BMW has unveiled its latest all-electric sedan, the i3. According to the first interior photo made by AutoHome, it looks much like its battery cousins X4 and i4 on the inside.
The image shows a large curved display divided into two screens. Other Bavarian EVs use a similar solution: for instance, the i4 has a single large display divided in two screens 12.3 and 14.9 inches large.
There are other features reminiscent of the i4, such as air vents in the middle, a compact access panel for some in-car functions, a controller knob, and a steering wheel. However, while the i4 features a transmission joystick, the i3 makes do with a small selector designed specifically for it.
From the technical point of view, the car is based on the stretched chassis of the 3-Series sedan produced by BMW and Brilliance for the domestic market of China. Exterior differences from that model boil down to a large backlit faux grille at the front end and a new bumper. We would not be surprised to see similar features in future 3-Series models.
As of right now, customers may only order the new i3 in one version called the eDrive35L. It uses a single electric motor on the rear axle to drive it with 286 PS (282 hp / 210 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. At 410 liters (14.5 cubic feet), the trunk size is smaller than the 480 liters (17 cu. ft.) of the ICE car.
A 70.3-kWh traction battery with an effective capacity of 66.1 kilowatt-hours grants the BMW i3 up to 526 kilometers (326 miles) of CLTC-rated driving range. The model tips the scales at around two metric tons (4,400 lbs) and needs 6.2 seconds for its standard sprint. Top speed lies at 180 km/h (112 mph).
The BMW-Brilliance Automotive JSC in Shenyang, China, will handle the production. Sales will start in May, and no pricing info is available at the moment. Making the model available abroad was not discussed.