by Two days before the official premiere, images appeared online that could be the first detailed showing of the future electric BMW i3, the new generation of the electric “3 Series.”
Details of the Possible Leak
BMW has not yet officially presented its future electric 3-Series, but a couple of interesting images circulating online may provide us with the clearest look at it so far. The photographs likely show the new i3 on the screen of the car’s infotainment system from two different angles.
It is impossible to confirm the authenticity of these images, but they look very convincing. The proportions and characteristic lighting design closely resemble the Vision Neue Klasse concepts that BMW has been showcasing over the past few years. There is another interesting detail that adds to their credibility: the car in the pictures has the same (or very similar) distinctive wheel design that BMW showed earlier the same day in a teaser dedicated to the sustainability of the new i3.
If the images are genuine, they indicate that the production i3 will retain most of the sharp and minimalist design previewed by the concepts.
Focus on Sustainability and Secondary Materials
BMW officially presented the car on March 18 as the second model built on its Neue Klasse architecture, the first being the iX3 crossover presented in September of last year. The company places great emphasis on the fact that sustainability is an important part of this car’s story.
The new i3 will use a significant amount of recycled materials throughout the vehicle. BMW states that approximately 30 percent of the car will consist of secondary materials. This includes recycled aluminum used in suspension components, wheels, and the rear electric motor housing. About 70 percent of the multi-spoke cast wheels are formed from secondary aluminum, and 80 percent of the front and rear suspension knuckles are made from secondary raw materials.
Exterior elements also use recycled plastics. For example, the front bumper spoiler contains about 30 percent recycled plastic and has been redesigned to reduce the number of different materials required, making it much easier to recycle after the car’s end of life.
Interior and Environmental Benefits
In the interior, for the base “Essential” trim, BMW plans to offer seat fabrics made from recycled PET plastic. Some components under the hood use plastic obtained partly from recovered marine waste, such as discarded fishing nets and ropes.
The result of all these environmental decisions, according to BMW, is that the i3 50xDrive – which is likely to have the same 463 hp power as the iX3 50xDrive – achieves a CO2 emissions advantage compared to a similar model with an internal combustion engine after just 1-2 years of use.
This approach to using secondary materials continues the tradition of the original i3, which was introduced over a decade ago and also had a radically different design and environmental philosophy. Today, these principles are integrated into a series model set to become a brand staple. Parallel to the electric version, a similarly looking 3-Series version with internal combustion engines is expected to appear later, indicating BMW’s strategy of parallel development of different types of powertrains on a common design foundation.
