BMW is taking its iconic 3 Series into a new era with the all-new electric i3, a Neue Klasse saloon that promises serious performance, rapid charging and the driving dynamics that have made the 3 Series a motoring favourite for five decades.

Two fully electric versions will be available from launch, led by the i3 50 xDrive. With dual electric motors producing 469bhp and 475lb ft of torque, it’ll accelerate from 0–62mph in 4.7 seconds. More impressive is its claimed 567-mile WLTP range, courtesy of a hefty 108.7kWh battery.

When the battery eventually needs replenishing, 800V technology and DC charging at up to 400kW mean ten minutes plugged in can add up to 263 miles of range, assuming the charging station plays ball. The i3 40 xDrive offers a still-useful 374bhp and a claimed 441-mile range.

But BMW hasn’t abandoned petrol power just yet. Joining the electric models will be combustion-engined 3 Series variants featuring 48V mild-hybrid technology, including the new M350 xDrive.

Its 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six produces 443bhp, launching the saloon from 0–62mph in just 4.1 seconds before reaching an electronically limited 155mph.

And there’s a particularly intriguing party trick. The M350 introduces Drift Moment, a feature allowing the driver to direct engine power exclusively to the rear wheels for sideways shenanigans. Probably best saved for a suitable circuit rather than the school run.

Inside, BMW’s new Panoramic iDrive system combines a 17.9-inch central touchscreen with panoramic displays, a 3D head-up display and voice-controlled digital assistance.

The electric i3 will be built in Munich, while combustion-engined models will come from Dingolfing, Germany.

With an electric M60 xDrive also planned for 2027, BMW clearly intends to keep performance firmly at the heart of its next-generation 3 Series. Electric motoring, it seems, needn’t mean surrendering the fun.