BMW introduced the i3 electric vehicle in 2013 as a green urban car. As such, the i3 was more about zero local emissions, an interior made from renewable material sources, a lighter-but-stronger carbon fiber passenger cell, and a functional but not mind-blowing battery-powered electric range. For its intended purpose, the i3 was an excellent vehicle, made even better last year by the introduction of a new and more powerful battery pack that increased the range by 50 percent. As good as it was, the original i3 left out one basic BMW genetic trait—performance.
BMW appears to have been working on that with a rumored i3 S model where the "S" stands for Sport. A "sporty" i3 seems to be an oxymoron, but if BMW engineers can improve the car's handling and acceleration and still keep it green, why wouldn't they?
BMW has not confirmed the i3 S, but industry observers expect it to be announced with or shortly after we see the i3 Life Cycle Impulse, which is BMW-speak for the model's mid-life facelift. That could happen as soon as next month's Frankfurt International Motor Show or any time thereafter.
As is often the case, spy photographers provided us a preview of what BMW is planning well before the company is ready to let us see it, with an i3 captured recently in spy shots on the Autobahn.
"Wider" seems to be the operative description of this test car, as we see wider tires, a wider track, and wider wheel arches and fender flares than on the original i3. BMW used narrow tires on the i3 to reduce rolling resistance and thereby increase electric range. It's interesting to note that on the i3's stable mate, the i8 plug-in electric hybrid sports car, BMW i originally used fairly narrow tires but in short order increased the tire widths to improve handling, especially in the U.S. market. We can only assume that wider tires on this i3 signify an attempt at a better-handling i3 that will feel better on non-urban roads as well as city streets.
Of course, improving the i3's capability to handle such roads would make more sense if the car also had an increased range that would allow it to travel farther from urban charging stations without more range anxiety. Some unconfirmed reports on the i3 LCI have the range improved to as much as 180 to 200 miles, up from the current official 114 miles. That kind of distance would take the i3 out of the "urban-only" class and into the "short trips on the Interstate and country roads" category and for that, some i3 owners might like a better-handling car.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of Bimmertoday.]
