Here is what appears to be a fully electric version of the BMW 3 Series, albeit one that is badged as an i3 Sedan, according to a filing sighted on the website of the ministry of industry and information technology of China.
Here, the i3 Sedan is stated to measure 4,872 mm long, 1,846 mm wide and 1,481 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,966 mm. An ‘eDrive 35L’ suffix denotes a long wheelbase, and for comparison the G20 3 Series measures 4,709 mm long, 1,827 mm wide and 1,442 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,851 mm. This makes the i3 Sedan 163 mm longer, 19 mm wider, 39 mm taller and 115 mm longer of wheelbase than the G20.
Back to that badge. The “eDrive” part suggests a rear-wheel-drive – therefore single-motor – configuration instead of AWD, and the numbers in the ’35L’ could refer to an approximate metric power output of the i3 Sedan, which the ministry’s filing has stated to be 250 kW, or 335 hp. Kerb weight is stated as 2,029 kg.
Images included in the Chinese government filing also show that there are a range of exterior equipment options fro the i3 Sedan. The filing states that the electric four-door gets a choice of 18-inch and 19-inch rolling stock with alloy wheels of different designs, shod with tyres measuring 225/50R18 and 245/45R18 front and rear for the 18-inch set, or 225/45R19 and 245/40R19 front and rear for the 19-inch set.
As with other fully electric models in the BMW range, the i3 Sedan for China receives blue highlights on its exterior such as on the outlines of the kidney grille, and on the lower trim of the rear bumper. The detail images of the i3 Sedan show comparisons of parts, specifically the inclusion and omission of items such as parking sensors, forward radar and front camera.
Certain design cues of the i3 Sedan could also be indicative of what’s to come for the G20 3 Series LCI, or facelift in BMW-speak, such as the simplified lower edge of the headlamps, and possibly the redesigned rear bumper with its relocated reflectors, although the latter could be a by-product of the EV-specfic rear bumper design.
As for the i3 name, it remains to be seen if it will carry on with both the electric hatchback as well as this car, or solely on this electric sedan in a G20 3 Series body. Production of the i3 at the BMW Leipzig plant in Germany would have halted in June of this year, according to a dealer bulletin sighted at the time.
The post BMW i3 Sedan sighted in China – fully electric 3 Series appeared first on Paul Tan’s Automotive News.
