BMW announce i3 improvements | New Release - Car News Aug 2017

10:32 Monday 29 Nov 2021

BMW have refreshed their premium compact electric i8 range with new styling, new equipment, and a sporty new model.

The updated models will debut at next month’s Frankfurt International Motor Show before going on sale in November.

The BMW i3’s emission free eDrive technology, powered by a 33kWh lithium-ion high-voltage battery, has been refined for increased performance, while a new range-extender engine can also be ordered as an option. The i3’s synchronous electric motor can produce 170hp, with instant response via a single-speed automatic transmission enabling 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds and top speed limited to 93mph. The lithium-ion high-voltage battery mounted beneath the floor provides a range of up to 180-186 miles based on the NEDC cycle.

The i3’s handling characteristics have been improved by the inclusion of an optimised Dynamic Stability Control system, which offers faster responding traction control. The BMW i3 also gains a new form of wheel speed limiting that ensures increased directional stability both under acceleration and strong regenerative braking. Pull-away on snow and wet roads has also been improved thanks to the new Dynamic Traction Control mode.

A new sports model, the i3s, joins the range powered by a high-performance 184hp electric motor. It also boasts a sports suspension with specially developed springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, while drivers can select SPORT mode using the Driving Experience Control switch which delivers a more direct accelerator response and tighter steering characteristics. The sports suspension includes a 10mm reduction in ride height, with additional 40mm track width. The new BMW i3s comes as standard with exclusive 20-inch light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design that are 20mm wider than the previously available versions. They come as standard in Bicolour and are optionally available in Jet Black. The BMW i3s is capable 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 99mph, with an electric range up to 174 miles based on the NEDC cycle.

A new 38hp two-cylinder range extender petrol engine is available as an option for both BMW i3 and the i3s, driving a generator that produces power as required while in use to maintain a constant level of charge in the high-voltage battery and his extending the range up to a maximum of 205 miles.

Externally the i3 now has black-finished A-pillars and roof lines, while the range of paint finishes has been extended to include Melbourne Red metallic and Imperial Blue metallic. Non-metallic Capparis White and Fluid Black, plus Protonic Blue metallic and Mineral Grey metallic complete the paint options. The restyled front and rear aprons emphasise the car’s width, giving a sportier look, enhanced by a chrome-design strip running across the full width of the rear. New body colour bumpers and black-finish surrounds add to the sporty look. The i3s powerfully sculpted contours are model-specific, helping distinguish the i3 and i3s versions. Full-LED headlights, daytime running lights, turn signal indicators are now standard.

Internally, the carbon fibre-reinforced plastic passenger cell has a light and spacious feel aided by the lack of either fixed B-pillars or a transmission tunnel, while doors that open in opposite directions allow the occupants to get in and out with ease. Loft, Lodge and Suite specifications are available in addition to the entry-level Atelier version. The Lodge interior design option includes a new covering for the seat surfaces in Solaric Brown, combining natural leather tanned using an olive leaf extract with a wool-based textile material. Recycled plastics, renewable raw materials, natural fibres and open-pored, unbleached eucalyptus wood sees more than 80 per cent of the surfaces visible to the passengers constructed from recycled materials or renewable resources.
Parking Assistant and Traffic Jam Assistant systems are now available as options. The former includes Park Distance Control plus a reversing camera. Parking Assistant takes control of acceleration, braking, gear selection and steering for manoeuvring into suitable parking spaces. Driving Assistant Plus, also available as an option, incorporates Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function, Speed Limit Info, Proactive Driving Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, and the Traffic Jam assistant, which not only maintains a safe distance to the car in front in stop-start traffic at up to 37mph, but also keeps the car in lane taking its cues from lane markings, the width of the road and vehicles travelling ahead.

Both the i3 and new i3s now have an updated version of the iDrive operating system for infotainment, communications and navigation. All vehicles are now equipped with the Navigation system Professional with 10.25-inch increased-resolution Control Display. Voice recognition system has been improved with the aid of Natural Language Understanding, where spoken instructions can now be executed more quickly and precisely. New to the options list is Apple CarPlay preparation allowing additional smartphone apps to be integrated seamlessly with the i3’s operating system.

BMW i ConnectedDrive provides intelligent connectivity, new digital On-Street Parking Information search service, Real Time Traffic Information, and Public charging station information, and range map. BMW i-specific navigation features also include intermodal route guidance, helping users to quickly and efficiently reach their destination by factoring in local public transport timetables and connections. Regular, automatic updates of the navigation data are now also provided using a mobile network connection.

A package of new services were introduced in last month under the BMW Connected+ banner which enable a highly personalised and more straightforward display of information inside the car, all of which will be available in the BMW i3 and BMW i3s. These include intelligent route planning, including breaks at charging stations or petrol stations, sharing of the car’s current location via SMS and live link, personalised display of relevant in-car information, transfer of route instructions to the customer’s smartphone or smartwatch once the car is parked, and direct syncing of contacts and addresses to the navigation system.

BMW Digital Charging Service enables intelligent charging, allowing BMW customers to optimise charging costs, make best use of self-generated solar energy for charging, and even earn money through integration into the smart grid. Meanwhile, 360° ELECTRIC is a range of products and services that help make electric mobility more convenient. The standard charging cable supplied with the new BMW i3s has been optimised to include a temperature sensor. Charging at home using the BMW i Wallbox can supply 11kW of power to charge the high-voltage battery allowing enough energy for an electric range of around 112 miles to be transferred in under three hours, five times quicker than with the standard charging cable. The new BMW i Wallbox Connect also extends the BMW Digital Charging Service’s functionality, and to control the charging process using a smartphone app and manage usage by means of an access card.

Prices for the updated BMW i3 range start from £34,070 on-the-road.