BMW has finally filled in the blanks on the i3, the electric sedan that revives a nameplate once used for a quirky little hatchback. Announced in March and built on BMW's Neue Klasse platform, the 2027 i3 50 xDrive will start at $61,500 plus a $1,350 destination fee — $62,850 — and reach US dealers in the first quarter of 2027, putting it squarely in Mercedes C-Class territory.
The headline number is range: BMW quotes up to 468 miles on European figures (US EPA ratings will be lower and more relevant to buyers). Power comes from two motors. A rear-mounted electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) produces 322 horsepower and 321 lb-ft and serves as the primary drive; unlike most EV motors it uses electrified windings rather than permanent magnets, with an inverter regulating the electromagnets and monitoring performance. A front asynchronous motor adds 165 hp and 188 lb-ft. Combined output is 463 hp and 476 lb-ft.
In Germany, the i3 can now be ordered in two base variants, according to the tech outlet Golem, signalling that BMW is moving the car from concept reveal to configuration ahead of deliveries. The original i3, sold from 2013 to 2022, was a pioneering carbon-fibre-bodied city EV; the new car is a conventional four-door sedan aimed at the heart of the premium market, and it will carry far more of BMW's electric future than its namesake did.
