While our spy photographers couldn’t get a look inside the car, based on the Vision Neue Klasse concept, the interior of the new 3 Series will be minimalist and designed around the principle of “eyes on the road, hands on the wheel” driving.
Technology will include next-generation iDrive infotainment software, and a brand-new set-up called ‘Panoramic Vision’, which does away with an ordinary instrument cluster and projects information across the base of the windscreen.
It’ll be complemented by a 3D head-up display, while easy access to other functions will come from buttons on the steering wheel. However, if the concept is anything to go by, the iDrive rotary controller will not make an appearance.
The EV version will use a brand- new scalable platform that has been “uncompromisingly optimised for electric drivetrains,” says BMW. It will feature an 800V electrical architecture, which allows ultra-rapid charging speeds – supposedly fast enough to add 186 miles (300km) of range in only 10 minutes.
That’s thanks in part to BMW’s latest, sixth-generation eDrive powertrain technology, which uses cylindrical battery cells that deliver up to 20 per cent better energy density, 30 per cent more range and 30 per cent faster charging than current powerpacks. These cells will also be used as a part of the structure of Neue Klasse models, plus on certain cars, the cells can be packed differently to maximise space.
For context, the current BMW i4 electric saloon offers a range of up to 373 miles, which suggests the new i3 – or whatever it may be called – will manage over 400 miles of range.
