2018 BMW i3 & i3s

[FiestaST]

BMW SA to launch more powerful i3

BMW South Africa has confirmed that rapid advances in battery technology will result in more powerful and more capable versions of the i3 electric car making their way to South Africa in early 2019.
Globally, cell battery technology has advanced at a tremendous rate and electric cars can now travel further and faster. BMW has invested heavily into its eDrive and iPerformance electric car products and now its i3 is set to gain a significant range increase. Officially BMW claims that its cell capacity has been increased to 120 Ah, resulting in a range increase of almost 30%. These new batteries are fitted to both the i3 and the performance-focused i3s.

Interestingly, BMW claims that since the launch of the first-generation i3, the battery tech has advanced so far that the high-voltage battery's storage capacity has doubled, without physically increasing the battery's size. When it was launched, the i3 boasted 60 Ah and 22.6 kWh. Along came the second generation with 94 Ah and 33 kWh. Now, for the latest version, capacity sits at 120 Ah and 42.2 kWh. The BMW i3 is no slouch either and can hit 100 kph in 7.3 seconds, making it deceptively quick in and around the city. As for range, the new battery benefit helps immensely. Previously range was rated around the 290-300 km mark, but it's now capable of 359 km.

While the BMW i3 was facelifted in South Africa around the middle of 2018, it looks like this more powerful and longer-travelling i3 will be coming to SA in early 2019.

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/bmw-sa-to-launch-more-powerful-i3/45595/

 

[FiestaST]

BMW to cease production of the i3 Range Extender

The i3 REx is forced into extinction due to the longer range possible from the latest pure-electric variant of BMW's hatchback

The BMW i3 is now an electric-only model, as the range extender versions have been deleted from the line-up.

The range extender, which uses a two-cylinder 650cc petrol engine to provide additional charge to the drive battery, has effectively been made redundant by the improved, longer-range pure-electric version of the i3 unveiled at this week's Paris motor show.

The i3’s battery has been boosted to 42.2kWh from 33kWh provide 193 miles of range under new WLTP cycle. That's 34 miles more than the older version could manage and is sufficient, according to BMW, to negate the need for the range extender version, which offered a claimed driving range of 231 miles under the outgoing, less-accurate NEDC test.

In a statement, BMW said: “The Range Extender i3 will cease production and we will only sell the pure-electric version going forward. With the gains in pure-electric range, together with the increasing availability of rapid charging facilities we believe the customer demand is shifting to an pure-electric model.”

The move takes the i3 model range down from four variants to two, namely the standard i3 and hotter i3s. The latter produces an additional 13bhp and 15lb ft from its electric motor, with 181bhp and 199lb ft contributing to a 0-62mph time of 6.9sec.

The range extender version of the i3 formerly made up 60% of sales, despite a £3150 premium over the standard car.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bmw-cease-production-i3-range-extender

 

[FiestaST]

Ignition GT review of the updated i3

 

[FiestaST]

BMW to gradually tone down electric car styling

Future models don't need to stand out like existing i3 and i8, according to design boss

The styling of BMW’s electric cars will become more toned down over time, compared to the styling showcased by the current i range, according to the firm’s design director Adrian van Hooydonk.

Reasoning that the current i3 hatchback and i8 sports car needed to stand out from the petrol-powered competition, using their design to draw attention to their innovative powertrains, van Hooydonk added that, as electric powertrains enter the mainstream, so the design of the cars will also start to confirm to more established trends.

“Electric mobility will spread through our entire vehicle range in quite a short space of time - to the point that electric or plug-in hybrid is just another option box you tick as you order the car,” said van Hooydonk.

“The fact is that BMW customers want a dynamic car, whether it is a battery-electric vehicle or not, and so there’s is increasingly less reason to make these kinds of cars look different.”

However, van Hooydonk stressed that this did not spell the end of innovatively designed BMWs. “The i brand stands for inspiration and innovation, and electrification is not the only area of our industry that marks a significant change,” he said. “It’s pretty clear that there will still be i cars, and that the designers will be able to search for different things.”

This change in approach can already be seen in the iX3 SUV, which is set to become the next addition to the i range. The concept revealed at the Beijing Motor Show used a more mainstream design that takes inspiration from the standard X3. It will be followed by the i4 saloon in 2021, which is expected to use an adapted version of the next 4 Series platform.

Dramatic styling may be saved for the Vision iNext, an X5-sized SUV due the same year. The concept showed a significantly different kidney grille from anything BMW has used before

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bmw-gradually-tone-down-electric-car-styling

 

[FiestaST]

Pricing! BMW i3 and ‘sporty’ i3s upgrade to 120 Ah battery

BMW South Africa continues to tinker with its i3 electric car range, publishing pricing for the new i3s derivative while also upgrading the standard i3 variant to a hefty 120 Ah battery.

The facelifted i3 hit local shores as recently as June 2018, using a 94 Ah lithium-ion battery. But now the tweaked version, which upgrades to a 120 Ah unit, has been listed on BMW SA’s website along with two “sportier” i3s derivatives.

Thanks to the larger cell capacity of the new battery, the Munich-based brand claims a “significantly enhanced” range.

The base i3 is now priced at R639 300, while the REx version (with its range-extending petrol that functions as a generator when the battery nears depletion) comes in at R719 100. The i3s, meanwhile, starts at R697 700, with the range-extender version of this model priced at R777 500.

In the case of the i3, a synchronous electric motor still generates 125 kW and 250 N.m, facilitating a claimed zero to 100 km/h time of 7,3 seconds (in the pure-electric i3) and a limited top speed of 150 km/h. BMW says the lithium-ion high-voltage battery sited in the vehicle floor provides a range of up to 359 km (previously 300 km).

The i3s, meanwhile, boasts 135 kW and 270 N.m, hitting three figures in a claimed 6,9 seconds and topping out at 160 km/h. Claimed range comes in at 345 km (previously 280 km).

BMW claims the i3s will even drift thanks to its “comprehensively revised” dynamic stability control system which boosts “agility at higher speeds and during sporty cornering, even allowing mild and safely controllable drifts when grip levels are reduced”.

Interestingly, the i3s also boasts sports suspension (which results in a 10 mm drop in ride height) with specially developed springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. In addition, drivers can select sport mode, which the automaker says initiates “more direct accelerator response and tighter steering characteristics”.

This model also gains an additional 40 mm of track width compared to the standard i3, along with black wheel-arch borders. The 20-inch light-alloy wheels are likewise 20 mm wider than previously available versions. The BMW i3s furthermore boasts model-specific front and rear aprons, complete with accent strips and yet more gloss-black trim.

https://www.carmag.co.za/news/pricing-bmw-i3-and-sporty-i3s-upgrade-to-120-ah-battery/

 

[FiestaST]

 

[FiestaST]

BMW i3 (2019) Specs And Price

Late in 2018, we brought you the news that BMW South Africa was looking at introducing more powerful i3 versions that also boasted more range and battery capacity. They've since landed and we have specifications and pricing for the newcomers.

Still looking like a fresh and futuristic concept straight from a European motor show comes the updated BMW i3. It's difficult to believe that the first i3 launched in South Africa in early 2015. Assembled from a carbon fibre monocoque and a whole lot of recycled materials, the BMW i3 has received a few updates for 2019.

In terms of performance and this is where it gets interesting, BMW South Africa didn't just launch the standard i3, but the sportier i3S is now on sale locally too. Both the i3 and i3S are available in 2 flavours: pure electric and REX. REX stands for Range Extender and these models feature an inline 2-cylinder petrol engine with 28 kW and 56 Nm, which doesn't actually drive the wheels but rather generates additional electricity thus increasing the range. There's a 9-litre petrol fuel tank. The range is estimated at 359 km for the i3 and 345 km for the i3S. The REX models ranges weren't supplied with the BMW brochure but we estimate that there's at least an additional 100 km of range.

BMW i3 (2019) Price in South Africa (May 2019)

i3 120Ah R658 500

i3 120Ah REX R740 700

i3s 120Ah R716 900

i3s 120Ah REX R799 100

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/bmw-i3-2019-specs-and-price/46660/

 

[FiestaST]

 

[FiestaST]

 

[My_King]

If I had money I`d take that BMW Z4 you were talking about the other day.....not this dinky toy

Correction : Ugly dinky toy

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

ugly dinky toy, that will leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere without a "supercharger"
or leave you waiting for it to charge from a 220V wall outlet for 8 hours.

 

[FiestaST]

BMW i3 120 Ah (2019) Launch Review

It's hard to believe, but the BMW i3 electric car has been on sale in South Africa since 2015 – and it has received numerous updates. This week, we relished the chance to drive the latest version, equipped with a 120 Ah battery.

Since its launch, the i3 has become the most popular electric vehicle sold in the country. Granted, it's not like the market is teeming with electric vehicles (EVs) yet, but hundreds of South Africans have "swallowed the red pill" and become early adopters. Since the launch of the electric BMW i sub-brand, more than 600 i3 and i8 models have found homes in Mzansi. Which is impressive, considering there no government incentives or discounts to encourage consumers to buy EVs. Globally, it is a different story; BMW reached its goal of selling more than 140 000 EVs in 2018.

Summary

There's nothing dramatically new about the BMW i3, but the addition of a larger-capacity battery will further allay "range anxiety". We feel the key to owning an electric car and reaping the benefits is by reshaping your life around the car – treat it like a smartphone. Even when your phone's at 50% capacity, many people will plug it in just to ensure they have sufficient battery life in reserve. The same methodology should be applied with electric cars and customers should be taking advantage of chargers at malls and gyms as even a quick 15-minute charge is sufficient for 40 km.

Should you buy one? YES. There are a few Cars.co.za staffers who'd readily take the plunge given their lifestyles. However, the cost is a big barrier to entry and we imagine BMW Group SA is quietly frustrated with the government's reluctance to incentivise EV purchases. To add insult to injury, EVs are subjected to higher import duties than internal-combustion engined vehicles. In contrast with the rest of the world, where customers are offered incentives to go green and buy electric cars with discounts, cash in hand and much more, this seems a very backwards way of thinking...

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/bmw-i3-120-ah-2019-launch-review/46677/

 

[FiestaST]

AC Schnitzer Give BMW I3s Sporty Appeal

We’re all familiar with the BMW i3s, right? For those who aren’t, the i3s is BMW’s answer to the demand for a sportier variant of the small electric i3. Although the i3s had slightly more power than the standard version, it didn’t exactly look any sportier.

AC Schnitzer is no stranger to the brand and has solved this problem. They have given the i3s a sporty body kit which isn’t just for aesthetics. The body kit enhances the car’s aerodynamics as well as improves the driving dynamics.

The tuner also adds a suspension spring kit which lowers the car by as much as 17mm. It may not sound like much but overall it does give the car more presence. Wheel spacers are also included, in order to allow the wheels to be positioned 10mm further out on each side. A front splitter and subtle roof rear wing wrap up the sporty cosmetics.

https://www.zero2turbo.com/2019/07/ac-schnitzer-give-bmw-i3s-sporty-appeal.html

 

[FiestaST]

The BMW i3 Might Stick Around A Lot Longer

The BMW i3 probably should’ve been a Mini all along, but it wasn’t. And while sales were at first tepid after its 2013 launch, they’ve picked up in recent years to a surprising degree. The i3 might eventually die, but it will still be sold for several years, a BMW executive told the Financial Times, though the company has no plans to update it.

BMW has sold over 150,000 i3s since its debut, mostly in Europe, with sales increasing 30 percent in August compared to that month last year. It’s a car that started out as a test mule for BMW’s electric ambitions and has become a mainstay. The car is adorably unique compared to the rest of BMW’s lineup, and it seems like it’ll stay like that, with no plans for a successor the i3, according to Pieter Nota, BMW’s sales and marketing chief.

Instead, BMW will double down on efforts to expand electrification across its lineup.

The BMW i3 Might Stick Around A Lot Longer - Jalopnik

The BMW i3 probably should’ve been a Mini all along, but it wasn’t. And while sales were at first tepid after its 2013 launch, they’ve picked up in recent years to a surprising degree. The i3 might eventually die, but it will still be sold for several years, a BMW executive told the Financial...

jalopnik.com

 

[FiestaST]

 

[FiestaST]

Dave's journey:

 

[FiestaST]

BMW CEO denies the i3 will be killed off, describes it as an ‘icon’

BMW’s CEO has denied reports the Munich-based firm plans to kill off its i3 electric vehicle, saying the model is already an “icon”.

Speaking to German publication Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, newly appointed BMW CEO Oliver Zipse suggested rumours off an impending demise for the i3 were entirely false.

BMW CEO denies the i3 will be killed off, describes it as an ‘icon’... - CAR Magazine

BMW’s CEO has denied reports the Munich-based firm plans to kill off its i3 electric vehicle, saying the model is already an “icon”. Speaking to […]

www.carmag.co.za

 

[FiestaST]

ROAD TEST: BMW i3 120 Ah REx

TEST SUMMARY

How do you assess a car as enlightened as the i3 in an overtly conservative motoring market? Objectively, it offers poor value for money, boasting neither the practicality of premium SUVs available at its price, nor the balance of convenience, performance and driving pleasure you get with BMW’s own 3 Series.

Subjectively, however, the i3 is sublime. Hugely enjoyable to pilot in congested traffic, with a sky-high feel-good factor, if you can afford it and your commute is as clogged as our government’s thinking when it comes to EVs, the i3 is literally and figuratively in a class of its own.

i3 BMW i3 eDrive REx
81 / 100
Price: R740,700
0-100 km/h: 8.1
Power (kW@r/min): 125
Torque (N.m@r/min): 250
Top speed: 150
Claimed cons. (l/100 km): 0.6 l/100 KM's
C02 emissions (g/km): 13 g/KM

ROAD TEST: BMW i3 120 Ah REx - CAR Magazine

Is there a car better suited to urban life than an i3 REx? We’ve yet to encounter one… It’s scarcely believable BMW launched the i3 […]

www.carmag.co.za

 

[FiestaST]

BMW i3 eDrive REx (2019) Review

Fast Facts

Price: R740 700
Engine: Electric
Power/Torque: 125 kW / 250 Nm
Transmission: Automatic
Fuel economy: 0.6 L/100 km (claimed)
Load capacity: 260-1100 Litres

Price and warranty

The BMW i3 eDrive REx costs R740 700 before options. The vehicle comes with a 2-year vehicle/unlimited distance and 8-year/100 000 km hybrid battery warranty. There's also a 5-year/100 000 km service plan.

Verdict

With its quirky and futuristic looks, combined with its ultra-responsive powertrain, the updated BMW i3 still offers a fascinating glimpse into a not-too-distant future. The facelift adds in some design upgrades, both in the cabin and the exterior, but the biggest (and the most important) improvement is the increase in battery capacity. The additional (projected) range will assist with the reduction in range anxiety, but despite the Gridcars and ChargeNow networks rapidly expanding, there will still be some car buyers who'll be wary of not using fuel stations for anything but buying snacks and checking tyre pressures. The sporadic load-shedding in South Africa won't help the image of electric cars either.

Then, finally, some find the i3's looks too outlandish. All in all, it's a love it – or loathe it – kind of car. As far as the Cars.co.za test team is concerned, we love the BMW i3 for making electric cars exciting; it suits our lifestyles very well.

As we mentioned in our road test of the first BMW i3 eDrive REx, the big issues are with BMW or the i3 itself, but rather the underdeveloped charging infrastructure in South Africa. While there have been tremendous inroads made into the EV charging network and trips across SA have been accomplished by electric cars, there are still not enough chargers outside of the metropolitan areas. It's a catch-22: Manufacturers are hesitant to bring in more electric cars unless there's an adequate charging network, and the companies who build the chargers don't want them to sit idle. Pricing is also a bugbear and while the BMW i3 is the most affordable electric car in SA, it's still beyond the reach of the vast majority of the driving population. The government needs to change its tune, introduce some incentives to encourage electric car ownership or risk being left far behind. Happily, we are seeing progress, albeit at a glacial pace.

Right now, the electric car market is tiny (even if you add up the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, it's a small percentage of the passenger car market. The compact EV space is by far the smallest of the lot). Nissan SA can't confirm when its new-generation Leaf will make it to market, but we do know there are some units floating around in South Africa. Mercedes-Benz and Audi will be launching the electrically-powered EQC and e-tron SUVs respectively next year, but they'll be priced significantly higher than this BMW i3 as they provide competition for the Jaguar I-Pace. Volkswagen SA is quite hushed on its plans for electrification locally, but we expect to hear some big news towards the end of 2020.

So, basically, the plucky little BMW has the segment all to itself, but, should you buy one? If you can afford the initial outlay and don't do mileages of more than 200 km a day, then the i3 makes for a compelling (and let's face it, conversation-starting) city car. Better yet, if you're in a 2-car household then you can easily slot the i3 in as a charming urban runabout with the internal-combustion engined vehicle being used to transport the family on longer journeys.

BMW i3 eDrive REx (2019) Review

The BMW i3 received a mild facelift in 2019 and we recently evaluated an updated eDrive REx derivative (over a 10-day period) to evaluate whether the all-electric lifestyle had become more viable by virtue of an improvement in the EV's projected range. Can the high purchase cost be justified...

www.cars.co.za

 

[ubercal]

BMW i3 eDrive REx (2019) Review

Fast Facts

Price: R740 700
Engine: Electric
Power/Torque: 125 kW / 250 Nm
Transmission: Automatic
Fuel economy: 0.6 L/100 km (claimed)
Load capacity: 260-1100 Litres

Price and warranty

The BMW i3 eDrive REx costs R740 700 before options. The vehicle comes with a 2-year vehicle/unlimited distance and 8-year/100 000 km hybrid battery warranty. There's also a 5-year/100 000 km service plan.

Verdict

With its quirky and futuristic looks, combined with its ultra-responsive powertrain, the updated BMW i3 still offers a fascinating glimpse into a not-too-distant future. The facelift adds in some design upgrades, both in the cabin and the exterior, but the biggest (and the most important) improvement is the increase in battery capacity. The additional (projected) range will assist with the reduction in range anxiety, but despite the Gridcars and ChargeNow networks rapidly expanding, there will still be some car buyers who'll be wary of not using fuel stations for anything but buying snacks and checking tyre pressures. The sporadic load-shedding in South Africa won't help the image of electric cars either.

Then, finally, some find the i3's looks too outlandish. All in all, it's a love it – or loathe it – kind of car. As far as the Cars.co.za test team is concerned, we love the BMW i3 for making electric cars exciting; it suits our lifestyles very well.

As we mentioned in our road test of the first BMW i3 eDrive REx, the big issues are with BMW or the i3 itself, but rather the underdeveloped charging infrastructure in South Africa. While there have been tremendous inroads made into the EV charging network and trips across SA have been accomplished by electric cars, there are still not enough chargers outside of the metropolitan areas. It's a catch-22: Manufacturers are hesitant to bring in more electric cars unless there's an adequate charging network, and the companies who build the chargers don't want them to sit idle. Pricing is also a bugbear and while the BMW i3 is the most affordable electric car in SA, it's still beyond the reach of the vast majority of the driving population. The government needs to change its tune, introduce some incentives to encourage electric car ownership or risk being left far behind. Happily, we are seeing progress, albeit at a glacial pace.

Right now, the electric car market is tiny (even if you add up the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, it's a small percentage of the passenger car market. The compact EV space is by far the smallest of the lot). Nissan SA can't confirm when its new-generation Leaf will make it to market, but we do know there are some units floating around in South Africa. Mercedes-Benz and Audi will be launching the electrically-powered EQC and e-tron SUVs respectively next year, but they'll be priced significantly higher than this BMW i3 as they provide competition for the Jaguar I-Pace. Volkswagen SA is quite hushed on its plans for electrification locally, but we expect to hear some big news towards the end of 2020.

So, basically, the plucky little BMW has the segment all to itself, but, should you buy one? If you can afford the initial outlay and don't do mileages of more than 200 km a day, then the i3 makes for a compelling (and let's face it, conversation-starting) city car. Better yet, if you're in a 2-car household then you can easily slot the i3 in as a charming urban runabout with the internal-combustion engined vehicle being used to transport the family on longer journeys.

BMW i3 eDrive REx (2019) Review

The BMW i3 received a mild facelift in 2019 and we recently evaluated an updated eDrive REx derivative (over a 10-day period) to evaluate whether the all-electric lifestyle had become more viable by virtue of an improvement in the EV's projected range. Can the high purchase cost be justified...

www.cars.co.za

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still ugly as F***