BMW Will Launch New i3 LCI And All-New i3s At Frankfurt.
The car that launched BMW's i sub-brand is receiving a makeover and adding a new variant to the model line. The BMW i3 electric vehicle (EV) ushered in BMW's new era of electric mobility in 2014. Next month at the Frankfurt International Auto Show (IAA), we get to see the new and improved Life Cycle Impulse (LCI) version of the i3 and in somewhat of a surprise, a brand new variant of BMW's zero local emission green urban mobility standard bearer, the BMW i3s. The "s" in BMW parlance usually stands for "sport" and that's just what BMW i intends in this case.
The award-winning i3 is the best selling compact premium electric vehicle in the world. The 2018 i3 LCI will feature a wider stance, improved connectivity, better lighting, new paint colors, and exclusive new interior combinations. But the biggest news is the introduction of the first-ever BMW i3s, a new variant specifically designed to be faster and better handling.
Both new BMW i3 models will also be available with the Range Extender, a small gasoline engine and fuel tank combination that allows drivers to recharge the car's high-voltage lithium-ion batteries while under way.
With its 94-amp-hour (Ah) lithium-ion high-voltage battery driving a single-speed automatic transmission, the BMW i3 generates 170 horsepower and a peak torque of 184 pound-feet. That's enough to send the i3 from zero to 60 miles per hour in 7.2 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 94 mph. Not bad for a zero local emissions urban car. The car's range in everyday use is about 124 miles.
The i3's handling has benefitted from a comprehensively revised, faster responding Traction Control system. The Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) mode provides for faster cornering and even allows for a little drifting if road conditions are sufficiently slippery.
The first ever BMW i3s.
Who doesn't like more power? The new i3s has it, still with zero local emissions. The i3s electric motor provides 184 horsepower, while torque for the i3s tops out at 199 pound-feet. This added power moves the i3s from zero to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, which represents a 6 percent improvement in the sprint on the car's way to a top speed of 100 miles per hour.
BMW i has given the new i3s its own identity in the styling department, especially at the front and rear ends. The front apron contains two large M-like scoops on both sides. The bumper inlay and surround are finished in black, while the side sections of the fascia have BMW i Blue or Frozen Grey accents. . The i3s's rear apron has individually styled contours with black surrounds around the wide, body-colored inlay.
The i3s gets its sportier handling from a sports suspension that is 10 mm lower than stock. The wheel arches are wider and beefier to encompass a 40 mm-wider track as well as exclusive 20-inch light-alloy wheels in bicolor double-spoke design that are one-half-inch wider than the basic i3 wheels. Jet Black wheels are a no-cost option.
The i3s sport suspension also features specially developed springs, shocks, and anti-roll bars. There is a Sport mode selectable from the Driving Dynamics Control switch that results in tighter steering and better throttle response.
Two new paint colors—Melbourne Red metallic and Imperial Blue metallic will be added to the available non-metallic Capparis White and Fluid Black, and the metallic colors Protonic Blue metallic and Mineral Grey metallic.
The 2018 BMW i3 LCI and the new i3s light up the road with standard Full-LED headlights. All of the side markers, trim lights, turn signals, and taillights are LEDs, too.
Inside, the i3 LCI and i3s continue the use of sustainable materials. The Giga World package uses a new trim for the seat surfaces in Giga Brown Natural Leather and Carum Spice Grey Wool Cloth. These combine natural leather tanned using an olive leaf extract with wool-based cloth. More than 80 percent of the interior includes parts made from recycled plastics; renewable raw materials; natural fibers; and open-pored, unbleached eucalyptus wood.
Driver assistance systems available in the new i cars include Active Driving Assistant and Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go. Advanced Real-Time Traffic Information and ConnectedDrive Services come with the upgraded Navigation System. The optional Technology and Driving Assistance Package allows Apple CarPlay and also includes Daytime Pedestrian Protection, Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation, and Speed Limit Info.
BMW iDrive 6 provides the interface for controlling numerous vehicle, infotainment, communications, and navigation functions. In those i3 and i3s vehicles equipped with Navigation system Professional, the Control Display appears on a 10.25-inch screen with a resolution of 1,440 × 540 pixels.
Enhanced BMW i ConnectedDrive includes access to services especially useful for drivers of electrified vehicles, such as On-Street Parking Information and the depiction of public charging stations and their availability.
In the first half of 2018, BMW plans to launch its BMW Digital Charging Service, with which i3 and i3s drivers can access BMW ConnectedDrive and the BMW ConnectedDrive Portal from their smartphones or other digital devices and make charging an easier experience.
BMW i will also introduce BMW 360° Electric, which includes a more functional standard charging cable and a 7.2 kW BMW i Charging Station for the home.
A new BMW Original Accessory, the BMW TurboCord™ EV Charger will be available at BMW dealers for just under $500. This small, lightweight, flexible, dual-voltage charger will allow faster charging and will work on all BMW i and iPerformance vehicles.
The 2018 BMW i3 is an improved version of BMW's groundbreaking urban electromobility solution, while the all-new BMW i3s takes that concept and turns it into a sportier green vehicle that should appeal to BMW enthusiasts looking for a more fun variety of green.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
