Skip to main content

Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive vs BMW i3: The quietest automotive duel ever

Get ready for a fight.

BMW and Mercedes-Benz have one of the most intense rivalries in automobiledom, and they’re about to take it to the next level.

Recommended Videos

Mercedes R&D chief Thomas Weber told Automotive News Europe (sub. required) that his company’s B-Class Electric Drive will outshine the vaunted BMW i3, and other electric cars.

“In all the key criteria, this vehicle will be at least as competitive as our competitors’ models,” Weber said. If you were wondering, that’s German fightin’ talk.

Weber believes the B-Class Electric Drive will have an advantage because of its practicality. Unlike the bespoke i3, the Electric Drive is based on an existing subcompact hatchback, meaning it has five full-size doors, five seats, and a larger footprint than the BMW.

Weber said the B-Class Electric Drive will also offer class-leading performance.

The car has an estimated range of around 125 miles; Weber said this could be achieved in “normal everyday use.” EVs tend to lose range in everyday driving due to a variety of factors, so we’ll have to see if that claim holds up.

The B-Class’ electric motor will produce an estimated 134 horsepower and 228 pound-feet of torque. That will be enough to get the car to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds, according to Weber.

2014-BMW-i3-exterior-front-left
Image used with permission by copyright holder

So how do those numbers stack up against the B-Class Electric Drive’s arch rival?

The i3 will have 80 to 100 miles of range, according to BMW. Its electric motor produces 170 hp and 184 lb-ft, enough for a 0-60 mph time of around 7.0 seconds.

It isn’t surprising, though, that the smaller and more powerful BMW aces the theoretical 0-60 test. However, the cars’ ranges are pretty close.

This may be partially due to the Mercedes’ larger battery pack (28-kilowatt-hours, versus 22-kWh for the BMW). Still, it looks pretty impressive on paper, considering that the i3 was designed to be as lightweight and efficient as possible, while the Electric Drive was built off an existing platform.

Unlike BMW, Mercedes won’t offer the Electric Drive with an optional range-extending gasoline engine.

The two cars’ differing philosophies may be their most distinguishing features.

BMW sees the i3 as a completely new kind of car, which means consumers may be a little bewildered by it. With the B-Class Electric Drive, Mercedes has built a normal car that just happens to be electric. That will appeal to more conservative customers, but won’t be a fashion statement like the BMW.

Both cars are expected to go on sale in the United States next spring. The i3 will start at $41,350; Mercedes hasn’t announced pricing for the B-Class Electric Drive.

Which one do you think will come out on top? Let us know in the comments.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Archer’s flying taxis head to LA for the 2028 Olympics
archer air taxi la28 inglewood aerial a final

Remember the buzz about flying taxis zipping through Paris for the 2024 Olympics? That sci-fi fantasy never got off the ground —Germany’s Volocopter dream was denied certification, leaving fans staring at the same old ground traffic. But now, the skies are opening again for a second shot at glory—this time over Los Angeles.
Archer Aviation, the California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company, has been named the exclusive air taxi provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft, a piloted electric air taxi designed to carry four passengers, will be whisking around VIPs, fans, and stakeholders between venues and key locations like LAX, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and even Orange County. Think 10-20 minute flights that skip the infamous LA gridlock and land you right where the action is—on the roof, basically.
“We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do that than during the LA28 Games,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation.
And Midnight isn’t just a pretty rotor. It’s a whisper-quiet, emission-light aircraft with 12 rotors and a redundant, airline-level safety design.
What’s more, Archer and LA28 are working together to electrify vertiport hubs around the city—think futuristic sky stations—to serve not only Games-time needs but also to plant seeds for a post-Olympic air mobility network.
The air mobility market has been fast developing over the past few years, featuring the likes of Hyundai partnership with China’s XPeng HT Aero and Toyota's backing of Joby Aviation, a U.S. venture. Joby bought Uber Elevate in 2020, hoping to someday pair its air taxis with Uber’s ride-hailing app.
Archer, for its part, has been busy building a strategic partnership with United Airlines, which has already placed orders for the aircraft and is helping with logistics to integrate air taxis into airport-to-downtown travel. More than a demo for the cameras, the LA28 partnership will showcase urban air travel for real-world daily use, starting with one of the most high-profile events on Earth.
After raising false hopes in Paris, the air taxi dream is aiming for liftoff in LA—and this time, it might just stick the landing.

Read more
Electric Muscle Misfire? Dodge Pulls Charger Daytona R/T from 2026 Lineup
electric muscle misfire dodge pulls charger daytona r t from 2026 lineup all new

The Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, once hailed as the vanguard of Dodge’s electric muscle car future, is being dropped for the 2026 model year.
According to a report from MoparInsiders, the Scat Pack variant will now lead the Daytona lineup, marking a significant pivot in Stellantis’ EV strategy.
Originally introduced with bold ambitions, the Charger Daytona R/T was designed to offer an accessible gateway into electric performance. With its 456-horsepower dual-motor setup and optional 509-horsepower Direct Connection stage kit, it seemed poised to excite both muscle car fans and EV newcomers. However, market realities have painted a different picture.
Industry and media reports highlight the core issue: buyers just weren’t biting. Despite its impressive specs and nostalgic design cues, the R/T struggled to justify its price tag, starting near $60,000. At that level, buyers expected either more performance or more premium features. Without strong sales traction, Dodge made the tough call to shelve the R/T variant for 2026, opting instead to focus on trims that resonate better with customers.
As we reported in December, the Charger EV was launched with an off-beat marketing message to “save the planet from self-driving sleep pods.” The goal was to retain Dodge’s brand identity—muscle, aggression, and driver engagement—even in the electric era. The Charger Daytona R/T was supposed to be the perfect balance of price and performance, but it seems the target audience wasn’t ready to make that leap at that price.
Importantly, this doesn’t spell the end of the Charger Daytona altogether. Higher-performance models like the Scat Pack and Banshee are still in the pipeline and, interestingly, are being adjusted for price competitiveness. Several trims are reportedly seeing price cuts, suggesting Stellantis is serious about making these vehicles more appealing and accessible.
For enthusiasts, the takeaway is clear: the electric muscle car isn’t going anywhere, but automakers are still figuring out how to sell it. The demise of the R/T is less a failure and more a recalibration—proof that even the boldest plans need to stay flexible in the face of consumer demand.

Read more
The all-electric Cadillac Vistiq makes the Escalade redundant
2026 Cadillac Vistiq front-quarter view.

Cadillac wants a full lineup of electric vehicles, and it’s nearly there. It has a standard crossover SUV (the Lyriq), an entry-level model (the Optiq), an electric version of its flagship Escalade (the Escalade IQ), and even a baroque showpiece (the Celestiq). But something’s missing.

For a modern luxury brand, a midsize three-row crossover is key. Customers for whom a Toyota Highlander is too déclassé need something to take their kids to lacrosse practice, but may not want something as big as an Escalade. This isn’t the most exciting design brief, and that’s reflected in the gasoline Cadillac XT6, which has always felt like nothing more than a placeholder. Its new electric counterpart, the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq, is anything but.

Read more