The car world as we know it is about to change thanks to an
electric powertrain in a carbon-fiber body with a premium badge on the nose
S gale force winds and driving rain battered the Dutch city
of Amsterdam, it seemed nature itself contrived to punctuate the launch of a
vehicle that may be the future of green mobility. Inside the BMW i3’s cabin,
however, it was quiet and calm, with only the strongest gusts prizing the
frameless glass from the city car’s rubber seals to create a hissing sound. The
highly topical i3 seems set to conquer everything nature can throw at it, not
to mention city traffic, tight roads and electric-vehicle sceptics.
BMW i3
Production electric vehicles (EV) are no longer simply a
pipe dream. The demise of South Africa’s own electric vehicle, the Joule, was a
setback for the local plug-in movement, but other automakers did not give up on
the idea. Nissan launched the first high-volume production EV, the Leaf, which
is now available in South Africa, and Volkswagen has announced plans to
introduce the e-Golf into the local market.
BMW took the brave step to create an all-new i-brand rather
than converting existing models to electric powertrains. Designed on the
proverbial clean sheet of paper, the i3 marks the first time that carbon-fiber
forms the basis of the body-in-white structure in a volume-production vehicle,
and the material helps to reduce the vehicle mass, including batteries, to only
1 195 kg. The layout of a rear-mounted electric motor, which is mated with the
rear axle by a single-speed transmission and connected with batteries under the
floor, allows the vehicle to be compact and agile (its length is less than 4,0
meters and the turning circle dips under 10,0 meters), but spacious.
Styling-wise, the newcomer appears to have been driven
straight from the set of a sci-fi movie. The design is striking, with the
clever use of body colors that showcase the lines and creases of individual
body panels. The 19-inch wheels of 155-section (for low rolling resistance)
fills the wheel arches and LED lights round off the package. The scribes at the
i3 launch event were divided on some design elements (especially the dipping
shoulder line), but I expect the i3 to draw as much attention as a supercar
once it reaches our roads.
the futuristic styling is striking, but note the narrow
155-section tyres; access to the rear bench is gained through stylish suicide
doors but they can be opened only when the front doors are ajar; interior
layout is unlike any other BMW's and showcases recycled materials and daring
lines.
Inside, the futuristic theme continues. The interior is
awash with recycled and raw materials such as the wood trim on the facia.
Flowing panel lines meet a floating infotainment screen and the beautifully
crafted steering wheel falls easily to hand (with the largest range of reach
adjustment I’ve encountered). The small, square instrument screen seems a little
out of place considering all the styling drama inside, but it displays the
necessary information in a logical manner.
Suicide doors (that can be opened only when the front ones
are ajar) with fixed windows give restricted access to the rear bench. Only two
passengers can be accommodated in the rear as cup-holders occupy the central
space. Legroom is limited, but there is copious headroom. The boot area above
the engine compartment can hold 280 dm3 of luggage and the loading space can
easily be increased by folding the rear seats flat. It’s not possible to put
the electric motor on show because bolts ensure that the base plate of the boot
remains in place.
