BMW is arguably one of the first mainstream manufacturers to offer an electric vehicle (EV). Though it did not take off as much as we expected, the i3 hatch was one of the first decent EVs you could buy that isn't a Tesla. Now though, the i3 has officially been reincarnated as an electric 3 Series, which was leaked in China ahead of its global debut.

While we do have spy shots of BMW's upcoming electric 3 Series, this is the first time we're seeing it without any camouflage. These photos are courtesy of China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which seems to be an industry practice before a new car hits the Chinese market.

From a design standpoint, there's no denying the fact that it's the electric 3 Series that our spy photographers were able to capture on public roads. Upfront, we can see its new headlights, grille, and front bumper design. There's also a high chance that we're possibly looking at what the facelifted 3 Series will look like.

At the sides, the i3's long wheelbase is clearly evident, which is not surprising since every BMW sedan sold in China is a long-wheelbase version of its global counterparts. There's also a new rocket panel design that kicks up towards the front wheel arches, while the rest of the body looks the same as the standard 3 Series.

Lastly, the rear fascia clearly shows an i3 badge, which definitely confirms the name of BMW's electric 3 Series. The taillights and trunk are unchanged from the standard model. Unique to the i3, however, is its rear bumper design, with its faux diffuser treatment with blue highlights that are seen in other BMW i models.

The BMW i3 that we see here is badged as an eDrive35 L, with L denoting its long wheelbase. This will be the first time for us to see the eDrive35 nomenclature since the base variant of the i4 is designated as an eDrive40. Oddly enough, however, the MIIT information page states that this i3 produces 250 kW (or 335 horsepower), which is exactly the same as the i4 eDrive40.

No other details have been provided, but if it's indeed the same as the i4 eDrive40, this means that its torque figure should be at 430 Nm (317 lb-ft), driving the rear wheels. There's a possibility that the two models could share the same 84 kWh battery pack, which, according to the EPA's rating in the i4 eDrive40, should be good for up to 300 miles.

These are all the information that we know so far, though based on these photos from the MIIT, an official unveiling should happen sooner rather than later.