BMW launches sportier i3s alongside updated i3 range

© Provided by Evo BMW i3s – driving front three BMW’s innovative i-cars have been on sale for around four years now. In that time, the i3 and i8 have matured into fairly common glances in cities around Europe. Now, to attempt and keep the eco-focused brand fresh, BMW has exposed a gently updated i3, as well as a fresh and very interesting ‘i3s’ model.

Alongside a sweeping update of the brand’s very first all electrical car, the i3, BMW has determined to have a go at making a ‘sporty’ i3 called the i3s. To create the i3s, BMW has upgraded the standard car’s 170bhp to 184bhp, with torque rising from one hundred eighty four to 199lb ft. Electrified range is also unaffected matching the normal car’s one hundred twenty five miles of real world range.

While those figures might not sound like much, the real appeal of the i3 and its electrified engine was the fact those figures are available at zero rpm, making the i3 feel far perkier than you would think. Available in both unspoiled EV and range extender form, the i3s could end up by being BMW’s best driving hatchback when the next one Series sells out and goes front-wheel drive.

The result of these power upgrades is a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds (7.7 for the ReX range-extender model) and a top speed of 99mph. BMW also says that it has worked on improving the driveability of the i3s, improving the traction control calibration and introducing a fresh DTC mode which will permit “mild controllable drifts”. To sharpen up the driving practice, BMW has re-tuned the springs and dampers, enlargened the tracks by 20mm and include a fresh Sports mode on the driver control interface.

Visually the i3s is pointed out from the standard car by more aggressive bumpers, fresh 20mm-wider 20-inch wheels and some wheel-arch extensions to give the aesthetics an added bit of muscle. The broader track and tyres should also help improve front-end grip, something we found lacking from the standard i3’s skinny one hundred fifty five section boots.

We’ll have to wait until we get to have a go to see if these upgrades make the i3s any more joy to drive than the standard i3, but with the enlargened popularity of electrified cars and the advancement in battery technology, this might be the very first look at what we can expect from a hot hatch of the future.

Unluckily, for those hoping for any major improvements in range or spectacle in the standard car will likely be disappointed by the fact the normal i3 does without any major enhancements, with the same 33kWh battery pack and 125-mile range in the real world. Spectacle is also the same as in the previous car, hitting sixty two mph in 7.Trio seconds for the unspoiled electrified car, with the slightly stronger range extender model taking 8.1 seconds. Top speed is also the same, at a limited 93mph.

The bulk of the switches are made up of subtle styling upgrades, including fresh bumpers front and rear, and standard fitment of fresh all-LED headlights too. All cars also receive fresh LED lower indicators at the front (an odd omission from the previous car) and fresh colour options outside.

Inwards, BMW is suggesting updated colour and trim options set out in the same themed interior choices as before, as well as upgrading to the latest i-drive system displayed on a now-standard Ten.25-inch display. The i3 also gains improved active safety technology, including a fresh traffic queue function, which will drive the i3 at up to 37mph in traffic jams autonomously.

Kicking off at £34,070 for the entry i3 EV and rising to £40,125 for the i3s ReX it is not the cheapest way to get into electrified motoring, but BMW is banking on their technology and calibration expertise to rationalise the high asking price. Due for a public debut at Frankfurt motor showcase, BMW dealerships are taking orders for the fresh i3 now.

BMW launches sportier i3s alongside updated i3 range

Alongside a sweeping update of the brand’s very first all electrified car, the i3, BMW has determined to have a go at making a ‘sporty’ i3 called the i3s. To create the i3s, BMW has upgraded the standard car’s 170bhp to 184bhp, with torque rising from one hundred eighty four to 199lb ft. Electrified range is also unaffected matching the normal car’s one hundred twenty five miles of real world range.

While those figures might not sound like much, the real appeal of the i3 and its electrical engine was the fact those figures are available at zero rpm, making the i3 feel far perkier than you would think. Available in both unspoiled EV and range extender form, the i3s could end up by being BMW’s best driving hatchback when the next one Series sells out and goes front-wheel drive.

The result of these power upgrades is a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds (7.7 for the ReX range-extender model) and a top speed of 99mph. BMW also says that it has worked on improving the driveability of the i3s, improving the traction control calibration and introducing a fresh DTC mode which will permit “mild controllable drifts”. To sharpen up the driving practice, BMW has re-tuned the springs and dampers, enhanced the tracks by 20mm and include a fresh Sports mode on the driver control interface.

We’ll have to wait until we get to have a go to see if these upgrades make the i3s any more joy to drive than the standard i3, but with the enhanced popularity of electrical cars and the advancement in battery technology, this might be the very first look at what we can expect from a hot hatch of the future.

Embarking at £34,070 for the entry i3 EV and rising to £40,125 for the i3s ReX it is not the cheapest way to get into electrical motoring, but BMW is banking on their technology and calibration expertise to rationalise the high asking price. Due for a public debut at Frankfurt motor demonstrate, BMW dealerships are taking orders for the fresh i3 now.

BMW launches sportier i3s alongside updated i3 range

The result of these power upgrades is a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds (7.7 for the ReX range-extender model) and a top speed of 99mph. BMW also says that it has worked on improving the driveability of the i3s, improving the traction control calibration and introducing a fresh DTC mode which will permit “mild controllable drifts”. To sharpen up the driving practice, BMW has re-tuned the springs and dampers, enhanced the tracks by 20mm and include a fresh Sports mode on the driver control interface.

Unluckily, for those hoping for any major improvements in range or spectacle in the standard car will likely be disappointed by the fact the normal i3 does without any major enhancements, with the same 33kWh battery pack and 125-mile range in the real world. Spectacle is also the same as in the previous car, hitting sixty two mph in 7.Trio seconds for the unspoiled electrical car, with the slightly stronger range extender model taking 8.1 seconds. Top speed is also the same, at a limited 93mph.

Commencing at £34,070 for the entry i3 EV and rising to £40,125 for the i3s ReX it is not the cheapest way to get into electrified motoring, but BMW is banking on their technology and calibration expertise to rationalise the high asking price. Due for a public debut at Frankfurt motor demonstrate, BMW dealerships are taking orders for the fresh i3 now.

BMW launches sportier i3s alongside updated i3 range

The result of these power upgrades is a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds (7.7 for the ReX range-extender model) and a top speed of 99mph. BMW also says that it has worked on improving the driveability of the i3s, improving the traction control calibration and introducing a fresh DTC mode which will permit “mild controllable drifts”. To sharpen up the driving practice, BMW has re-tuned the springs and dampers, enhanced the tracks by 20mm and include a fresh Sports mode on the driver control interface.

We’ll have to wait until we get to have a go to see if these upgrades make the i3s any more joy to drive than the standard i3, but with the enhanced popularity of electrified cars and the advancement in battery technology, this might be the very first look at what we can expect from a hot hatch of the future.

Unluckily, for those hoping for any major improvements in range or spectacle in the standard car will likely be disappointed by the fact the normal i3 does without any major enhancements, with the same 33kWh battery pack and 125-mile range in the real world. Spectacle is also the same as in the previous car, hitting sixty two mph in 7.Three seconds for the unspoiled electrified car, with the slightly stronger range extender model taking 8.1 seconds. Top speed is also the same, at a limited 93mph.

Beginning at £34,070 for the entry i3 EV and rising to £40,125 for the i3s ReX it is not the cheapest way to get into electrified motoring, but BMW is banking on their technology and calibration expertise to rationalise the high asking price. Due for a public debut at Frankfurt motor demonstrate, BMW dealerships are taking orders for the fresh i3 now.

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