BMW i3 Sedan Lands in UK With 563-Mile Range, 463hp

When the BMW i3 Sedan rolls into view, it does more than look modern. It feels like a small manifesto about what electric driving can be: long, quiet, and brisk when you want it to be. The company has opened UK orders for a single, right-hand-drive First Edition that leans into sportiness and tech in equal measure.

Everything packed into one bold trim

The First Edition is built on the M Sport 50 xDrive setup and is presented as a well-specified package rather than a menu of choices. Pricing starts at around €62,000 on-the-road. Expect M Sport styling cues inside and out, BMW's Iconic Glow illuminated grille, a 3D head-up display and a jump in AC charging from 11 kW to 22 kW.

BMW's new Panoramic iDrive runs on the Operating System X and stretches information across the lower sweep of the windscreen with what the brand calls Panoramic Vision. Interaction mixes voice, touch and haptic controls, and you can speak to an intelligent assistant that handles navigation and media with conversational answers and suggestions.

The First Edition promises a rare blend of long-range capability and near-supercar acceleration.

Under the skin lives a 108.7 kWh net battery feeding two motors — one on each axle — producing 463 hp and 645 Nm of torque. BMW quotes a WLTP range of up to 563 miles (906 km). Thanks to an 800V architecture, a 400 kW DC charger can add about 423 km (263 miles) of range in roughly ten minutes, which reshapes the idea of a quick top-up.

Performance is punchy: 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. The software suite includes Dynamic Performance Control and eDrive management tied together by a new central control unit BMW calls Heart of Joy, which reduces the number of interventions and reacts faster than previous systems. Soft Stop smooths braking transitions, while Symbiotic Drive is intended to make the car's assistance systems and driver behave more like a team. An optional Motorway Assistant enables hands-free driving on highways up to 130 km/h.

Comfort and convenience are well covered in the standard kit list: three-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, electrically adjustable front seats and a Harman Kardon sound system. There are optional upgrades for heated rear seats, a panoramic glass roof with climate comfort glazing and two tiers of parking assistance — Parking Assistant Plus and Parking Assistant Professional.

Visually, buyers can choose from six paint finishes and either 19- or 20-inch wheels, plus M-themed interior layouts in several colors. It’s a compact premium sedan, but BMW has crammed a lot of hardware and software into the package.

Ordering is open now ahead of the public market launch. BMW positions this model as a niche but consequential step: a right-hand-drive i3 Sedan that emphasizes range without sacrificing the brand’s sporty bent. For drivers who want a long-range EV with a strong dose of tech and a performance edge, the First Edition makes a clear argument.