2027 BMW i3 Debuts at BMW Welt

Thanks for posting. I’ve been wondering what the i3 would look like in space silver…pretty good I think. The car still looks oddly tall from some angles. Definitely will need to see it in person before deciding.

I dont like the taillights which make me not like the rear end. And I wish it had regular door handles.

There's hope for Neue Klasse 3-series with LCI if they improve rear and interior a bit. Top two things to fix for everyday use imo: steering wheel and CarPlay using whole tilted screen (why tf did they go with tilted anyway?) instead of just a rectangle and having huge bezels, what are they smoking in Germany?.. That said, I wanna see M350.

Since years, BMW wasn't able to deliver a neath handsome car and now that it does, there is so much critique? I understand it's subjective, but I'am very pleased with the design and it does adhere to the classical 3-series proportions. Yes it's a modern interpretation, but when you dream of a E36 or E46, I challenge you: since when did you sit in one and would you accept it now as a modern daily driver? This car has all it takes to finally realize all my unfulfilled desires. My current i4 was already a disruptive better car, this one will be even so much better.

That silver car in the photos looks amazing.
Great to see it parked beside other cars to gain some insight into its proportions.
Those 20” wheels work well with the colour too.
Looking forward to seeing these in the metal when they eventually arrive….

When people mistake you with a Kia, you’ll have an identity problem!!

ghaffari46 wrote

When people mistake you with a Kia, you’ll have an identity problem!!

Nice that you’ve gone to all of this effort. Bet you’re really proud 🙄

Andyi4 wrote

That silver car in the photos looks amazing.
Great to see it parked beside other cars to gain some insight into its proportions.
Those 20” wheels work well with the colour too.
Looking forward to seeing these in the metal when they eventually arrive….

Agree, the side on shot, in that colour really shows off the wider arches (maybe hidden in darker colours), looks fantastic!

Sorry to offend you, I didn’t know that you are part of the design team.
Just kidding 🙂

The problem with my generation is we started our bmw journey with e30s, then moved on to e36, e46 and E90s.

And later cars like F90 M5, M6GC and i8 found their way in my garage. Those are cars that could put a smile on your face after a long day when you see them in
the parking lot (especially m6gc) .
I don’t get that excitement when I look my current XM, ix, and even M2.


These are great cars, and they do well whatever they’re supposed to do .


But again I think the wow factor in bmw design , and to be fair many other brands had been replaced by functionality.

Still I’m not loosing hope, and looking forward to see M3 EV in person, which will have a hard task to push current taycan cross turismo out of my garage!

.

ghaffari46 wrote

Sorry to offend you, I didn’t know that you are part of the design team.
Just kidding 🙂

The problem with my generation is we started our bmw journey with e30s, then moved on to e36, e46 and E90s.

And later cars like F90 M5, M6GC and i8 found their way in my garage. Those are cars that could put a smile on your face after a long day when you see them in
the parking lot (especially m6gc) .
I don’t get that excitement when I look my current XM, ix, and even M2.


These are great cars, and they do well whatever they’re supposed to do .


But again I think the wow factor in bmw design , and to be fair many other brands had been replaced by functionality.

Still I’m not loosing hope, and looking forward to see M3 EV in person, which will have a hard task to push current taycan cross turismo out of my garage!

.

Well said!

is anyone here over 40 excited by this car?

The car looks fine. The issue is they all kinda look same, there is to many of them. Interior is probably worst on all cars they have had since the abysmal E36 (E90 no hump was peak imho). Curious how it will age, the car with that nasty steering wheel especially wont look good. BUT I sense i just dont get design anymore that people in 20s design into the line up. I look at them and cant understand. THe IX3 on the road looks nasty. Angry, but also kinda dead with its flat kidneys. Dunno. Some angles look nice on the i3, so looking forward to see it in person.

Tallest wrote

is anyone here over 40 excited by this car?

My father has a '99 M coupe... I find that quite ugly, but I learned to drive stick on this. He's also had a few Touring bikes. My brother has an M3. My mother has a 5 series. None of these have really interested me. They've also gone through various Audi and VWs.

I'm 46. I've never personally owned a BMW (owned VW GLI, a golf, a couple mazdas, Tesla Model 3, and a toyota matrix).

The Model 3 exicted me the most and has given me the most enjoyment. Only reason I'm switching is political.

I drove the iX3, but don't like the boxy front, kidney front, and high seating position. The interior was nice... but not exiting. I do love the clean interiour. I don't like having buttons all over the place. Most settings in cars are set and forget. Once things are configured I barely fiddle with controls other than audio volume. So much less distraction and easier to keep clean.

I think the i3 looks to fit the bill and is the first BMW I'm hoping to buy.

phigment wrote

Tallest wrote

is anyone here over 40 excited by this car?

do love the clean interiour. I don't like having buttons all over the place. Most settings in cars are set and forget. Once things are configured I barely fiddle with controls other than audio volume. So much less distraction and easier to keep clean.

I do agree on the set and forget as well as this car is how BMW wants Tesla buyer.

ghaffari46 wrote

The problem with my generation is we started our bmw journey with e30s, then moved on to e36, e46 and E90s.

I’m of your generation, probably older. My first, what I would class as a prestige car, was an E36 in the late 90s. One of the reasons I’ve ordered one is the retro look. Models after that have never done it for me.

Ikon66 wrote

ghaffari46 wrote

The problem with my generation is we started our bmw journey with e30s, then moved on to e36, e46 and E90s.

I’m of your generation, probably older. My first, what I would class as a prestige car, was an E36 in the late 90s. One of the reasons I’ve ordered one is the retro look. Models after that have never done it for me.

So seems a pattern. Im of the E90 generation, my first car (ok I had an E36 for 6 months but I hated that car, despite it looking nice. .. felt cheap and ready to fall apart any day, even after 10 years of age).
E90 is peak design, I had F30, F11, and I today would only buy an E90 albeit I do (shockingly) now lust after G80 after I see one on the road... But Im too old for sports cars at mid 40s.

It looks suspiciously like they’re returning to the beautiful angles and style of my 2016 BMW 228IX convertible and thank God they are because those shark grill monstrous Subaru looking X5 SUVs are not what I think of when I think of a Bmw

I don't think the problem is the exterior as much as the interior (at least imo). Sure the back is a bit of a hit and miss and more boxy while the front reminds me of a camaro in a sense, but its doable. The M3 NK exterior grew on me actually.

It's the interior thats the problem at least to me. You want more buttons? Well, we will give you less (if the ICE versions are to follow the same, wheres the ride mode buttons and such)? And as I mentioned before, just the panoramic screen. Not sure whos idea that was but if they just put a regular digital instrument cluster with the iPad screen as the center display, it would be much more tolerable. Sure, they said its to keep your eyes on the road more which can make sense in a track car but in an i3? Isn't that the point of a heads up display?

Anyways, I feel like the G20 / F80 (G80 as well if you accept the grille) are the last BMW cars that actually look like BMWs (at least the BMWs we've grown to see / drive growing up).

Buddha wrote

And as I mentioned before, just the panoramic screen. Not sure whos idea that was ... Sure, they said its to keep your eyes on the road more which can make sense in a track car but in an i3? Isn't that the point of a heads up display?

Have you seen it in person? The HUD wasn't very impressive and I found it dim in the day, not to mention it didn't work with my polarized sunglasses.
The pano screen on the other hand was quite vibrant and useful.

phigment wrote

Buddha wrote

And as I mentioned before, just the panoramic screen. Not sure whos idea that was ... Sure, they said its to keep your eyes on the road more which can make sense in a track car but in an i3? Isn't that the point of a heads up display?

Have you seen it in person? The HUD wasn't very impressive and I found it dim in the day, not to mention it didn't work with my polarized sunglasses.
The pano screen on the other hand was quite vibrant and useful.

Not yet. This is all going off my personal opinion based on reviews / speculation from videos who say the same thing: you sit higher because of the panoramic screen.

Maybe in person it will grow on me but I doubt it will. I just don't see the difference versus a digital cluster + heads up display which still allows the driver to sit lower and feel more planted in the car.

Buddha wrote

phigment wrote

Have you seen it in person? The HUD wasn't very impressive and I found it dim in the day, not to mention it didn't work with my polarized sunglasses.
The pano screen on the other hand was quite vibrant and useful.

Not yet. This is all going off my personal opinion based on reviews / speculation from videos who say the same thing: you sit higher because of the panoramic screen.

Maybe in person it will grow on me but I doubt it will. I just don't see the difference versus a digital cluster + heads up display which still allows the driver to sit lower and feel more planted in the car.

Ah, yes, perhaps the seating angle could be an issue. I only saw it on the ix3.

ghaffari46 wrote

Sorry to offend you, I didn’t know that you are part of the design team.
Just kidding 🙂

The problem with my generation is we started our bmw journey with e30s, then moved on to e36, e46 and E90s.

And later cars like F90 M5, M6GC and i8 found their way in my garage. Those are cars that could put a smile on your face after a long day when you see them in
the parking lot (especially m6gc) .
I don’t get that excitement when I look my current XM, ix, and even M2.


These are great cars, and they do well whatever they’re supposed to do .


But again I think the wow factor in bmw design , and to be fair many other brands had been replaced by functionality.

Still I’m not loosing hope, and looking forward to see M3 EV in person, which will have a hard task to push current taycan cross turismo out of my garage!

.

I also started there, but this car brings much of that earlier sentiment back.

I also sometimes reflect why I was really desiring old cars during the 80-90s like the e30 325i, Porsche 928 or a Testarossa. I would have sold a kidney to own such a car back then. My conclusion is NOT that they looked nicer and even less that they drove any better. It has to do something with my age (mental, physical and social). BTW, I also notice that music from the 80s sounds so much better than now which probably isn't true either. ;-)

When im much older i hope my opinion on design based on what i liked in my younger days doesn’t influence then-modernity. I want future designers to look forward.