BMW’s ‘i’ sub-brand is gathering momentum and has now revealed some details on the upcoming i3 premium compact car.
The BMW i3 is the first volume production car from the ‘i’ sub-brand and features a lightweight carbon fibre passenger cell. BMW says despite its all-electric drivetrain and compact dimensions, a ‘not-negotiable’ from the very first concept was hallmark BMW driving pleasure.
As a result, the i3’s electric motor, power electronics and lithium-ion battery have been developed in-house by BMW eDrive.
Sitting on a chassis created under the BMW ‘LifeDrive’ architecture, the i3 mounts its lithium ion battery pack low, achieves a 50:50 weight distribution and drives the rear wheels – all for optimized handling.
With 125kW of power and 250Nm of torque, combined with a diminutive 9.86-metre turning circle, the BMW i3 seems ideally set-up for a zero emissions lifestyle for city commuters.
An interesting departure is a single pedal operation. As soon as the driver lifts-off the accelerator, the BMW i3 goes into strong braking mode and simultaneously goes to ‘recuperation mode’ with the elector motor switching to a generator, feeding power to the lithium ion battery.
BMW says the i3 is capable of a range between re-charges of 130kms – 160kms. A ‘range-extender’ version is available with a tiny 0.650-litre two-cylinder petrol engine mounted next to the electric motor over the rear axle cutting-in when the battery is depleted and extending to range to 300kms.
In Europe, the i3 is the world’s first fully networked electric vehicle thanks to its SIM card-based BMW ConnectedDrive services. One feature of the system provides a dynamic range display to ensure all i3 owners need never be stranded with a flat battery.
Also under the umbrella of BMW’s 360° ELECTRIC, BMW offers a range of services for ‘i’ brand buyers including installation of a BMW i Wallbox at home for convenient re-charging.
