BMW has officially revealed a BMW 3 Series EV for the Chinese market - read the full story through the link.
A camouflaged prototype caught by our spy snappers appears almost identical to the current G20-generation 3 Series, although the addition of mandatory ‘electric test vehicle’ stickers and subtly reshaped front and rear ends hint that it's an early test version for a zero-emissions model.
Plug-in hybrid prototypes are also required to wear stickers, but the lack of exhausts at the rear is the biggest indication this is an EV. BMW is also covering up the front grille, reflecting the view that a production EV model would see the grille blanked to improve aeroydnamics, because less front cooling is required.
The forthcoming i4 will be BMW's first electric saloon, and the firm is yet to officially confirm plans for an electric 3 Series. A BMW spokesperson declined to comment on the test pictures but in a statement said: "By 2023, the BMW Group portfolio will include 25 electrified models, and half of those will be fully electric.”
Munich will officially launch its new BMW BMW iX3 electric SUV later this year, with the 4 Series Gran Coupé-based BMW i4 arriving in dealerships in mid-2021.
BMW design chief Domagoj Dukec recently told Autocar that the decision to launch an i4 rather than an electric 3 Series was because "electrification is still at the point where some people doubt if they should go for it or not, and it’s still a little more expensive. So electric cars need more emotion, and we believe an electrified i4 makes more sense than an electric 3 Series."
But with sales of electric cars rising rapidly – and costs likely to drop as manufacturers achieve greater economies of scale – it's likely there could be suffient demand for an electric 3 Series by 2023.
It’s not yet known what powertrain an electric 3 Series would use, but it’s unlikely to share the performance-oriented i4’s flagship 523bhp, four-wheel drive set-up, given the 3 Series’ practical, executive billing.
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This is a Chinese market car.
This is a Chinese market car. Hint: the writer didn't pick up that it's a limo version of the 3 series. Look at the stretched rear door.
Logical
A G20 3 Series EV would seem a logical move for BMW as they must be getting a little nervous of the forthcoming Berlin built Tesla Model 3 which will be substantially cheaper than the more performance orientated i4. They will need to be able to offer a full EV for those tempted out of their 320d's by zero BIK taxation and other benefits. BMW could offer a variety of different size battery packs to satisfy budgets, performance and range requirements. As commented above a Touring variant would give BMW a unique proposition.