The BMW 3 Series range will get a new model next summer in the shape of the 330e iPerformance model. The newest plug-in hybrid from BMW will have a couple of aces up its sleeve to compete with its rivals, from a new, extended range to a feature called XtraBoost. What that entails exactly remains to be seen but according to the Germans, XtraBoost is a driving mode which gives you short bursts of extra power for various needs you may have on the road.
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Compared to the old 330e, the new model will come with about 30 percent more electric range, BMW claiming it can cover 60 kilometers (37 miles) without emissions. Furthermore, the CO2 emissions have gone down if you don’t drive in pure EV mode around town, to 39 grams per kilometer. If you’re worried about fuel consumption, the car is claimed to sip just 1.7 l/100 km (138.3 mpg) which does seem rather impossible right now.
Under the sheet metal you’ll find the same combination of engine/gearbox as on the old model. Under the hood we’ll have the same 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine while an electric motor will be squeezed between it and the gearbox. The XtraBoost mode is something new though, and according to BMW will allow the system to generate up to 215 kW (288 HP) for short bursts. Otherwise, the car can develop up to 185 kW (248 HP).
The new 330e iPerformance model will accelerate from standstill to 62 mph in 6 seconds flat which is the same as the current model. Considering the specs haven’t changed that much between generations, that was to be expected. The car will go on sale next summer as a 2020 model and will come with all the latest technologies BMW infused in the new 3 Series range, from the Live Cockpit Professional to the lift-related dampers and other goodies.
The current model could cover 27 to 28 km IRL in full electric mode ( in comfort mode, clim & gps ON, only me, no bags/stuffs ), so with an extra 30%, that will be nearly 40 km IRL with the new model
Not that impressive, really…
Sufficient for the overwhelming majority of journeys here in the UK, and for those longer drives, there’s the ICE.
Range fixation has become as big of an issue as range anxiety has been.
This is mainly an ICEV with an EV extension. In BEV mode it’ll be slow and only do 30 km (BMWs figures aren’t realistic and we can extrapolate the range from the previous model with their 130 % figure). It’s not far and it’s not impressive. It charges incredibly slow so you can’t charge while shopping (many grocery stores have quick AC chargers). It’s not enough for the overwhelming majority of journeys and once you’ve consumed the battery dry you’ll have to wait several hours to do it again.
BMW use it to get past the emissions standards and to get more power. Most of the performane comes from the engine and the electric motor serves as a boost. In practice, people won’t drive this car in BEV mode all the time…
If, like you said, this engine is mostly usefull for long-distance trips, why not make it a range extender instead of basing the powertrain platform on it?
They should put a powerful motor in the back, batteries in the floor and add a range extender (petrol, fuel cell, doesn’t matter really).
This is a future model we’re talking about – so no, not impressed at all.
Some of that may be true where you live, as I clarified – my statement applies to the UK, where 95% of journeys are less than 25 miles, and 66% of journeys are less than 5 miles. These are government road use statistics – not anecdotal observations, and I do believe that anywhere between 66% and 95% would class as an overwhelming majority.
My friend swapped her SL for a Prius years ago, years later still loves it – electric commutes all week & can still road trip to the cottage on wknds. Here in Canada (& most of the rest of the world) she wouldn’t be able to do that with a BEV.
Most of the rest of the world isn’t accurate. Infrastructure may be spotty but in Europe it’s pretty good. It can be pretty decent in USA depending on where you live. Get a Tesla and you’re good to go (I know, not everyone can afford such expensive vehicles). Tesla’s infrastructure is very solid everywhere besides from exceptions.
Fun fact: The Prius go a lot further in BEV mode than BMW’s plug-in hybrids.
Funnier fact: NO ONE is cross-shopping BMW with Prius.
But she would be able with a REX, that is what Hinu is saying. The current battery tech is up for cars with much more range. This 330e would have been nice to have five years ago, but now it is just old tech. Also wrt the single-phase charging.
Toyota have sold millions of hybrids over decades, how much energy has that saved before REX even existed? Why would my friend spend tens of thousands to replace a reliable car she has enjoyed for years? Greens really don’t seem to exist in reality, Bloomberg recently cited BMW are still in the lead of major manufacturers & the market is not rushing to BEV, right now it’s looking like the electric revolution will have to be mandated.
That’s a silly statistic. They are taking all journeys and mashing them together. They also don’t account for the fact that people do several journeys over a day.
Ignoring facts and substituting them for you personal anecdotal observations? Well this is clearly going nowhere.
Merely seeing the flaws in how the data from this statistics are presented.
If this is your issue have to assume you are utterly ignorant of what other mass volume manufacturers are up to, or not, as the case may be. Speaking of future models & not impressed @ all…
I’m not. I just think BMW could do better.
I agree BMW is not the worst of the bunch, but they’ve definitely slowed down the progress.
They’re building new factories for BEV, Z4 manufacture had to be contracted out to Magna, this doesn’t happen overnight. i3 has been on the road for the years it took Tesla to produce Model 3.
They should’ve built it earlier.
Tesla has had several cars on the road during the time it took BMW to not take the step from the great i3.
These things doesn’t happen over night, which is why BMW should’ve done something all these years they’ve just leaned back in a sofa called BMW i3.
Why? Aren’t i3 selling better now than when introduced? What exactly are Tesla’s “several cars on the road”? Apart from their canny marketing 2 yr. waitlist, it’s not like the world are beating a path to pay the BEV premium, they are a fraction of the market, Tesla may never produce the list price they promoted. BMW seem to be on track to be producing volume BEV with the rest of the majors & may still well have a lead depending on their tech. They are not doing their current record volume on BEV, though they are also selling their most electric ever. Since Model 3 is only just arriving on market (in some parts of the world), I really don’t see a crisis. Shelf life of ICE BMW is minimum 6 years, so aren’t BMW actually on schedule?
It is. But that’s one low-volume car. They should’ve released another one by now.
Roadster was released in 2008. Model S was released in 2012. Model X was released in 2015. Model 3 in 2017. BMW i3 was released in 2013. At release, Tesla had two models on the road.
Of course they will, now you’re just being silly.
On the track doesn’t mean anything. In the third quarter they delivered 55,840 Model 3s and produced 53,239 Model 3s. Without any increase, that’s 212,956 Model 3s annually.
BMW recently increased their annual production from 47 k to 73 k. While Tesla continues to increase the production numbers towards half a million a year (for Model 3) BMW is still at the same rate and will release the iX3 in 2020. By that point Tesla will released Model Y and also produce Model S and X in relatively high numbers (over 100 k combined today).
If BMW seem to be on track (not doubting their abilities), what is Tesla on track to? They’ve moved the GF target ahead of time 2 years, they released Model 3 ahead of time, they’ve shown steady growth that does not indicate failure.
BMW’s ICEVs are the reason they aren’t pumping out more EVs.
I’m not talking about the i3. That’s a brilliant model and a project. I’m talking about the time after it when they released nothing.
I know about the ActiveE and Mini E projects from BMW. It’s cool. But if you want to talk about timeframe…
BMW started the Mini E project in 2009. Tesla delivered the first Roadster in 2008. In 2012 the Mini E project ended, they had leased something over 640 cars. Tesla had delivered around 2,500 cars.
In 2012 BMW started the ActiveE program (1 series BMW). Around 860 were leased to “test pilots”.
In 2018, Tesla passed 250,000 Model Ss and passed 100,000 Model Xs. BMW passed 100,000 i3s in the beginning of 2018, likely to be at around 139,000 now.
Tesla is at a total of around 450,000 now if you count Roadster, Model S, Model X and Model 3. Right now, the annual rate at which Tesla produces vehicles is at around 315,000 cars. This will likely increase significantly over a year. But let’s be very pessimistic.
If nothing change and the growth suddenly stop for some reason Tesla will have produced 815,000 vehicles at the end of 2019. They might as well hit 1 million before BMW get their iX3 out.
A small manufacturer that started from scratch vs an established, successful, highly capable and smart manufacturer like BMW that isn’t unable to do the same, but unwilling to do the same.
So tell me more about that sofa or waiting list.
Congratulations on your rebadged Lotus.
It wasn’t a rebadged Lotus. Very little turned out to be from the Lotus car they originally planned to base it on. But it’s not really relevant at all in this discussion.
If that is your reply to everything mentioned in my comment, you’re not serious at all.
Yeah, BEVs have a market share of around 2 % now. So obviously, we need more. There’s demand for it, a lot of demand.
Yeah, they do and that’s what I’m getting at. You’re just expanding on my point. :) Thanks.
2% is my point & also not serious @ all. Get back 2 me when u break in2 double digits. If & when.
ok m8 i w0nt g3t back 2 u
It was a terrible point not really relevant and your point actually just reinforced my point. -_-
U don’t have 1.
The official statement mentioned NEDC 60 km and the current one has 39. So the post is definetly wrong. It will be more than 50%!
Too little, too late. They need to make an electric 3 Series with a range extender. More range, better efficiency, more cargo space, no range anxiety…
Full EV will be as rumors say
There is no full EV 3 Series
Shame….About year ago was rumor that they’re planning fully EV. I don’t like how they make so slowly hybrids or EV…
Unfounded rumors. You will get the i4 which is essentially a 3 Series electric
Too much resistance. BMW can do great things. Instead they go the easy and lazy route.
Yes, building a green carbon fibre factory on Washington state fresh water hydro to design & manufacture BMW i from scratch was such an easy, lazy, cheap route, why they keep winning sustainability & green car of the year awards. @ 1/40th of the volume it’s the market that’s resisting EV.
No, that part was great. I’ve written long comments about it before, I totally agree about the i projects. Problem is, after this it got virtually stagnant. It’s was a great start and the i3 is a great vehicle and so is the work related to it.
That’s many years ago. There’s a reason most of the people behind the i3 and i8 left. BMW halted the next steps and from there little progress has been made while relying on old work.
Definitely one of the cars I’m looking at. PHEV and Hybrid vehicles are really the only suitable electric vehicle for me. Electric only wouldn’t be possible for our 2 primary vehicles – unless they have a range extender.