AI News Feed
Market watch
Samsung Expands One UI 9 Rollout as Users Advised to Prepare Galaxy DevicesOpenAI launches Dots as identity security becomes AI agents' control planeBMW details 2027 i3: 468-mile range, $62,850 starting priceTranslation Earbuds Work in Three Steps, but Speed and Accuracy Still VaryRainbow Six Tactics Director Says 15 Operators Built to Avoid Overlap, Tachanka and Lion Miss the CutRussia’s USC unveils underwater robotic systems for oil, gas and ship repair
Samsung Expands One UI 9 Rollout as Users Advised to Prepare Galaxy DevicesOpenAI launches Dots as identity security becomes AI agents' control planeBMW details 2027 i3: 468-mile range, $62,850 starting priceTranslation Earbuds Work in Three Steps, but Speed and Accuracy Still VaryRainbow Six Tactics Director Says 15 Operators Built to Avoid Overlap, Tachanka and Lion Miss the CutRussia’s USC unveils underwater robotic systems for oil, gas and ship repair
Companies

BMW details 2027 i3: 468-mile range, $62,850 starting price

BMW said its 2027 i3 50 xDrive will start at $62,850 and offer an estimated 468 miles of EPA range.

AI News Feed · 2026-09-30 08:20

The 2027 i3 50 xDrive will be priced at $61,500 before a $1,350 destination fee, putting it in the Mercedes C-Class segment, BMW said. When the car was first discussed in March, the automaker had not confirmed its U.S. launch timing or exact starting price; at the time, a starting price around $60,000 was only a rough estimate. BMW confirmed the U.S. launch for the first quarter of 2027.

BMW said the i3 uses two motors. An electrically excited synchronous motor on the rear axle produces 322 horsepower and 321 pound-feet of torque and serves as the primary drive axle. An asynchronous motor on the front axle produces 165 horsepower and 188 pound-feet. Combined output is 463 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque. The rear motor uses electricity instead of permanent magnets to power its stator outer frame and rotor inner spinning part. An inverter converts direct current from the battery into alternating current, regulates the electromagnets, and monitors performance.

The estimated EPA range is 468 miles, higher than the roughly 440 miles estimated in March. BMW did not disclose the i3's battery capacity, but it confirmed the car uses its Gen6 high-voltage battery with cylindrical lithium-ion cells measuring 46 millimeters in diameter and 95 millimeters in height. BMW said the cylindrical cells provide a 20 percent increase in energy density compared with the prismatic cells used in its Gen5 batteries.

The i3 will support bidirectional charging with vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-home capabilities, BMW said. It also has an intelligent charging flap that opens when the driver approaches a known charging point and Plug & Charge, which allows automatic charging at 10 charging providers.

Inside, the iDrive infotainment system replaces a traditional gauge cluster with a heads-up-style windshield projection that BMW says remains visible with polarized sunglasses. Passengers can view or customize parts of the display. A 17.9-inch central touchscreen acts as a free-cut display where users can drag and drop up to six widgets, such as media, weather, or navigation, from the screen onto the windshield display. The steering wheel uses so-called shy-tech controls whose buttons light up only when available and provide haptic feedback, so drivers do not have to look down.

BMW is integrating Amazon's Alexa into the i3. The large-language-model version of Alexa can handle conversational requests, search for online information, and manage climate and windows. BMW has sought to bring the AI-powered Alexa into its cars since 2022, but the feature was delayed by Amazon's long development cycle. When parked, occupants can watch movies or live shows through a built-in Video app powered by TiVo and eventually Amazon Prime Video. Navigation runs on BMW's own maps with Google Places integrated, and the Android-based system receives over-the-air software updates.

BMW will also offer the i3 M60 xDrive, a high-powered variant with M-specific lights and graphics and 21-inch Style 1067M aerodynamic wheels. It is scheduled to arrive sometime in 2027, with no price announced.