New electric BMW 3 Series, called i3, is a leap forward but will be familiar to fans

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The i3 is a clear evolution of the current 3 Series with its signature forward leaning stance, short overhangs and tight muscular proportions.Fabian Kirchbauer/Courtesy of manufacturer

BMW kicked off the sport sedan trend in 1985 when it took the engine from the BMW M1 race car and installed it into a 5 Series, creating the M5.

It became the blueprint for the company’s future performance sedans, but it was the smaller and cheaper 3 Series that democratized the formula, selling more than 14 million units since 1975.

Global sedan sales have waned in recent years, replaced by the SUV, including in BMW’s lineup, but the company still considers the 3 Series the “heart of the brand,” and now there’s a new one. The eighth-generation 3 Series is the second vehicle based on the company’s Neue Klasse (New Class) architecture, after the iX3 SUV.

BMW has bet big on its new platform, which is part of its once-in-a-generation transformation that encompasses everything from engineering and design to sustainability and zero-emission production facilities. One key characteristic of the new platform is its flexibility, being able to accommodate either battery electric or gasoline powertrains.

The iX3 kicked off a new design language and was the first to feature BMW’s new 800-volt electrical architecture, battery pack and next-gen motors, all which will be shared with the new 3 Series.

The first model to debut is the battery-electric i3 M50, which looks similar to the i Vision Dee concept revealed in 2023 at CES in Las Vegas. It’s a marked departure from previous designs where the iconic kidney grilles grew to massive proportions. The new one gets rid of them completely, which will be equally controversial to fans. Instead, echoes of kidneys past are rendered in LED light.

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BMW chief executive officer Oliver Zipse speaks during the unveiling of the BMW i Vision Dee concept car at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 4, 2023.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail

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After generations of the kidney grilles growing bigger, the i3 gets rid of them. Now the kidney shape is rendered in LED lights.Fabian Kirchbauer/Courtesy of manufacturer

During a private media reveal of the i3, the company told us that the decision to remove the grilles on the i3 and not the iX3 SUV was made for functional and aesthetic reasons. There’s a sensor array for the driver assistance system that’s been hidden within the fascia, grilles would have interfered with that. The new slim version of the grilles on the iX3 would have also taken the emphasis away from the width of the i3, which is not what the designers wanted.

The dual element headlight design remains, set in a black panel that’s reminiscent of the fascia of the first Neue Klasse cars. Viewed from the side, the i3 is a clear evolution of the current 3 Series with its signature forward leaning stance, short overhangs and tight muscular proportions. Familiar elements such as the Hoffmeister kink on the rear quarter window and “L” shaped taillights still make this instantly recognizable as a 3 Series.

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Familiar elements such as the Hoffmeister kink on the rear quarter window and “L” shaped taillights still make this instantly recognizable as a 3 Series.Fabian Kirchbauer/Courtesy of manufacturer

The i3 is equipped with dual electric motors producing a total of 463 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque. It’s the same power figure as the iX3 but in a lighter and presumably more aerodynamic package.

BMW says it will have more than 650 kilometres of range and recharge at speeds up to 400 kilowatts if using a powerful enough DC fast charger. A Tesla-style charge port is standard as is plug-and-charge technology, which will allow you to pull up to just about any fast charger and start charging without having to fumble with apps or other ways to pay. Battery size wasn’t specified but we expect it to be around 100 kilowatt-hours.

The interior is largely the same as what’s in the iX3, though there are differences. The 17.9-inch centre screen is angled more toward the driver and the dash and doors rake forward giving the same impression of forward movement you get from the exterior design.

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There is a 17.9-inch centre screen that is angled toward the driver and a new panoramic iDrive display, a slim screen that runs at the base of the windshield and takes the place of a gauge cluster.Fabian Kirchbauer/Courtesy of manufacturer

There’s also a new panoramic iDrive display, a slim screen that runs at the base of the windshield and takes the place of a gauge cluster while also displaying other relevant information directly in your field of vision.

Instead of dozens of computer modules typical in most modern cars, the i3 will have just four supercomputers that will govern everything with greatly increased processing speeds. One of the supercomputers, nicknamed “heart of joy” handles power, braking, recuperation and steering. The company says the i3 will form a symbiotic relationship with its driver thanks to these new technologies.

For many years the 3 Series was considered the benchmark sports sedan, winning the favour of nearly every automotive publication on the planet for the better part of the last five decades. BMW says the eighth generation is set to continue that legacy.

To ensure it doesn’t alienate a portion of its loyal fanbase, there will also be gas versions of the new 3 Series coming at a later date.

Production of the 2027 BMW i3 begins in Munich this year.

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The rear seats on the 2027 i3.Fabian Kirchbauer/Courtesy of manufacturer

The writer was a guest of the automaker. Content was not subject to approval.

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