TOWN AND COUNTRY
Now with broader horizons, the i3 can go a little further and a lot quicker
The power of three has been boosted with the local launch of BMW’s updated electric hatch. An i3s joins the base version with a modified motor that gives the car a sporty feel, especially on take-off. The rear track is also extended by 40mm to improve high-speed stability.
The battery pack in the i3 is unchanged, meaning a range of almost 200km in typical driving. A range-extender version pushes the distance to about 330km, courtesy of a 650cc engine mounted under the hatch’s boot to help charge the battery while on the go.
The price is up by about $3000 to $68,700 for the i3, climbing to $69,900 for the i3s. The range extender adds $6000 to the cost of both.
To put it into context, BMW will sell you a 125i hatch for $49,900, leaving you more than $18,000 for fuel to reach price parity.
The rest of the update involves the typical restyling of the front and rear bumpers, upgraded interior materials and the latest version of BMW’s infotainment that retains its place as one of the more intuitive programs to operate. LED headlamps are a welcome addition for night driving.
The signature rear-hinged back doors make getting in to the i3 a challenge at first but there’s plenty of room for two adults once they’re in.
ON THE ROAD
The i3s is quite the machine. There’s a muted whirr as it launches off the line with a ferocity normally reserved for hot hatches and at 100km/h there’s a hint of wind noise from the windscreen pillars.
Tyre roar from the 20-inch alloys is more noticeable than normal precisely because there’s no engine to mask it.
The response from the 135kW/270Nm motor in the i3s (boosted by 10kW/20Nm over the standard set-up) is near instantaneous and novice i3 drivers are advised to be judicious in applying the accelerator on roundabouts or they’ll be activating the traction control and scaring themselves and their passengers.
With less right foot pressure the i3 becomes a great city car. The steering is quick and the car turns in just 9.8 metres, making it a breeze to manoeuvre around town and in tight carparks. Outward vision is good, there’s room for four grown-ups and it packs adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.
Aggressive regenerative braking helps the i3 recover energy when you lift off the accelerator or hit the brakes. With practice you can almost dispense with the brake pedal unless you’re stopping on a serious downhill slope.
The downside is the ride quality. The lowprofile run-flat rubber transmits small surface irregularities – even down to the rubber grout pumped into road cracks – back into the carbon-fibre tub. It’s not horrible but it isn’t as cosseting as a conventional Beemer, especially one fitted with adaptive dampers.
Owners will also need to invest in a BMW i Wallbox if they want to charge the car with any alacrity. The device will fully recharge the i3 in about three and a half hours. Via a standard electrical cable, the time blows out to 12 hours.