customers can place a reservation through the company’s website for $1,000, with the initially available car configured in a single version: the i3 50 xDrive.
Long Range and Fast Charging
The car is based on the Neue Klasse platform and the Gen6 eDrive electric drive system. It is the second BMW electric vehicle to use this system after the iX3 SUV. The first version has two motors and all-wheel drive, with total output of up to 463 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque, enabling acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds.
BMW estimates the driving range at between 446 and 468 miles according to the standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s EPA tests. The 800-volt high-voltage architecture also allows between 191 and 208 miles of range to be added in 10 minutes when using DC charging at up to 400 kilowatts.
The car comes with an integrated NACS port, allowing the use of Tesla’s Supercharger network without a separate adapter. It also supports bidirectional charging; it can be used as a portable power source through a vehicle-to-load adapter, or supply power to the home during an outage through the vehicle-to-home feature.
Equipment and Price
Inside, BMW offers a Panoramic Vision display extending along the base of the windshield, alongside a 17.9-inch central infotainment display running the latest version of Operating System X. A 3D head-up display on the windshield is also available as an option.
The i3 50 xDrive starts at $61,500 and rises to $62,850 after adding the $1,350 destination charge. This makes the car approximately equal in price to the new iX3 in the United States, but clearly more expensive than the Tesla Model 3, which starts at $38,630, and the Mercedes CLA EV, which starts at $47,250.
What Changes in Practice?
The new i3 combines a stated range approaching 468 miles, very fast charging, native compatibility with the NACS standard, and the ability to supply power to devices and the home. However, these capabilities come in a relatively expensive sedan, making comparison with less expensive models a decisive factor for buyers, particularly because the stated range figures are test estimates and not a guarantee of actual performance in all driving conditions.
BMW intends to add an i3 60 xDrive version during 2027, with special equipment from the M division, including a distinctive front lighting design and the option of M Yellow Lights. The company has not announced the price of this trim, but the source expects it to exceed $65,000. On the other hand, the new model has received more than 100,000 orders in Europe, according to the source.