The BMW i3 will be officially unveiled next week, but official images of the production electric car have been leaked ahead of its world debut. Technical details of the EV were released earlier this month, before official prices for USA and Germany were revealed and a Singaporean BMW i dealer appointed.
We’ve already seen the i3 with very little disguise on, but this set of pics shows us the car’s dashboard for the first time. It is light coloured, minimalistic in design, and unlike any other BMW cockpit in production. Munich has done away with conventional dials in favour of a digital screen behind the two-spoke steering wheel. There’s also a big steering column mounted gear lever.
Designed with a unique LifeDrive architecture, the i3’s main body (Life Module) is made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic that is not only very light but tougher than steel. The aluminium chassis (Drive Module), meanwhile, has been devised specially to house the bulky battery to ensure better driving dynamics and overall balance.
Performance is good – the pure electric i3 does 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.2 seconds, while range is around 130 to 160 km. There’s also a range extender version that adds a 650 cc two-cylinder petrol engine into the equation. We’ve already explained the production BMW i3 in detail, and you can read more here.
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The interior seems pretty, but maybe they should offer the car WITH the camouflage as an option? That window line, going down after the B pillar… wow. I suppose it’s there to make driving more entertaining for small kids, but it just isn’t pretty.
Then there is the rear… it looks like a very angry robot. They clearly tried to fill up the rear with details to make it look not as tall and wider tall than it is, but I’m not sure they were so successful. I could imagine a bigger rear window would have looked better (and it would have improved rear visibility when parking…).
Wow if only Prius & Insight in Malaysia can go that fast…
i saw emas!
I saw Toyota Rush.
no, it’s emas!
Is very rare I say this to a BMW, but honestly and personally, that thing looks….sad. Apart from the Kidney grill, there is no sign of BMW traditional neat and handsome body sculpture. But I guess this time, BMW went for less show more go. I mean 7.2 sec to the sprint is pretty quick for an EV(Tesla aside). And 30 grand Euros for a CFRP structure 4-seater car is quite a automotive achievement
leaked today
officially released tomorrow~!
They ditched the Angel eye’s for this car.
This is a city car where interior space & ease of entry/exit is the main goal, hence its definitely going to be tall. I think theyve done well with the design & its not tied down to existing BMW design language. This is BMWi.
The BMW Active Tourer will cover the more traditional bmw design language.
Variety is great in life & i’m glad they’ve tried something new & stuck very closely to the concept car.
holy cow. that steering mounted stalk is REALLY HUGE – no kidding!! can it be detached to be used as a weapon against robbers on motorcycles who prey on cars at traffic lights? :P