BMW i3 – warm it up with your smartphone
Being the modest-looking, less-expensive sibling to the BMW i8 can’t be easy.
All the motoring journalists clambering to drive the i8 while the i3 politely stands to one side and smiles for the occasional photo – maybe getting a soft pat from a marketing executive every now and then.
Never getting asked out for a test drive on a Friday night, while the i8 is out drag racing, winning design contests, and debuting in Mission Impossible movies.
Family life was never going to be a walk in the park for the i3, but those were the cards it was dealt, and it plays them well.
While the i3 will never compete with the i8 – which it was never designed to do – it does shine in its own way.
Don’t forget, you’re driving a BMW
BMW i3
When writing about a car, or any piece of technology, your best work comes when you are honest, and honestly the i3 would never be the car for me.
That being said, I don’t think BMW will mind that too much.
The standard BMW i3 sells for R525,000, while the BMW Range Extender (Rex) retails for R595,000.
For that price I would rather buy a Subaru BRZ or VW Golf GTI, and listen to the roar of a petrol engine as it reaches its redline (and count my change).
A quick office discussion, to my surprise, left me in the minority.
Two colleagues, one younger and one older than me, both chose the i3 over my alternatives, stating it was a better choice overall.
First off, they said, you are driving a vehicle made by a luxury car manufacturer – a German one at that – which means BMW’s quality and reliability are a given in the i3.
Secondly, the car is attractive in its own right. The fact that it is electric (or consumes little fuel in the Rex version), the sleek design, the included technology, and that you automatically distinguish yourself as someone who “has a bit of sense” by driving one, are all reasons to buy one, they said.
When looking at the i3 from their point of view, I can see its desirability – and why 26-year-old males with a desire for speed may not be the i3’s target market.
What’s under the hood?
BMW i3
The standard BMW i3 is powered by an electric eDrive motor which pushes out 125kw. The Rex version adds a two-cyclinder 647cc engine to the electric unit which increases the power output by 28kw.
The two versions will go from 0-100km/h in 7.2 and 7.9 seconds respectively, with both producing 250Nm of torque which is transferred through a single-speed automatic transmission.
Range on the i3 is rated at 130-160km thanks to its lithium-ion 18.8kWh battery, which will take between 6 to 8 hours to charge to 80%.
My colleagues pointed out that the three of us very rarely drive more than 100km on a weekday, and for those who live and work in urban areas the car makes perfect sense.
The Rex version provides a total range of 340km thanks top its 9-litre fuel tank and small petrol-powered engine, which means travelling on weekends is taken care of, too.
For those who like a bit of speed, you won’t be breaking the 150km/h mark in an i3, which is handy if you drive with the throttle pedal to the floor.
In terms of standard features, automatic air conditioning, cruise control, a multifunction steering wheel, rains sensors, and a BMW ConnectedDrive screen which includes a GPS unit are all included.
The safety features of the i3 earned it a 4-star Euro NCAP rating when it was tested, and you can expect airbags, ABS, automatic door locking, and dynamic stability control as standard in the car.
The Life module and i App
BMW i3
Two aspects of the i3 which I found interesting were the car’s “life module” and the i Remote App.
The life module is basically the structure in which the driver and passengers sit, and is made entirely of carbon fibre reinforced plastic. Due to the strength of carbon fibre, and the additional safety accessories, this will keep you and your passengers safe in the event of an accident.
The i Remote App, which can be used on your smartphone, includes information such as the range of the i3, battery condition, charge level, and the vehicle’s location.
You can also remotely control the charging of the car and the climate control, which allows you to heat up or cool down the i3 before you get in for your journey. That’s a feature all Joburg residents would enjoy in winter.
Terms and conditions
BMW i3
As I mentioned earlier, the standard BMW i3 sells for R525,000, while the Rex retails for R595,000 in SA.
Both versions include a 5-year/100,000km motorplan, BMW On Call, ConnectedDrive Services, and 8-year/100,000km battery warranty as standard.
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