Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
BMW was actually a forerunner in this respect, not only delivering a compact car with premium levels of materials quality, fit, finish and features, but also making its 1968 2002 brilliantly fun to drive. This philosophy has since underpinned every entry-level car the company has produced, so it only makes sense that it would continue with the brand’s first foray into small, efficient electrics.
I’m talking about the new BMW i3, easily one of the most intriguing cars I’ve laid eyes on and one of the more enjoyable cars I’ve driven in a long time. If its impish good looks don’t immediately pique your interest a peek inside via its clamshell
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Come to think of it, there’s nothing else on the road remotely like the i3. It’s as if BMW
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Colours,
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My grey tester received the blue treatment on its grille surround, rockers and circling
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
This meant its interior was fitted with sustainable Carum Spice Grey leather and wool Pikea cloth upholstery, again something you might expect a particularly nice piece of midcentury furniture to be covered in, not a car’s seats and door panels. The thick, naturally tanned (via an olive leave based tanning agent) full-grain leather also covers the dash where it joins up with surfaces made from sustainable KENAF cotton fibres. It looks more like grey mohair but is smooth to the touch, just another uniquely eco-friendly surface treatment in this environmentally conscious car. It extends over to the door panels too, while 25 percent
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Exposed CFRP in the door cutouts isn’t just a fancy trim upgrade for show, but rather the car’s structure. The i3’s exterior panels and tub are all carbon-fibre too, just like a Formula 1 car, and made in BMW’s own hydroelectric-powered carbon-fibre plant in Moses Lake, Washington so that the highest quality standards are maintained and costs are kept as low as possible; also notable, the i3 is constructed in BMW’s wind-powered Leipzig, Germany plant. Where metal is needed
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
In BMW tradition there’s nothing slow about the i3. Like all electric cars, the inherent design of the i3’s rear-mid-mounted synchronous electric motor allows 100-percent twist at zero rpm, so its 184 lb-ft of torque forces the rear Bridgestone Ecopia 19s to bite into tarmac for all they’re worth. The result is immediate initial acceleration complemented by 170 horsepower of rapidity as revs rise, top speed maxing out at 150 km/h (93 mph) albeit the sprint to 100km/h taking just 7.2 seconds. That’s fast as far as economy cars go, quicker than any other electrically powered hatchback, but the number doesn’t do justice to
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Strangely silent from a brand that normally allows its cars’ exhaust to enhance the auditory experience as much as outright performance, the i3 is nevertheless worthy of its blue and white propeller badge. Along with that low centre of gravity, its 50:50 weight distribution and quick steering ratio make handling superb, while the i3’s turning radius is also excellent. It slotted in and out of busy city congestion with the grace and composure of a lifelong urbanite, and then when allowed to stretch its little legs responded with the type of athleticism we’ve all grown to expect of the Teutonic brand.
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
True, while extracting the most performance from one of BMW’s conventionally powered models might cost a bit more at the pump while reducing how far I could go between fill-ups, the i3’s range depletion is more dramatic with a heavy foot. Its approximate 150-km range capability (130 km or 81 mph estimated by the EPA) from a single charge is very good and should last a couple of days for the majority of commuters if the i3 is driven in a more relaxed state, which I must admit allows greater enjoyment of the car’s many impressive amenities.
Audio
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
While all organized with an eye to space efficiency, none of it is anywhere near as impressively packaged as the uniquely complex gear selector, an all-in-one design that reintroduces the column stalk shift lever while rewriting its rules entirely. The start/stop
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The word abbreviated isn’t really fair. Sure the i3 is small, but as mentioned in the beginning of this review it’s as open and airy feeling as anything on four wheels. Part of this comes down to general height, its roof lofty enough that few should lack headroom, while the car allowed for ample shoulder and hip room. Legroom up front is another story, with so much available due to a complete void where the centre console would otherwise go you can play footsy with the front passenger, while the two rear seats were surprisingly spacious too.
The
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
A quick stop for coffee will have you 80-percent charged via one of countless free charging stations dotted throughout most of Canada’s major metropolitan areas. The process takes less than 30 minutes if you option the i3 out with the $750 DC fast
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Keeping range anxiety in check, BMW’s iDrive system not only lets you scroll through
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Your wallet in mind, the i3’s fuel economy isn’t rated by the usual L/100km system we’re used to seeing, but rather its kWh/100km usage equals 12.9. The US EPA gives it a 124 eMPG (miles per gallon gasoline equivalent) rating, which equals 1.9 L/100km, making it the most fuel-efficient EPA-certified vehicle ever tested regardless of fuel type,
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
After spending weeks with numerous electric cars and getting comfortable with the availability of charging stations and speed at which modern batteries can be recharged, I’ve lost any fear of going electric. Of course there’s a cost to being an early adapter, but it’s not dissimilar to paying more for a performance car, such as the aforementioned M3, you just need to calculate performance differently. For me at least, the novelty of silent yet powerful acceleration, enjoyment of conversing with other EV owners at recharging stations, and of course the joy of driving everywhere without having to pay a penny in fuel is worth the extra cost of
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
For that money the base Loft trim level includes the aforementioned 19-inch alloys and automatic climate control, plus automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a multifunction steering wheel, 100-percent recycled polyester fabric upholstery, auxiliary cabin heating (an innovative heat pumping system that uses the energy of ambient air to warm the interior with 50-percent greater efficiency), heated front seats, BMW’s Navigation Services Business, BMW Assist emergency calling, BMW’s Remote Services bundle, the AC fast charging system and more.
Along
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An available $2,500 Technology Package adds a 12-speaker 360-watt seven-channel Harmon/Kardon audio upgrade; BMW’s camera-based Driving Assistant Plus package featuring adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, speed limit info, route-ahead assistance, and person recognition/approach control warning; BMW Online, the base system for ConnectedDrive Services that includes an internet portal with email, weather, news, and address information; Internet with unlimited data usage, allowing you to access the web directly from your i3 anywhere
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The Technology Package is also available with as-tested Lodge trim, the latter requiring $3,600 over and above Loft trim while including everything the base model offers plus proximity-sensing Comfort Access, Navigation Services Professional, satellite radio, auto-dimming interior and side mirrors, a universal remote garage door opener, an alarm system, and the Park Assistant Package that includes front and rear sonar, a rear camera, the capability of detecting suitable parallel parking spaces, and parking assistance.
For an extra thousand the i3’s top-line Suite trim adds Dalbergia brown leather and
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
I really could go for those wheels as they look fabulous, but I’d take a pass on top-line Suite trim because I love the unique look of the Lodge interior I tested. Living in the heart of my city wouldn’t require the need of the range extender engine either, although having it when needed does add to the i3’s flexibility. The fast charging DC system is a must, however, and I’d be tempted to go for the Technology Package for the audio upgrade alone, although the base system was quite good.
Depending
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
That goes a long way to making the BMW i3 more affordable. As it was, my Lodge equipped i3 with its Range Extender engine and DC fast charging system was priced at $53,300 before freight, while a fully loaded i3 with Suite trim and Technology Package will set you back $56,800, either number not bad for a car with the technology of an F1 racer capable of whipping an M3 to 20 km/h.
The
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
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