•Oportunidade antecipada para encomendar o BMW i3 50 xDrive.

•Segundo modelo da Neue Klasse.

•Os modelos da Neue Klasse são sinónimo de progresso tecnológico, sistemas de propulsão potentes, elevada autonomia e tempos de carregamento reduzidos.

•O “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” inclui um equipamento completo e amplas possibilidades de personalização.

• Preços atrativos para o BMW i3 50 xDrive no modelo base (65 500 euros) e para o “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” (74 000 euros)

Munique. A BMW inicia uma nova e emocionante era no prazer de condução com o seu segundo modelo da Neue Klasse - o novo BMW i3. Os clientes podem fazer as suas encomendas do BMW i3 50 xDrive totalmente elétrico na versão “First Edition” antes do lançamento oficial no mercado, exclusivamente nos concessionários BMW.

Jochen Goller, Membro do Board of Management of BMW AG, Customer, Brands, Sales, afirma: “O novo BMW i3 é um automóvel revolucionário para nós. Sendo um modelo totalmente elétrico, irá competir num segmento de grande volume e é, por isso, extremamente significativo para o BMW Group. Ao mesmo tempo, já podemos constatar, pelo elevado nível de interesse neste modelo, que será muito bem recebido pelos nossos clientes. O início das encomendas a 18 de junho na versão “First Edition” – antes do lançamento oficial no mercado – constitui um importante passo neste sentido.”

O novo BMW i3 – o segundo modelo da Neue Klasse a ser lançado – também personifica o salto tecnológico dado pela marca. A tecnologia BMW eDrive de sexta geração altamente eficiente, alia-se ao novo BMW Panoramic iDrive e ao “Heart of Joy” para elevar o “Sheer Driving Pleasure” a um patamar totalmente novo. A experiência de condução assistida entra também numa nova era com o BMW Symbiotic Drive. Além disso, o BMW i3 traz uma interpretação moderna das características de design emblemáticas de uma berlina BMW.

Os clientes poderão configurar o seu novo “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” com uma série de equipamentos adicionais para complementar o já extenso equipamento de série do veículo. Isto inclui o Pack Desportivo M, o Pack exterior BMW Iconic Glow e o BMW 3D Head-Up Display. O “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” pode ser encomendado pelo preço de 74 000,00 EUR (WLTP, combinado [EnVKV]: consumo de energia 16,1–13,5 kWh/100 km; emissões de CO₂: 0 g/km; classe de CO₂ A) e oferece uma autonomia de 758 – 906 km. Com a sua tecnologia de 800 V, o sistema BMW eDrive de sexta geração do BMW i3 50 xDrive permite uma potência máxima de carregamento de até 400 kW. Após dez minutos de carregamento em corrente contínua, isto traduz-se em 423 km de autonomia.

No lançamento oficial no mercado, no outono de 2026, o BMW i3 50 xDrive (WLTP, combinado [EnVKV]: consumo de energia 16,1 – 13,4 kWh/100 km; emissões de CO₂: 0 g/km; classe de CO₂ A), na versão de série e com uma autonomia de até 912 km estará disponível ao preço de 65 500,00 EUR.

Mike Reichelt, Head of Neue Klasse BMW, explica: “O BMW Série 3 tem sido um ícone da nossa marca há sete gerações e, por conseguinte, há mais de cinco décadas. Personifica o puro prazer de condução, a inovação e o design intemporal. Com o Neue Klasse e o seu conjunto tecnológico, estamos literalmente a saltar uma geração de veículos. Este é o ADN da nossa berlina desportiva num conceito de veículo completamente novo, à medida que escrevemos o próximo capítulo da história de sucesso do BMW Série 3.”

O BMW i3 exemplifica a nova linguagem de design da BMW: centrada no essencial, num estilo moderno e inconfundível.
Com o seu design de 2.5 volumes, o novo BMW i3 oferece uma interpretação moderna das proporções características de uma berlina desportiva BMW – sendo imediatamente reconhecível como um BMW Série 3. A sua silhueta é definida por uma longa distância entre eixos, uma superfície envidraçada recuada e pequenas saliências. Familiar, mas também nova, é a frente com quatro faróis, uma assinatura típica da marca. A linguagem de design “Neue Klasse” orienta a nova interpretação da icónica zona dianteira. A dupla grelha BMW - tal como os seus faróis - fundem-se numa assinatura luminosa inovadora, tornando-a numa peça de design única. Os faróis traseiros, com a sua horizontalidade acentuada, apresentam a forma abstrata de um “L”. As jantes realçam a postura desportiva do novo BMW i3.

Elevando o foco no condutor a um novo patamar.
Os interiores modernos e dinâmicos caracterizam a linguagem de design “Neue Klasse”: O habitáculo espaçoso do novo BMW i3 permite-lhe explorar todo o potencial de uma arquitetura de veículo totalmente orientada para a mobilidade elétrica.
O BMW Panoramic iDrive com o Sistema Operativo BMW X utiliza um ecrã e um sistema operativo exclusivos numa nova dimensão orientada para o condutor. No seu cerne está o BMW Panoramic Vision, que projeta conteúdos ao longo de toda a largura da parte inferior do pára-brisas. A lógica de funcionamento multimodal do BMW Panoramic iDrive combina interações táteis, hápticas e por voz. O BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant desempenha aqui um papel fundamental, permitindo que inúmeras funções do veículo, a introdução de destinos de navegação e os conteúdos multimédia sejam controlados através de uma linguagem fluída.

O BMW i3 dá um salto tecnológico com o sistema de propulsão elétrica de sexta geração.
O primeiro BMW Série 3 totalmente elétrico possui um motor elétrico no eixo dianteiro e outro no eixo traseiro, que, em conjunto, produzem uma potência total de 345 kW/469 cv. O binário máximo é de 645 Nm. O BMW i3 50 xDrive acelera dos 0 aos 100 km/h em 4,7 segundos. O novo “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” apresenta motores e valores de desempenho idênticos.
No novo BMW i3, a tecnologia BMW eDrive de sexta geração, altamente eficiente, une forças com o supercomputador “Heart of Joy” e o sistema de condução BMW Dynamic Performance Control. Em conjunto, conferem ao veículo características de condução seguras e extremamente precisas. O “Heart of Joy” responde dez vezes mais rápido do que os sistemas anteriores e reduz o número de intervenções de controlo necessárias. O resultado eleva o “Sheer Driving Pleasure” a um patamar totalmente novo. A experiência de condução assistida no BMW i3 entra igualmente numa nova dimensão com o BMW Symbiotic Drive.
A função Soft Stop garante a travagem mais suave da história da BMW. O controlo preciso dos motores elétricos leva a berlina totalmente elétrica a uma paragem impercetivelmente suave, sem qualquer solavanco nem ruídos de travagem.
No que diz respeito às tecnologias de assistência ao condutor no novo BMW i3, o BMW Symbiotic Drive permite uma interação perfeita entre as funções de assistência e o comportamento de condução. Com os sistemas de assistência à condução ativos, o condutor pode responder às diversas situações - acelerando, virando o volante ou travando - sem desativar o sistema de assistência relevante durante o processo. O Assistente em autoestrada (opcional) permite uma condução assistida na autoestrada “hands-free” até 130 km/h com mudanças de faixa automatizadas após confirmação por sinal visual.

Maior autonomia, tempos de carregamento mais curtos.
Outra característica do salto tecnológico dado pelo novo BMW i3 é a bateria de alta tensão com novas células cilíndricas que oferecem uma capacidade de 108,7 kWh. O design “pack-to-open-body” do compartimento da bateria transforma esta última numa parte estrutural do novo BMW i3.
O “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” tem uma autonomia de até 906 quilómetros (de acordo com o ciclo de testes WLTP) e, por isso, oferece uma elevada capacidade de percorrer longas distâncias, combinada com tempos de carregamento drasticamente reduzidos, graças à tecnologia de 800 V. As taxas de carregamento em corrente contínua (CC) de até 400 kW permitem que o BMW i3 50 xDrive carregue, em dez minutos, energia suficiente num ponto de carregamento rápido de CC para uma autonomia de até 423 km (de acordo com a norma ISO 12906 no ciclo WLTP).

O equipamento de série do “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” inclui o Pack Desportivo M Sport e o Pack exterior BMW Iconic Glow.
O extenso equipamento de série do BMW i3 50 xDrive inclui o Panoramic Vision, o Driving Assistant Plus, o Comfort Access, a BMW Digital Key Plus e bancos dianteiros elétricos e aquecidos. Uma característica de destaque do “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” é o Pack Desportivo M. Este inclui o Pack M exterior, travões M Sport azuis e projeção do logótipo M nos espelhos retrovisores exteriores, complementados no interior do veículo pelo design exclusivo do interior BMW M em Veganza e M PerformTex Black (estando disponíveis outras variantes de estofos). O Pack Desportivo M torna evidente à primeira vista, o potencial dinâmico da nova berlina totalmente elétrica.

As especificações do “First Edition” incluem também o Pack exterior BMW Iconic Glow, que realça a profundidade visual das icónicas grelhas da BMW com uma iluminação de contorno precisa. Outra característica deste pacote é uma animação de boas-vindas e despedida, que apresenta três efeitos de luz visualmente impressionantes. O Pack exterior BMW Iconic Glow permite personalizar e adaptar estes efeitos ao gosto pessoal de cada cliente.

Outros destaques do interior incluem bancos multifunções, o BMW 3D Head-Up Display e o sistema de som HiFi Harman Kardon.
O interior do “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” inclui uma série de opcionais de destaque: Entre estes contam-se os bancos dianteiros multifunções com regulação elétrica, controlo de climatização de três zonas automático, vidros com proteção solar e o volante aquecido.
O BMW 3D Head-Up Display complementa o ecrã e o sistema operativo do novo BMW i3, estando integrado acima do BMW Panoramic Vision. Além disso, o BMW 3D Head-Up Display projeta conteúdos selecionados exclusivamente na linha de visão do condutor. Isto permite uma perceção espacial extremamente precisa – como por exemplo, instruções de navegação.
O sistema de som HiFi Harman Kardon com suporte para Dolby Atmos proporciona um nível de qualidade de som particularmente elevado ao “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition”.

O funcionamento automático da porta da bagageira, incluindo o Smart Opener, proporciona um acesso extremamente fácil ao compartimento de carga. O toque final nas especificações do “First Edition” é o Carregamento rápido AC, que aumenta a potência de carregamento CA de 11 para 22 kW.

Opcionais no novo “BMW i3 50 xDrive First Edition”.
O cliente pode dar um toque ainda mais pessoal ao seu “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition” com a ajuda de equipamentos opcionais específicos do modelo. Uma opção é o teto de vidro panorâmico opcional, com vidros de conforto climático, cria uma sensação de espaço banhado pela luz. Também é possível encomendar um gancho de reboque de rotação elétrica.

A extensa oferta de entretenimento disponível através do BMW Connected Drive permite aos clientes especificar funções adicionais opcionais do BMW Maps, o Security Assistant e um pacote de dados como parte do BMW Digital Premium.
No que diz respeito a funções de condução e estacionamento, o cliente pode escolher ainda mais opções para o “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition”: A gama de opcionais concebidas para aumentar a segurança e o conforto inclui o Assistente de estacionamento Plus e Professional, bem como o Assistente de autoestrada.

Ampla gama de opcionais em matéria de cores exteriores, jantes, acabamentos interiores e volantes.

Estão disponíveis um total de seis acabamentos de pintura exterior para o “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition”. Entre estes encontra-se a exclusiva tonalidade metálica M Le Castellet Blue.
A gama de jantes compreende três modelos aerodinâmicos e uma variante BMW Individual: os clientes podem escolher entre jantes de 19 e 20 polegadas.
No que diz respeito ao interior do novo “BMW i3 50 xDrive as First Edition”, o design de interiores “Contemporary” e “BMW M” permitem a escolha de várias combinações de cores. Além disso, a gama de volantes oferece ainda mais possibilidades de personalização, estando disponíveis por encomenda - o volante desportivo opcional, o volante M e o volante BMW Individual (apenas em combinação com o design de interiores “Contemporary” bicolor Digital White).

Para mais informações, por favor contactar:

Corporate Communications
BMW Group Portugal
João Trincheiras, Corporate Communications Director
E-mail: Joao.Trincheiras@bmw.pt

Sobre o BMW Group
Com as suas quatro marcas BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce e BMW Motorrad, o BMW Group é o líder mundial no fabrico de automóveis e motociclos premium, prestando igualmente serviços financeiros de alta qualidade. A rede de produção do BMW Group inclui mais de 30 unidades de produção em todo o mundo; a empresa tem uma rede global de vendas em mais de 140 países. Em 2025, o BMW Group vendeu mais de 2.46 milhões de veículos de passageiros e mais de 202.500 motociclos em todo o mundo. O lucro antes de impostos no exercício de 2025 foi de 10.2 mil milhões de euros, sobre receitas no valor de 135.4 mil milhões de euros. A 31 de dezembro de 2025, o BMW Group tinha um efetivo de 154.540 colaboradores. O sucesso do BMW Group tem sido, desde sempre, construído numa ótica de longo prazo e assente numa conduta responsável. A Sustentabilidade é um elemento-chave da estratégia corporativa do BMW Group e abrange todos os produtos da cadeia de valores, desde a produção até ao fim de utilização de todos os seus produtos.

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Munich. The BMW i3 (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) is sustainably on course for success - in both senses of the word. Almost seven years after its market launch, the purely electrically powered and thus locally emission-free compact model is still in continuous high demand. At the BMW Group plant in Leipzig, the 200 000th BMW i3 model rolled off the production line yesterday - almost silently as always. The BMW i3s (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 14.6 – 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) with Fluid Black metallic paint finish and accents in BMW i Blue was produced for a customer from Saxony and will be delivered by the BMW branch in Leipzig.

The BMW i3 with 125 kW/170 hp and BMW i3s with 135 kW/184 hp are built in Leipzig for the entire world market on a dedicated production line and by specially trained employees. With the start of production in 2013, the plant in Saxony became a pioneer and centre of excellence for sustainable mobility. The BMW i3 was the BMW Group's first purely electrically powered large-scale serial model and also the company's first vehicle with a passenger cell made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). The Life module made of CFRP is part of a vehicle architecture specific to BMW i and designed for electric mobility from the outset. It is shaped in Leipzig from carbon fibre scrims and assembled in a unique process developed by the BMW Group. This is followed by the union with the drive module, the aluminium chassis, which bears the drive, chassis and high-voltage battery. State-of-the-art manufacturing processes ensure that the body construction and assembly of the BMW i3 in Leipzig takes only about half the time required for conventional vehicles.

BMW i3 as innovation driver for electric mobility and lightweight construction.

The success of the BMW i3 and the experience gained in developing and manufacturing it have significantly boosted progress in the fields of electric mobility and lightweight construction. In this way the BMW i brand has become the workshop of the future for the entire company. The drive of the BMW i3s now also powers the MINI Cooper SE (fuel consumption combined: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 16.8 – 14.8 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) to provide purely electric driving joy. In addition, the gross energy content of the high-voltage storage unit was almost doubled from initially 22.6 to 42.2 kWh without changing its size. The range of the BMW i3 thus increased to between 285 and 310 kilometres in the WLTP test cycle.

Based on the know-how acquired with the BMW i3, numerous innovations have also been achieved in the fields of drive, power electronics and charging technology. The fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology is now ready for series production. It is used, among other things, in the new technology flagship of the BMW Group, the BMW iNEXT, which will be manufactured at the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing, with components from the BMW plant Landshut, from 2021 onwards. The high-tech material CFRP is for example now also contributing to intelligent lightweight construction in the BMW 7 Series.

Leipzig as a location for the future: Battery module production to start in 2021.

The BMW Group plant in Leipzig will continue to make a significant contribution to expanding electric mobility in the future. The site will become part of the BMW Group's international production network for battery modules as early as 2021. By 2022, the BMW Group will invest more than 100 million euros in establishing battery module production in Leipzig. In future, the lithium-ion cells supplied, will be assembled into standardised modules in a highly automated process. These will then be assembled together with the connections to the vehicle, the control units and the cooling units in an aluminium housing specific to each model. By 2022 more than 150 employees will be working in the battery module production in Leipzig.

In this way, the expertise gained at this BMW i3 production site is consistently used for manufacturing electrified vehicles in Germany. The BMW Group plant in Leipzig, where in addition to the BMW i3, models of the BMW 1 and 2 Series with conventional and plug-in hybrid drive are also manufactured, is thus even more comprehensively equipped for the "Power of Choice" approach in the company's model strategy in the future.

Pioneer for premium electric mobility in the city and for an overall understanding of sustainability.

The BMW i3 was developed as a revolutionary new vehicle concept for individual mobility in urban areas. With the BMW i3, the BMW Group has provided significant impetus for change in the field of inner-city transport, which has also inspired other car manufacturers to devote more attention to electric mobility. Today, the BMW i3 is not only still the best-selling premium car in its segment, but also a world-renowned symbol of locally emission-free driving in the city and for commuting between home and work.

According to a 2019 study by the German Automobile Club (ADAC), customers benefit not only from ecological but also from significant economic advantages. According to the calculations, the total costs for a BMW i3 or BMW i3s are on average around 20 percent lower than for a BMW model with a combustion engine that is comparable in terms of engine performance and equipment. All expenditures for the acquisition, operation and depreciation of the vehicles were taken into account, with a holding period of five years each and a total mileage of 75 000 kilometres. Thanks to the now increased state subsidies for electrified vehicles, the lead of the BMW i3 and the BMW i3s in terms of economy is currently even greater.

In addition, the BMW i3 represents a new understanding of premium mobility, which is also strongly characterised by sustainability beyond the purely electric drive. Its roof is made of recycled CFRP at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig. Painting its plastic outer skin requires 75 percent less energy and 70 percent less water compared to conventional processes. 25 percent of the materials used for the thermoplastic exterior parts were either recycled or produced from renewable resources. A high proportion of renewable raw materials and recycled materials is also used in the interior. Production of the BMW i3 at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig is 100 per cent CO₂ neutral. Wind turbines on the factory premises supply the electricity required for production.

The outstanding life cycle assessment of the BMW i3 has already been confirmed by an ISO certificate issued by independent auditors immediately after its market launch. To this end, experts from TÜV Süd analysed all relevant data and evaluations, from which the environmental balance of the BMW i3 for the entire vehicle life cycle was derived, from raw material extraction and production to use and recycling. According to the study, the use of energy from the EU-25 electricity mix already resulted in a greenhouse gas potential reduced by around 30 percent compared to similar vehicles with conventional drive systems. When operated exclusively with regeneratively generated energy, such as wind or solar power, the CO₂ footprint was even reduced by more than 50 percent.

Fuel consumption, CO₂ emission figures and power consumption were measured using the methods required according to Regulation VO (EC) 2007/715 as amended. The figures are calculated using a vehicle fitted with basic equipment in Germany, the ranges stated take into account differences in selected wheel and tyre sizes as well as the optional equipment. They may change during configuration.

The figures have already been calculated based on the new WLTP test cycle and adapted to NEDC for comparison purposes. In these vehicles, different figures than those published here may apply for the assessment of taxes and other vehicle-related duties which are (also) based on CO₂ emissions.

For further details of the official fuel consumption figures and official specific CO₂ emissions of new cars, please refer to the “Manual on the fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and power consumption of new cars”, available at sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at https://www.dat.de/co2/.

In case of queries, please contact:

Wieland Brúch,
Product Communication BMW i and Electromobility

Tel.: +49-89-382-72652

E-mail: wieland.bruch@bmwgroup.com

Kai Lichte,

Head of Communication BMW Group Plants Leipzig, Berlin, Eisenach

Tel.: +49-151-607-38000

E-mail: kai.lichte@bmwgroup.com

Internet: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

E-mail: presse@bmw.de

Munich. Trailblazer for sustainable mobility and endurance runner – within the six years following its launch, the BMW i3 has become an extremely successful model and a symbol of electric mobility. Since its market launch, it has been the most widely sold electric vehicle in the premium compact segment. More than 165,000 units have been sold worldwide to date. And since the car’s launch, sales figures have steadily increased year after year. The BMW i3 convinces in everyday use with a future-oriented interpretation of driving pleasure and versatile qualities reaching far beyond driving short distances in major metropolitan regions. This is underscored by the experience gained by electric car pioneers who regularly travel longer distances in their BMW i3 and have each completed more than 200,000 emission-free kilometres.

Thanks to its role as a visionary technology flagship and continuing sales success since its launch in 2013, the BMW i3 has acquired the status of an icon. The BMW Group will continue to further develop this vehicle and currently plans to extend production until at least 2024. Customers emphasize above all the reliability, durability and the practicable range of the BMW i3, whether in the heat of South Africa or in the cool north of Sweden. The first all-electric vehicle from the BMW Group has for years now proven everywhere to be a cost-effective means of transport that is fully suitable for day-to-day use. Customers who had their BMW i3 delivered shortly after its launch and since then have subjected both the vehicle and its original battery to a real endurance test, use sustainable mobility not only for daily commuting between home and the workplace, but also regularly for longer distances and even holiday trips.

Over 277,000 kilometres with the original set of brake pads.

“The vehicle concept of the BMW i3 is unique,” comments Helmut Neumann from the community of Titz in North Rhine Westphalia. “It looks so modern from the outside that people still turn around to catch a glimpse of it.” Neumann has been driving around locally emission-free since 2014 and even drove his BMW i3 BMW (60 Ah) (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 12.9 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) as far as Berlin and the Alps without any trouble. “Apart from the immense driving pleasure, the BMW i3 is simply an extremely economical car,” he says. “This applies both to power consumption and maintenance costs alike.” With an average power consumption of 13 kWh per 100 kilometres over the entire lifespan, energy costs are kept to an absolute minimum – not only compared with an automobile with combustion engine, but also with other electric vehicles. At an electricity rate of 30 cents per kilowatt-hour, Neumann’s energy costs are just EUR 3.90 per 100 kilometres.

An analysis by the German Automobile Club ADAC has already shown that in addition to ecological aspects, economical aspects speak in favour of the electric vehicle. In a comparison of overall costs, the BMW i3 was around 20 percent better in terms of size and performance than a comparable BMW model powered by a combustion engine. In addition to lower energy costs and high value retention, low expenditure for maintenance and wear also contribute towards cost-effectiveness. For the driver of a BMW i3, oil changes or defective exhaust systems are relicts of the past. Deceleration is usually effected by means of recuperation. Therefore, even after over 277,000 kilometres, Helmut Neumann has still not had to replace the brake pads and discs on his BMW i3 one single time.

Neumann is one of the customers who participated in the retrofit programme and substituted the 60 Ah battery of his BMW i3 with a gross energy content of 22 kWh for a 94 Ah high-voltage battery unit (BMW i3 (94 Ah): combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.6 – 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) with a higher energy content of 33 kWh. The new battery offers greater energy reserves. “This makes things simply more convenient on long journeys,” he says.

Consistent vehicle range confirms the quality of the high-voltage battery.

Experience obtained by customers who use a BMW i3 from the first years of production shows that even with the original battery, the achievable vehicle range decreases only marginally even after high mileage. This validates the BMW Group’s expectations in regards to the quality of the high-voltage battery unit. Not one BMW i3 high-voltage battery has had to be replaced due to premature ageing to date. As the battery’s potential is far from being exhausted when reaching the previously quoted 100,000 kilometres, the BMW Group has now extended its European warranty for the battery in new BMW i3 vehicles even further. The maximum mileage over a warranty period has been extended to 8 years and/or 160,000 kilometres.

The BMW Group has also developed solutions for re-using batteries that are no longer suitable for demanding use in automobiles. After a long life in cars they can still provide valuable service as stationary energy storage units. High-voltage batteries from pre-series vehicles and those handed in by customers participating in the BMW i3 retrofit programme are used on the grounds of the BMW plant in Leipzig as storage units for the green power produced there by means of wind turbines.

Offering a range that is actually achievable in practice, the BMW i3 meets the requirements of regular long-term use. Gabriele Forster from Austria immediately found the ideal drive and charge rhythm, for example. She made a conscious decision in favour of an environmentally friendly vehicle with which she now commutes every day between home and work. At midday and overnight she plugs her BMW i3 (60Ah) into a wall box, which is sufficient to cover a distance of around 200 kilometres each day with a battery that has a capacity of 22.6 kWh.

Robert Cleary from the US drives locally emission-free almost 150 kilometres every day. Only on one single occasion did he run out of power – about 50 metres from his front driveway. The problem was solved using an extension cable. Robert had already participated in field testing with the BMW Active E and in 2014 was therefore given a BMW i3 (60Ah) in the “Electronaut” version for electric vehicle pioneers. His car constantly provides a topic for discussion. Together with colleagues from his company, Robert initiated an electric vehicle workgroup that, among other things, advocates the provision of additional public charging stations. He is convinced that “electric driving strengthens environmental awareness”.

To Shaun Maidment from South Africa “range anxiety” is completely unknown. “I once drove the BMW i3 from Johannesburg to Cape Town. It took slightly longer, but it was okay,” he says. On normal workdays, he drives up to 300 kilometres, making use of customer visits to charge the battery. In 2014, Maidment opted for a BMW i3 (60 Ah) with Range Extender (combined fuel consumption: 0.6 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.5 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 13 g/km). However, he now considers the petrol-driven “emergency power generator” indispensable. “The Range Extender is essentially just a kind of assurance.” In order to further promote electric mobility in his home country, Maidment has launched a crowd funding platform designed to support the installation of further public charging stations in South Africa.

With a battery of the latest generation installed in the BMW i3 (120 Ah) (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km), whose gross energy content has now been extended to 42.2 kWh, it was possible to increase the vehicle range to values between 285 and 310 km as per WLTP test cycle and to 260 kilometres in everyday use. This equates to an increase of around 50 percent vs. the BMW i3 featuring a high-voltage battery of the first generation.

Sustainable driving pleasure – a characteristic feature of the BMW i3.

Even after many years of all-electric driving, customers are still fascinated by the spontaneous power and torque of the electric motor and the one-pedal feeling with which their vehicle decelerates by means of recuperation. “In the past, I have also tested other electric vehicles, also larger and faster ones,” says Rob van Roon from the Netherlands, “but none of them was as agile and easy to handle as the BMW i3.” Since the end of 2013, Roon has driven 276,000 kilometres with the first series production electric vehicle from the BMW Group, with another 25,000 having been added since March 2019 in a new BMW i3 (120 Ah). The new model only needs to be charged once a day, and van Roon usually knows how to make practical use of this. “Charging doesn’t necessarily mean waiting,” he says. “I spend the time doing administrative work or making phone calls, which demands my full attention.” On long journeys he has discovered the advantages of the quick charging stations from Ionity, which can be found at around 200 service areas along European long-haul routes. “If you can eat there, you can charge your car there,” he has noticed. Consequently, Rob van Roon and his family have driven their BMW i3 on trips taking them as far as the North Cape, the Algarve and Sicily.

In October 2013, Leif Carlsson from Sweden had already taken the first opportunity of a test drive in Stockholm. “After one single lap I was convinced – this is my car. It was the coolest drive I had ever experienced.” Today he still drives a BMW i3 (60Ah) with Range Extender every day and after travelling more than 216,000 kilometres, he enjoys the ideal balance between driving pleasure and sustainability. At first, it is sufficient to charge the car from conventional power sockets at home or at the workplace. In Sweden, there is no shortage of these even in multi-storey car parks, because there, auxiliary heating systems in automobiles are often supplied with electricity from the mains. Meanwhile, quick charging stations have been installed at workplaces and the network of public charging stations is becoming increasingly denser. Therefore, Carlsson now hardly ever uses the Range Extender. On the other hand, he still appreciates the auxiliary heating in his BMW i3 during the winter. The timer function works perfectly. When I get in the car to leave, the interior is warm and the windows free from ice and snow.”

For João Gonçalves from Portugal a test drive in the winter of 2013 was also enough. It was “Love at first sight – combined with many economical and ecological advantages.” Since then he has enjoyed every trip “to work, in his spare time and on holidays. My BMW i3 takes me simply everywhere.” He drives up to 250 kilometres a day and an opportunity to recharge the battery is always easily found during working hours at the office or when visiting customers. Meanwhile Gonçalves changed to a BMW i3s (120 Ah) (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 14.6 – 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km). The increased output of 135 kW/184 PS hp adds to driving pleasure and the high-voltage battery’s extended storage capacity “makes daily life even easier”, he says. “And longer journeys are now more comfortable and faster.” To prepare for long journeys Gonçalves uses the navigation system of the BMW i3. “It plans my route and indicates quick charging stations along the way, so I can be sure of reaching my destination without any problems.”

Munich. Consistent further development of BMW eDrive technology once again ensures enhanced driving pleasure in the purely electrically powered models of the BMW i brand. With cell capacity increased to 120 ampere hours (Ah) and a gross energy content of 42.2 kilowatt hours (kWh), a new generation of high-voltage batteries enables the BMW i3 (120 Ah) (combined power consumption: 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km)* and the BMW i3s (120 Ah) (combined power consumption: 14.6 – 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km)* to achieve a significantly further enhanced range as of November 2018. In everyday use, the two models are now able to cover a distance of 260 kilometres*** – an increase of almost 30 per cent.

In this way, BMW i is consolidating its position as an innovation leader and trendsetter in the field of pioneering electromobility with hallmark brand driving pleasure and excellent everyday practicality. Since the market launch of the BMW i3, the storage capacity of its high-voltage battery has been doubled, thereby increasing the car's range as well. At the same time as the introduction of the new battery, a new body finish, a new colour for the optional interior design Loft and adaptive LED headlights with matrix function for the high beam are also available for the BMW i3 and BMW i3s. In future, a sports package will be available for the BMW i3 that includes black wheel arch surrounds and a sports suspension with specific dampers, springs and stabilisers, lowered suspension, a widened track and 20-inch light alloy wheels. The optimised guidance system in the tile design of the iDrive operating system is now available in conjunction with the optional navigation system Business. In future, the options telephony with wireless charging and wireless LAN hotspot will also be available for the BMW i3 and BMW i3s.

Ongoing progress in battery development: increased energy content while dimensions remain the same.

Like the electric motors and power electronics, the high-voltage batteries are an integral part of the BMW eDrive technology used in BMW i automobiles and developed independently by the BMW Group. Its lithium-ion cells are produced exclusively based on specifications defined by the BMW Group. Based on sound research and development work conducted in close cooperation with the manufacturer of the battery cells, consistent optimisation of the storage units is achieved in terms of power output, range, safety and durability. Installed deep in the floor of the vehicle, the high-voltage battery is produced at the BMW plant in Dingolfing and consists of eight modules, each with twelve storage cells: the latest advancements have resulted in a capacity of 120 Ah along with a gross energy content of 42.2 kWh – while the size remains unchanged. This is yet another major step towards increased range. For comparison: at the market launch of the BMW i3 in 2013, the equivalent figures were 60 Ah and 22.6 kWh, while the second-generation battery introduced in 2016 reaches a level of 94 Ah and 33 kWh.

In addition to vehicle weight and the installation space taken up by the high-voltage battery, driving performance and energy consumption likewise remain virtually unaltered by the increased range achieved by the latest advancements. The BMW i3, powered by a 125 kW/170 hp electric motor, accelerates in 7.3 seconds from zero to 100 km/h, while the BMW i3s with 135 kW/184 hp completes the standard sprint in 6.9 seconds. This means that the two models both set the benchmark for sporty performance within their vehicle segment. Thanks to spontaneous power delivery as is typical of electric motors, the BMW i3 and BMW i3s even reach the level of sports cars that have a considerably more powerful combustion engine: here the figures are 5.1 and 4.3 seconds respectively for the sprint from 80 to 120 km/h.

The combined power consumption of the BMW i3 (120 Ah) is 13.1 kWh per 100 kilometres*, while the BMW i3s (120 Ah) has a power consumption of 14.6 kWh to 14.0 kWh per 100 kilometres*. The high efficiency of the electric motor and the enhanced battery capacity result in a range that is nearly 30 per cent higher than that of the predecessor models. The range of the BMW i3 (120 Ah) is 359 kilometres* (previously 290 to 300 km) according to NEDC, and 285 to 310 kilometres** (previously 235 – 255 km) according to WLTP. For the BMW i3s (120 Ah), a range of 330 to 345 kilometres* (previously 280 km) has been calculated according to NEDC, and a range of 270 to 285 kilometres** (previously 235 –245 km) according to WLTP. In everyday conditions, both models now achieve a range of 260 kilometres*** (previously 200 km).

The high-quality charging electronics of the BMW i3 and BMW i3s allows fast and flexible refreshment of the energy reserves. The standard charging cable is designed to be plugged into a conventional household socket. Here the battery can be charged to up to 80 per cent of its full power in approximately 15 hours with a charging capacity of 2.4 kW. Connection to the BMW i Wallbox enables rapid three-phase charging with a capacity of 11 kW. Here the time required to achieve an 80 per cent charge of the large-capacity high-voltage battery is 3.2 hours. The power electronics and high-voltage battery in the BMW i3 and BMW i3s can also be used in conjunction with quick-charging stations that run on DC power. Here the charging capacity is 50 kW and the high-voltage battery reaches 80 per cent of its total power in just 42 minutes.

With its battery capacity increased to 42.2 kWh, the latest version of the BMW i3 also follows the brand's holistic concept, applicable since market launch and geared towards responsible use of resources: this includes not just locally emissions-free power but also material selection and production techniques as well as mobility services. The BMW i3 (120 Ah) and the BMW i3s (120 Ah) have a much more favourable CO₂ footprint across the entire vehicle lifecycle – from raw material extraction and manufacture through to use and recycling – and this makes for significantly lower global warming potential than is the case with comparable, conventionally powered automobiles.

Sports package as a new option for the BMW i3.

In future, the new sports package will enable additional emphasis of brand-based driving pleasure derived from locally emissions-free mobility in the BMW i3. The key element of the new option is the sports suspension, which is a standard feature in the BMW i3s and includes specific dampers, springs and stabilisers, a suspension lowered by 10 millimetres, a widened track and 20-inch light alloy wheels in Jet Black or Bicolor finish with mixed tyres. This increase in driving dynamics is visually underscored by means of black wheel arch surrounds, which also form part of the BMW i sports package.

New body finishes, adaptive LED headlights, optimised controls and connectivity.

Since 2014 the BMW i3 has been the world's best-selling electrically powered vehicle in the premium compact segment. On the streets of urban conurbations it has come to stand as a symbol of pioneering mobility. Its characteristic shaping is closely linked to the LifeDrive vehicle architecture, which combines an aluminium chassis with a passenger cell made carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). With the introduction of the new battery generation, the design of the BMW i3 and the BMW i3s has been enriched with fresh accentuations. The choice of body finish for the two models has been extended to include the new variant Jucaro Beige metallic with accentuations in Frozen Grey. Meanwhile the exterior paint finishes Mineral Grey metallic, Imperial Blue metallic, Melbourne Red metallic, Capparis White and Fluid Black are still available. To match the new body finish, the optional interior design Loft now includes upholstery in the fabric/Sensatec combination "Electronic" – in Carum Grey with accentuations in brown and interior surfaces in Electronic Brown.

As an alternative to the standard LED headlights, adaptive LED headlights are now available with an automatic, selective dip function for the high beam. The innovative matrix technology for the high beam increases visibility range while at the same avoiding any dazzle effect on other road users. For this purpose it is divided into four horizontally arranged segments which can be activated and deactivated independently of each other at speeds of over 70 km/h. The high beam segments are controlled based on the traffic situation. As soon as the front camera registers an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle travelling ahead in the same direction, the space in which this vehicle is located is illuminated using the low beam only. This is effected by deactivation of the matrix high beam segments that are responsible for this area. The remaining areas of the road continue to be illuminated by the high beam. Adaptive LED headlight functions also include the cornering light and the high beam assistant.

The optimised menu display for the iDrive operating system with buttons in tile structure and in live mode is now also available in conjunction with the optional navigation system Business. This means that the desired content is now available even more quickly and conveniently. What is more, the program of optional equipment items now also includes the option of telephony with wireless charging, which allows compatible mobile phones to be recharged without use of a cable. The wireless LAN hotspot, likewise newly available for the BMW i3 and the BMW i3s, provides a fast online connection for up to ten end devices inside the vehicle.

Munich. The BMW i3 sets standards worldwide for driving pleasure in a purely electrically-driven vehicle. Key factors here are not only the increased output of the motor in the new BMW i3s, but also the innovative traction control system adapted specifically to the instantaneous power deliver of the BMW eDrive system. Presented for the first time in the new BMW i3s (270 Nm at 0 rpm, 135 kW / 184 HP, power consumption combined in European NEFZ test-cycle*: 14.3 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km), the system improves traction and driving stability in adverse weather and road conditions when pulling away, in active Brake Energy Regeneration phases and when accelerating out of tight corners. At the heart of this innovation is the control system’s 50-times-faster routine, made possible because – unlike conventional driving stability systems – the control process is now calculated directly in the powertrain instead of in a remote unit requiring long signal paths. This development provides further evidence of BMW i as a pioneer of innovative technology within the BMW Group.

“With their high levels of torque and instantaneous responses to every movement of the accelerator, electric motors already make significantly higher demands on driving stability systems than conventional power units,” explains Peter Langen, Head of Chassis Development at BMW.

That’s why the BMW engineers developed a new type of system geared squarely to the demands of electric mobility.
The positive impact of these shorter control cycles is not reserved for purely electrically driven cars; indeed, this innovative traction control system also optimises traction, driving stability and driving dynamics in vehicles with combustion engines. It will therefore be fitted in BMW and MINI models with front-, rear- and all-wheel drive to deliver noticeably greater assurance and driving pleasure when road conditions make pulling away difficult.

About BMW i
BMW i is a BMW Group brand focusing on visionary vehicle concepts, connected mobility services and a new understanding of premium strongly defined by sustainability. BMW i is represented in 54 countries with the BMW i3 electric car for urban areas, BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car and plug-in hybrid BMW iPerformance Automobiles. 
BMW i opens up new target groups for the company and serves as an incubator for innovations. Technologies which have debuted successfully in BMW i cars are carried over to parent brand BMW’s other models.
BMW i is also associated with enterprises including DriveNow (car sharing), ReachNow (car sharing 2.0), ChargeNow (easy access to the world’s largest network of charging points), ParkNow (straightforward location, reservation and payment of parking spaces), venture capital company BMW i Ventures (investment in start-up companies with a focus on urban mobility), BMW Energy (energy optimisation services) and the Centre of Competence for Urban Mobility (consultancy for cities).

^* Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the following guideline: “Leitfaden über Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2 emissions und den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen” (Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained from all dealerships, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1. 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-consumption.html. LeitfadenCO2 (GuidelineCO2) (PDF ‒ 2.7 MB)

In the event of enquiries please contact:

Wieland Brúch,
Media Relations Manager BMW i and Electric Mobility

Telephone: +49-89-382-72652

Email: wieland.bruch@bmwgroup.com

Paloma Brunckhorst
Media Relations Manager BMW i, BMW iPerformance

Telephone: +49-89-382-22322

Email: Paloma.Brunckhorst@bmwgroup.com

Internet: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en