The BMW i3 had always faced negative comments for the way it looked. This time, however, the designers seem to have nailed it with the new i3 and i3s.
The design tweaks have made it look not only wider but also more sportier. The new bumper design adds the aggressiveness which lacked in the outgoing model.
The trademark BMW i Black Belt running from the bonnet over the roof to the car’s rear end is now complemented by black A-pillars and roof lines. The range of paint finishes has been extended to include Melbourne Red metallic and Imperial Blue metallic. Besides these two new additions, customers can also choose from the non-metallic shades Capparis White and Fluid Black as well as Protonic Blue metallic and Mineral Grey metallic.
A chrome strip running across the full width of the rear and the positioning of the model and eDrive badges emphasize the car’s width. Both i3 and new i3s come equipped with all-LED headlights with DRLs as standard. The turn signals are also LEDs.
The i3s (the red one) gets sportier design elements. At the front, the bumper inlay and the U-shaped surround has a black finish. The grille, wheel arch surrounds, roof, all have a gloss-black finish. The black wheel arch surrounds add an additional 40 mm of track width.
Both cars are built on the LifeDrive vehicle architecture, which combines an aluminium chassis with a passenger cell made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP).
Interiors
Thanks to the aforementioned architecture, the interior promises lots of space and great ease of accessibility. Besides the standard Atelier version, the Loft, Lodge and Suite equipment lines are available for both i3 and the new i3s.
The Lodge interior design option includes a new seat cover in Solaric Brown that combines natural leather tanned using an olive leaf extract with a wool-based textile material.
BMW said that over 80 percent of the surfaces visible to the passengers are made from recycled materials or renewable resources, including recycled plastics, renewable raw materials, natural fibres and open-pored, unbleached eucalyptus wood. The new blue seat belt option provides a splash of colour in the interior in typical brand style. The new i3s supplements all this with special model lettering on the front floor mats as standard.
Power
The i3 continues to be powered by a 125 kW/170 hp electric motor with peak torque of 250 Nm. The motor is paired to a single-speed automatic transmission. A 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration is claimed to happen in 7.3 seconds, and top speed is limited to 150 km/h (93 mph).
As for the i3s, it features a more powerful 135 kW/184 hp electric motor that generates a peak torque of 270 Nm. Its updated drive system includes modified motor control and specific taper roller bearings, which have been utilized to further optimize power delivery and the performance curve at higher rpm, BMW said. The i3s can do 0 – 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, while the top speed is 160 km/h.
The i3s also gets sports suspension that includes a 10 mm drop in ride height. There are exclusive 20-inch light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design that are 20 mm wider than the previous ones. They can be ordered in the Bicolour and Jet Black variants.
Both models draw their energy from the lithium-ion battery pack with a capacity of 94 Ah or 33 kWh. A 28 kW/38 hp 2-cylinder range extender engine can be ordered as an option for both i3 and the new i3s.
The battery can provide 290 to 300 km (180-186 miles) range based on the NEDC cycle, 235 to 255 km (146 to 158 miles) as per WLTP and up to 200 km (124 miles) in everyday use. The combined electric power consumption of the i3 on the NEDC cycle varies between 13.6 and 13.1 kWh for every 100 km.
The i3s, on the other hand, has a range of 280 km (174 miles) based on the NEDC cycle, 235 to 245 km (146 to 152 miles) as per WLTP and up to 200 km (124 miles) in everyday use.
BMW said that the range extender extends the car’s overall range in everyday use by 150 km.
Features
As for the other features, there is an updated iDrive 10.25-inch display with an increased resolution of 1,440 × 540 pixels, optimised voice recognition system, and optional Apple CarPlay. More options include Parking Assistance package and Driving Assistant Plus; the latter incorporates Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function, Speed Limit Info, Proactive Driving Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, and the Traffic Jam assistant.
The charging cable supplied with the new i3s has been optimised and includes a temperature sensor. The BMW i Wallbox can supply 11 kW of power to charge the high-voltage battery, allowing enough energy for an electric range of around 180 km (112 miles) to be transferred in under three hours – five times quicker than with the standard charging cable.
The new i3 and the i3s will celebrate their world premiere at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt in September 2017. The global market launch will begin in November 2017.
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