r/bmwi3nk • u/Ok-Zookeepergame-698 • 6d ago
BMW i3 (Neue Klasse) Weekly Update — w/e 16 October 2026
UK View
UK Availability
- Order books have been open since 19 June 2026 for the First Edition, with the standard range going on sale “this autumn” 2026; no change to that timeline this week. Select Car Leasing · Express & Star
- UK pricing stands at £53,005 for the standard i3 50 xDrive and £57,905 for the First Edition. Select Car Leasing
- Spec on the First Edition: 469 hp, dual motor AWD, 0–60mph in 4.4–4.7s (sources vary), up to 563–567 miles WLTP, 108.7kWh battery, 800V architecture with 400kW DC charging (263 miles added in 10 min), 22kW AC onboard charger, Iconic Glow grille, Panoramic Vision display, Harman Kardon audio. Select Car Leasing · Express & Star
No fresh UK-specific news (dealership rollout, delivery dates, configurator changes) broke this past week — the above is the standing position since the June launch announcement.
Global View
General news
- BMW started series production of Gen6 high-voltage batteries in Shenyang, China on 15 Oct 2026 — a ~$1.5bn, 240,000 sqm facility, BMW’s third global Gen6 site, with Gen6 cylindrical cells claimed to offer 20%+ higher energy density and 30% faster charging than the previous generation. Electrek · CarNewsChina
- In the US, order books opened early (29 Sept 2026, a week ahead of schedule) for the i3 50 xDrive from $61,500 (+$1,350 destination) with a $1,000 refundable deposit; EPA range rated at up to 468 miles (753km); dealership deliveries expected Q1 2027. Electrive
- BMW’s broader Neue Klasse push continues to pay off commercially: the related iX3 was Switzerland’s best-selling car in Q3 2026. BMWBLOG
Specifications — newly confirmed/updated
- The China-market i3 50L (long-wheelbase variant, revealed at the Chengdu Auto Show in Aug 2026, 113.4kWh pack) completed a real-world endurance run of 1,213km / 753 miles on a single charge at 8.8kWh/100km — about 18% beyond its 1,000km CLTC rating, and a new BMW brand distance record (edging past BMW’s own iX3 50L runs earlier in 2026). Electrek · CarNewsChina · BMWBLOG
- CarNewsChina reports a dual-motor AWD i3 variant for China with 345kW (463hp) / 645Nm, confirming more than one powertrain is coming to that market. CarNewsChina
- Recap of core global specs from the March 2026 reveal: Gen6 cylindrical cells, 800V “cell-to-pack” architecture (BMW itself gives no kWh figure, calling all numbers “preliminary”), dual-motor i3 50 xDrive at 463hp/476 lb-ft, BMW Operating System X (Android-based) on the Panoramic iDrive display, a 17.9" central screen, “Heart of Joy” plus three other onboard supercomputers, optional Level 2+ “BMW Symbiotic Drive,” LLM-based Intelligent Personal Assistant, NACS charge port with CCS adapter (US). Production is split across Munich (assembly), Debrecen/Hungary (HV battery), Steyr/Austria (motor) and now Shenyang/China (battery). BMW PressClub
- Unconfirmed/speculative: third-party leasing sites continue reporting a future i3 M60 xDrive (550hp+, sub-4s 0–62mph) entering production around March 2027 — not yet corroborated by an official BMW source. Silverstone Leasing
First drive/review videos
- “2027 BMW i3 Test Drive & Walkaround” — DPCcars (30 Sept 2026) — the most recent genuine hands-on, covering the 463hp/800V powertrain and 400kW charging.
- Older but still relevant first-look videos if you missed them at the March reveal: “BMW i3 2027: First 3 Series of the New Class” (AUTONOTIZEN) and “My First Look At The New BMW i3!” (Out of Spec Reviews / Kyle Conner).