Early orders open for BMW i3 50 xDrive First Edition

High demand for the first electric 3-series prompted BMW to open order books early, with an exclusive BMW i3 50 xDrive First Edition being the first to go on sale. The premium sedan will arrive at dealerships this fall, but buyers can secure a build slot right now, showing how quickly the global market for premium EVs is expanding.

Buying into the first wave of the new electric 3-series requires a big financial commitment. In the United Kingdom, the i3 50 xDrive First Edition costs £57,905 on-the-road - a steep premium of £4,900 over the upcoming standard i3 50 xDrive model. Meanwhile, car buyers in Germany face a starting price of €75,340. The German pricing includes a hefty premium of €9,440 over the regular base version. BMW clearly targets buyers who want a fully loaded package from day one and do not mind paying extra for the privilege.

The new i3 50 xDrive is powered by a massive 108.7 kWh battery pack. This large battery supplies energy to two electric motors with an impressive combined output of 463 horsepower (345 kW / 469 PS) and 476 lb-ft of torque. The heavy battery thankfully does not slow the vehicle down - it accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 4.7 seconds. Drivers will also appreciate the official driving range. Under the European WLTP testing cycle, the car can travel up to 563 miles on a full charge.

When the battery does run low, the i3 relies on advanced charging technology to get back on the road quickly. The car is built on an 800V electrical architecture that supports 400 kW DC fast charging. If you connect the vehicle to a sufficiently powerful rapid charger, it adds 263 miles of driving range in only ten minutes. For home or workplace charging, BMW includes its AC Charging Professional system. This system upgrades the standard AC charging speed from 11 kW to 22 kW, cutting down overnight charging times a lot.

The launch model uses the M Sport trim as its foundation, with the "kidney" grille illuminated by the "Iconic Glow" package. Buyers can choose from six different exterior paint colors, and to complete the sporty look, BMW offers three distinct wheel designs available in sizes of 19 and 20 inches.

The interior of the First Edition variant gets luxury upgrades that are missing from the base model. Drivers get a heated steering wheel and a modern 3D head-up display that projects vital trip data onto the windshield. A three-zone automatic climate control system manages the cabin temperature for all passengers. The package also adds more comfortable front seats, an automatically operating trunk lid, and a premium Harman Kardon audio system for high-quality sound.

Buyers can customize their vehicles even more by selecting items from an extensive options catalog. The extra features include heated rear seats, a panoramic glass roof that fills the cabin with natural light, and an electrically operated tow bar. The vehicle also offers the optional Motorway Assistant system, which allows for hands-free driving on compatible highways at speeds up to 81 mph.

BMW executives view the launch of the i3 as a critical milestone for their global EV strategy. Management notes that high interest from the public proves the car will perform well in a competitive EV market. Jochen Goller, a member of the BMW Board of Management, described the new BMW i3 as a groundbreaking vehicle for the company. He emphasized that starting orders is a vital next step for the brand as it transitions its core models toward electric propulsion.

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