BMW is a premium manufacturer focused on sportiness and no one imagines that a model of the Bavarians could be slow, and the design of the German models inspires power every time. Not in the case of i3.
BMW i3S, This is the first car with the BMW logo that an unknowing driver, when it comes to electric cars, might think he is promoting anything else. And it’s true, through i3, BMW wanted to show what a city electric car is in their way, focusing on alternative propulsion, onboard eco-materials and futuristic design – at least for 2011, when was introduced the concept, or 2014, when the first model on the production line came out. However, as an electric model, i3 could not be slow. Because one of the great advantages of the electric models is that the driver instantly benefits from the maximum torque produced by the engine. Thus, 6.9 seconds are sufficient for the square subcompact to reach 100 kilometers per hour, while the maximum speed is limited to 160 km / h.
Let’s get to the wheel. Quietness surrounds you in the i3s and after you quickly decrypt the automatic box changer with a step behind the steering wheel, you are ready to move. For a regular driver with thermal motors, the sensation can not be described in words. The sound of the thin, but very tall (175/55 / R20 front and 195/55 / R20 rear) silences you, and the very low turning radius stands out. Despite the above values, maneuverability is not affected and i3s is stable on the roadside. The i3s’ electric engine produces 184 horses and a maximum torque of 270 Nm, and a throttle acceleration instantly reveals that you are dealing with a rear-wheel drive. Regenerative braking slows down the machine in the second in which you’ve got your foot on the accelerator – it also acts on the tail lamps if it’s too pronounced, the brake pedal being used when you need to stop faster. With a little exercise, you can learn to move with the slightest brake pressure, letting it slow down for you.
The good part is that although we are dealing with a model not yet new, i3 has been well-equipped from the start, so the years have not said the word and you can find in the small BMW systems of assistance and safety specific to the Bavarian models current. Changes over time for the BMW i3, minor – design elements, but also major – increase autonomy, and the new i3s offered an allure of sportiness to the old model. The more problematic part is that an electric car supplies everything from its batteries. Headlights, navigation, radio, air conditioning, seat heating, phone connected to the USB socket – it all translates into less autonomy. The selected driving mode affects or extends the range: you can choose between Sport, Comfort, EcoPro or EcoPro +. Each engages different systems and functions, but we know from the name that offers the longest route. At the wheel of a 100% charged BMW i3s, a driver can travel between 200 and 280 kilometers. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the charging time differs: one AC station charges 80% of the batteries in 3 hours, while a DC (DC) station loads 80% in just over half an hour.
Verdict
Each road can be a fun experience with the BMW i3s , whether you enjoy the power of the instantaneous maximum torque in Sport mode, or try to set EcoPro + autonomy records, but the lack of charging stations keeps it at the second car’s rank.