BMW i3 2013 Review - International

Due on sale in Europe on November 16 and in Australia next July, the i3 is the first in an all-new family of ground-breaking vehicles designed to future-proof the German car-maker and provide zero-emissions motoring solutions for the world’s mega-cities (with populations of more than 10 million).

Instigated by BMW Chairman Norbert Reithofer, the BMW i project began in November 2007 with seven dedicated staff working in a corner of BMW’s R&D centre in Munich. The team was tasked with “rethinking mobility without legacy or specification”, with the aim of developing a new range of premium green vehicles for the growing number of city-dwellers.

According to BMW, the number of people living in cities surpassed the number of people living in the country for the first time in 2010, and by 2050 about 70 per cent of the world’s population will live in cities.

The first product in BMW’s vision of a sustainable future is also its first all-new car since the modern MINI. Unlike the MINI, however, the i3 retains BMW’s trademark rear-wheel drive layout, albeit powered by a rear-mounted electric motor.

The result continues BMW’s signature 50/50 weight distribution, although an optional range-extender (REx) version (which adds a twin-cylinder scooter engine/generator to recharge the floor-mounted battery when it’s depleted, extending the driving range from 130km to about 300km) shifts up to 55 per cent of the car’s weight rearward.

The i3 also brings with it radical new construction methods, with a carbonfibre-reinforced plastic body on an aluminium chassis claimed to be stiffer than the 1 Series, and a surprisingly spacious four-seat interior wrapped in thermoplastic panels.

Based on (higher) German electricity prices, BMW says the result is a car that’s 20 per cent cheaper to run than its most efficient conventional model (the 118d), as well as 20 per cent cheaper to maintain and 15 per cent cheaper to repair.

Including manufacturing, it claims the i3’s carbon footprint is half that of the 118d when powered by renewable energy – or one-third less when you plug it into a predominantly coal-fired power grid like Australia’s.

The only downside, then, appears to be a purchase price that will be at least double that of the cheapest 1 Series.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

Based on a starting price of €34,950 in Germany and $US41,350 in North America, however, we’re tipping the cheapest i3 to sticker at $59,990 plus on-road costs.

Given the range-extender version commands a price premium of about 10 per cent overseas (€4500 in Germany and $US3950 Stateside), expect the i3 REx to cost at least $65,000 Down Under.

BMW says at least two equipment grades will be available locally, but it’s unlikely that Europe’s entry-level Atelier specification grade will be offered in Australia.

That means up to three variants (Loft, Lodge and top-shelf Suite) of both the i3 EV and REx with a price range potentially spanning $60,000-$80,000.

The four model grades differ only in cosmetics, with the Loft presenting a light-coloured interior with textile seat and door card trim made from 100 per cent recycled raw materials, plus a grey leather-clad steering wheel with BMW i Blue insert.

The Lodge adds a dash-top trim strip made from eucalyptus wood, coarse-grain light grey leather seat and door trim and upgraded instruments. The top-spec Suite adds Dalbergia Brown leather trim for the seats, centre console and door armrests, plus Satin Silver steering wheel trim.

All i3s come well equipped, with standard specifications including 19-inch forged-allow wheels with narrow 155/70-section Bridgestone Ecopia low-resistance tyres, Professional satellite-navigation with a 10.2-inch floating central colour monitor and iDrive controller, USB/AUX/Bluetooth connectivity and 20GB hard-drive. Climate-control air-conditioning, an electric parking brake, power windows/mirrors, rear parking sensors, remote central locking and a domestic charging cable are all included.

In addition, all i3s come with an inbuilt SIM card providing access to a suite of BMW ConnectedDrive services, the extent of which is still being finalised for Australia.

In Europe, in conjunction with the BMW i Remote smartphone app, the system will direct drivers to their nearest public charging station, provide route planning including local public transport connections and offer a range of remote services including battery charge information and cabin/battery pre-conditioning.

Of course, there’s a host of both stand-alone and grouped options, some of which many be standard in Australia.

Individual options include 20-inch wheels, a reversing camera, sunroof, sun-protection glazing, heated front seats, Comfort Access, digital radio receiver, a 360-Watt/13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and LED headlights, side lights and daytime running lights.

Option packs include Driving Assistant Plus comprising radar cruise control with stop function, Traffic Jam Assistant, Speed Limit Info, Collision Warning, Pedestrian Warning (both up to 60km/h) and Proactive Driving Assistant with active steering assistance.

There’s also a Comfort Package with radar cruise, auto-dimming mirrors, front centre armrest, multi-function steering wheel buttons, automatic headlights and wipers and extra storage solutions.

Charging-specific options are yet to be confirmed for Australia. In Europe include these include a Wallbox home charger (expected to cost between $1200 and $1500 here, plus installation), the more advanced Wallbox Pro, which can draw power from existing solar panels, a solar panel-equipped Carport (€14,000) and 20kW lithium-ion storage battery (€20,000).

PACKAGING

By way of comparison, the current MINI Cooper, has a 2467mm wheelbase, is 276mm shorter overall (3723mm) and is narrower (1683mm) and lower (1407mm).

The i3’s lithium-ion battery pack resides inside an extruded aluminium frame below the floorpan, making the four seats higher than usual but leaving room for the electric motor, gearbox and drive unit at the rear, where there’s also space for the optional range-extending engine/generator.

Under the bonnet is a plastic tub to store the charging cable/s, while the tailgate lifts to reveal a small 260-litre boot that’s smaller than a MINI’s but augmented by a 50/50-split rear seatback, which folds to liberate a total of 1100 litres.

Further storage options include a large open compartment beneath the central screen, huge front door pockets and a surprisingly big glovebox under a flip-up lid.

MECHANICAL
>> Supercar tech for a city commuter
Eschewing a traditional monococque body/chassis, the i3 marries two of the most advanced automotive chassis types – a carbon-fibre tub and aluminium spaceframe – in one of the oldest configurations: body on frame.

The result is an extruded aluminium chassis that houses the liquid-cooled under-floor 22kWh lithium-ion battery pack, MacPherson strut front and five-link independent rear suspension systems, the rear-mounted motor and, where fitted, the range-extending 25kW 650cc twin-cylinder engine/generator from BMW Motorrad’s CT650 GT scooter.

Onto this is bolted the world’s first mass-produced carbonfibre-reinforced plastic passenger cell, which is wrapped in thermoplastic body panels, bringing the unladen DIN weight figure to just 1195kg (1315kg for the REx) – despite a 360-volt battery pack that weighs 230kg.

Weight distribution is 50/50 per cent front/rear (45/55 per cent for the REx) and the 50kg rear-mounted synchronous motor delivers to the rear wheels 125kW and 250Nm instantly .

The result is claimed 0-100km/h acceleration in a respectable 7.2 seconds (REx: 7.9). Consider also 0-60km/h is a rapid 3.7 seconds (REx: 3.9) while 80-120km/h overtaking acceleration in just 4.9 seconds (REx: 5.5).

There are three different running modes and top speed is a generous 150km/h in Comfort mode, or 30km/h less in EcoPro and another 30km/h less (90km/h) in EcoPro +, in which regenerative braking is decreased and air-conditioning is disabled.

BMW claims a driving range of between 130-160km, and between 240-300km for the range-extender

The battery takes eight hours to charge to 80 per cent via a household 240V power outlet, or less than 30 minutes with a 50kWh fast-charger.

The high-voltage battery comes with an eight-year, 100,000km warranty, and an electro-mechanical steering system from the next-generation of MINI returns a turning circle of just 9.86 metres.

COMPETITORS
>> Just two, but no premium rivals yet
BMW expects most i3 customers to be new to the brand, but the car’s most direct rival is Holden’s mid-size Volt plug-in hybrid liftback, which is similarly priced from $60,000. The Nissan LEAF hatch costs $20,000 less at $39,990 drive-away.

BMW says the US will be the i3’s biggest single market, with 30 per cent of sales, followed by China, UK, France and Germany. The range-extender model is expected to account for up to half of all sales, it says.

Local supplies will be strictly limited to about 200 next year and BMW Australia has received more than 2000 expressions of interest for both the i3 and i8 plug-in hybrid coupe, which arrives here next December.

ON THE ROAD
>>Quicker and more dynamic than you might expect
This is the story of a BMW unlike any other, a rare clean-sheet design created by designers and engineers with almost completely free reign. It continues BMW brand signatures like rear-wheel drive and 50/50 weight distribution, but drives like no BMW before it.

Step inside the futuristic yet welcoming interior and the tallish, almost SUV-like driving position is nearly as surprising as the generous vision in all directions, even if the stubby bonnet is so steep you can’t see it from the inside.

The front seats are thin, lack power adjustment and have laid-back seat bases, but are comfortable enough for at least as long as the battery lasts. There’s plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustability and easy-to-read colour digital instrument and central screen displays make you feel instantly at home.

There’s ample headroom both front and rear. While legroom is tight, back-seat passengers score a commanding view thanks to deeper rear windows and the fact the rear seats are further inboard than the font seats,.

The novel rear-hinged ‘suicide’ rear doors can only be used with the front door open. The boot is tiny, even for a city-hatch, but the split rear seatback folds down and there’s plenty of front door, dash-top and glovebox storage.

But the i3’s most impressive party trick comes when you push the start button, twist the gear selector stalk around to D and tap the throttle. At this point the battery-powered BMW surges off the line and compresses you into its seats with unexpected vigour – in almost complete silence.

It’s not sudden enough to induce wheelspin, even with the traction control off, but the acceleration time is spritely by any measure. For the record, the i3 has more torque than a MINI Cooper S right from ‘idle’.

The i3’s pronounced ‘engine braking’ effect when you back off the accelerator is a highlight, making it easy to drive with just one foot. We used the brakes just twice in three hours of city driving.

And the i3’s continues unabated to an indicated 90km/h in EcoPro+ mode and 152km/h in normal Comfort mode. Though the mechanicals are quiet, wind noise above 70km/h lets it down on the freeway.

At Euro-centric autostrada pace the i3 feels eminently stable, thanks to responsive electric steering and big yet narrow 19-inch wheels. As you’d expect for a car with a footprint this size, there is, however, some fore-aft pitching and side-to-side head tossing over uneven surfaces.

Vault-like body rigidity and decidedly firm suspension tune keep bodyroll well in check and deliver sporty, BMW-style levels of handling and body control -- even if understeer sets in earlier than with other rear-drive BMWs.

A tight sub-10-metre turning circle scores valuable points in the i3’s natural (urban) environment.

After 95km and three hours of spirited city driving on the first day, we arrived at the designated charging station with 12km worth of battery charge remaining. Following an overnight charge, we travelled a further 97km on day two and returned with 57km of remaining driving range, bringing our total to 192km over two days.

The range-extending i3 REx wasn’t available to drive at the Amsterdam launch. Although it’s slightly heavier and slower, we think it will make even more sense for Australians anxious about EV driving range.

Either way, the i3 is a fitting first EV for BMW and a tantalising taste of electrified vehicles to come from the Bavarian brand.

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