We Have the All Electric BMW i3 – What Do You Want to Know?
We’ve already told you we like the BMW i3. But what’s it like to live with the i3 (equipped with a range extender) for a week? That’s what we aim to find out over the next seven days of commuting, road tripping and maybe even some corner carving. In the meantime what do you want to know about Munich’s little carbon fiber based electric wonder?
Key stats to remember:
– Range 80 miles on electric alone, 150 with the range extender
– Our test car came completely loaded with $54k MSRP (before the $7,500 tax rebates from local and federal governments)
– 184 ft lbs of torque means it’s plenty fast
<p>standard i3: 81 mile range
range-extender i3: 72 mile range + 78 miles on range-extender generated juices</p>
<p>Do you find it skittish over 50mph? I took it for a test drive and found the acceleration amazing and the ability to drive it with just the throttle and no brake very entertaining however over 50mph it felt very unstable on it’s tall, narrow tires. Wider tires would probably alleviate it and also greatly decrease range…. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it overall. The interior is quite spacious, although the seats are too flat.</p>
<p>It is more twitchy than a normal car at speed, as you found. Skinny tires and ultra-quick steering ratio account for much of that. It <em>is</em> a Megacity car according to BMW, so there are highway compromises. That said, I believe you get used to it somewhat, just like the one-pedal driving.</p>
<p>Yes and agree.</p>
<p>I would like to know why BMW missed the mark so badly with the i3 ….I was really excited that someone might actually produce a small sport electric…. with a low CG and wide tires this could have been the go-kart that enthusiasts went nuts for…instead it seems to be a nicely appointed golf cart</p>
<p>Having spent over 1,000 miles behind the wheel of i3s I can say it’s generally more go-kart like than any MINI since the classic. It’s lighter, has quicker turn in, better turning radius and has better off the line acceleration. It also makes use of interior space in a more intelligent manner (never mind the innovative propulsion or carbon fiber construction). Golf kart I don’t see.</p>
<p>You seem to imply that it <em>doesnt</em> have a low CG, which it most certainly does:</p>
<p>i3: 18.5″
3-series sedan: 20.0″
4-series coupe: 19.6″</p>
<p>Porsche Boxter: 18.5″
Toyota FT-86 / Subaru BRZ / Scion FR-S: 18.1″
Tesla S: 17.5″
Lexus LFA: 17.7″
Porsche 911 GT3: 17.9″</p>
<p>Im not saying it’s perfect. I’m hoping the refreshed i3 has a sport package with the Japan-Spec coilovers, stickier tires, and the already announced range increase (to offset the stickier tires). That will make it even better, but it’s by far the sportiest EV out there that isn’t a double-the-price Tesla. Honestly, the i3 is the MINI of EVs. Small, but useful, quick and nimble, and as a result, more expensive than its econobox competition.</p>
<p>Just to nitpick about the title… the i3 you have is not the “all electric” model.</p>