BMW all set to put the i3 into production

BMW has officially lifted the ‘concept’ tag that had been hovering around the much anticipated i3. And yes, the car did make a media appearance sometime ago, but it did wear a light exterior and interior camouflage. Anyways, BMW took off all the unwanted distractions and made the big announcement this week.

And hence we are confident enough to say that the i3 will go on sale ( at-least in the US) by the second quarter of 2014. Prices are said to hover around Dhs 152,000 or US$41,350. The i3 will debut with three trim levels, which BMW is referring to as Worlds: Mega (standard), Giga and Tera.

And according to the statement given by BMW, the i3 is said to be jam-packed with new technology afforded by its design as an EV from the start of development. BMW has named it ‘LifeDrive’ architecture, and it features the ‘Life Module’ and the ‘Drive Module’. The Life Module is the i3’s pillar-less passenger cell, which is the first mass-produced monocoque made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). The tougher-than-steel material is also 30-percent lighter than aluminium, which contributes to the i3’s relatively light weight of 1220 kg.

The Drive Module on the other hand is a 100-percent aluminium chassis mounted under the Life Module and houses everything that makes the i3 go. We’re talking about the 29 hp, 205 kg lithium ion battery which is mounted as centrally as possible, and supposedly provides power to a rear-mounted electric motor that turns the rear wheels.

With 170 hp and 250 nm of torque from zero rpm (thanks to the electric motor), the single-gear i3 can accelerate from 0-100 kph in about 7.0 seconds, but as with many EVs the i3 too can only top 150 kph. BMW also says the i3 has a real-world EV range of 160 km, and that the standard charger can fill the battery in three hours. Opt for the SAE DC Combo Fast Charger and it is said that 30 minutes is all it takes for a full charge. For customers who have range anxiety, BMW does give them the option to install a 34 hp, 650cc two-cylinder generator as a range extender for the electric drive system.

As mentioned earlier, the 2014 BMW i3 is expected to make it to the US next year, but whether the car will be marketed in the UAE, Saudi Arabia or rest of the GCC as an electric vehicle or petrol variant, or even sold at all remains a mystery.