BMW i3 Electric Sedan: 563-Mile WLTP Claim, Real-World Range Gap, 800V Gen6 Tech

BMW i3 Electric Sedan: 563-Mile WLTP Claim, Real-World Range Gap, 800V Gen6 Tech covers BMW’s upcoming Neue Klasse i3 and its European rollout. BMW opened European order books for the i3 50 xDrive First Edition on June 18, 2026, ahead of an autumn market launch, after demand for its first Neue Klasse model, the iX3 SUV, surpassed 50,000 European pre-orders. In the UK, the First Edition starts at £57,905, while a standard i3 50 xDrive is priced from £53,005 and is set to arrive when the full model range launches that same season. BMW lists a provisional WLTP range of up to 563 miles, but the article stresses that real-world figures typically land around 75%-85% of WLTP in mixed driving. It also cites potential winter reductions of 20%-30% below mixed baselines. The i3 is built around an 800V Gen6 eDrive system, a 0.21 drag coefficient, and cylindrical cells.