New BMW i3

BMW tests the new electric i3 at the frozen edge of the world

The BMW 3 Series has been a favorite for drivers who love a sporty ride for fifty years. That's a huge number but now, a major change is coming to this famous car. BMW is getting ready to launch its first all-electric sedan based on an entirely new platform called the "Neue Klasse." The new BMW i3 is the second EV from the new family, and it has been proving its worth in one of the coldest places on Earth.

Engineers took the new i3 to Arjeplog in Sweden for final testing. This area is right near the Arctic Circle. It is full of deep snow and lakes covered in thick ice. BMW uses these freezing conditions to see how the car handles when things get super cold and slippery. If a car can perform well on a frozen lake, it can handle almost any road in the world.

The i3 uses a brand-new system called "Gen6" eDrive - the sixth generation of BMW's electric powertrain. The company says this model keeps the "DNA" of the original 3 Series but pushes it into the future. Fans of the brand can expect these EVs to be fast, agile, and fun to drive, even without a gasoline engine.

Probably the most interesting part of the new BMW i3 is what the engineers call the "Heart of Joy." This is a powerful computer, or "superbrain," that controls how the car moves. It handles the motors, the brakes, and the steering all at once. This computer works ten times faster than older systems and because it is so quick, the car can adjust to slippery ice before the driver even notices a problem.

The testing in Sweden showed that the two electric motors working together make it easy to keep the car stable. Usually, when a car hits ice, it might slide or jerk. The Heart of Joy makes the BMW i3 feel "light-footed." It allows the driver to steer with precision, making the car go exactly where they want it to go.

www.arenaev.com

BMW tests the new electric i3 at the frozen edge of the world

BMW is finishing extreme winter testing for the all-new electric i3 sedan, a high-tech successor to the legendary 3 Series that comes with a "superbrain" for better handling on ice.
www.arenaev.com www.arenaev.com

www.press.bmwgroup.com

“Heart of Joy” meets snow and ice at the Arctic Circle. Technological quantum leap in the new BMW i3: dynamic fine-tuning of the Neue Klasse sedan in Arjeplog.

+++ Final endurance tests ahead of second Neue Klasse model’s design premiere on 18 March 2026 +++ Typical BMW driving pleasure on a completely new level, thanks to Heart of Joy and BMW Dynamic Performance Control +++ Sixth-generation eDrive +++ BMW Group winter test centre in Sweden offers...
www.press.bmwgroup.com www.press.bmwgroup.com
 
BMW i3 reveal date confirmed

BMW has announced when the i3 will make its global debut, with the German automaker releasing a teaser of the upcoming all-electric 3 Series.

With the first pre-production i3 units having rolled off the BMW’s assembly line in Munich, the German marque has now confirmed when the i3 will make its official global debut. The second Neue Klasse model in the Bavarian brand’s portfolio (after the iX3, which we sampled at its international launch event in Spain in 2025), the i3 is distinguished by a new version of its maker’s signature ‘kidney’ grille, flanked by headlamps featuring daytime-running lights reminiscent of those found on the iX3.

The i3 is based on the firm’s latest EV architecture, which was revealed in 2025. The Neue Klasse platform features BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive 800 V electrical architecture, which allows for DC fast charging of up to 400 kW.

BMW i3 reveal date confirmed

The BMW i3 is penned in to make its global debut on 18 March 2026, and is expected to be revealed in i3 50 xDrive guise. This model will be equipped with a dual electric-motor setup, which develops a combined system output of 345 kW and 645 N.m of torque, delivered to the road via all four corners.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X