2017 BMW i3
BMW has introduced a series of upgrades
for the i3, including a more powerful battery and cosmetic revisions.
A a 33 kWh battery has replaced the
previous 22 kWh unit, with the 50 percent greater capacity resulting to a
combined (city/highway) range of 183 km. This has yet to be
confirmed by the EPA, but official data suggests it's comfortably longer than
the 130 km figure of the previous version.
BMW's refreshed i3 takes approximately
4.5 hours to top up when using a Level 2 charger, 1 hour more than the previous
model. The larger battery also adds to the weight: the i3 now tips the scale at 1,343 kg in all-electric form and 1,467 kg when
equipped with the range extender, which is still available for customers who
want the 150 km extra range.
The all-electric powertrain in the EV
model is still rated at 170 HP and 249 Nm of torque, while the 650
cc, 2-cylinder petrol engine range extender delivers up to 38 HP more. 0-96 km/h) takes 8 seconds for the range extender, while the all-electric
i3 needs just over 7 seconds.
Cosmetic changes on the 2017 BMW i3
include the exclusive Protonic Blue metallic exterior color previously
available on the i8 for US-spec cars . There are also two non-metallic paints,
Capparis White and Fluid Black, along with four metallic finishes, Protonic
Blue, Mineral Grey, Platinum Silver and Ionic Silver.
For the first time in the USA, BMW
offers the electric moonroof as part of the package, while standard equipment
on the 94 Ah variant includes LED headlights, automatic climate control,
dynamic cruise control, DC fast charging, BMW Assist, BMW Teleservices,
Navigation Business System, iDrive, BMW iRemoteApp functionalities, Driving
Dynamic Control Switch and Park Distance Control, among others. An improved
Home Charger Connect is also offered on the refreshed i3, using an LED
interface and coming with standard WiFi connectivity.
