When the BMW i3 was launched back in November 2013, it set a new standard for the electric car market and won a number of awards for its revolutionary design, engaging drive and impressive efficiency.
Two and a half years later, the i3 has a new larger battery that extends the electric range significantly, making the firm’s first electric car an even more practical option for company car drivers.
BMW claims this new 33kWh battery offers a range of 195 miles during ‘everyday driving’ which includes using features in the car like air-con while on the move. Power output remains at 168bhp with 250Nm of torque, enabling the car to complete the 0-62mph sprint in 7.3 seconds – a fraction slower than its predecessor.
With P11D prices starting at £31,825, the revised i3 now comes with DC Rapid-charge as standard, plus upgrades to the charging system mean you could have a full battery again in less than three hours when charging at home.
Like before, you’ll be able to choose the i3 either as a pure electric or a hybrid called a ‘range-extender’.
Fitted with an additional 650cc petrol engine, the i3 range-extender can travel up to 276 miles between charges (up from 180 miles), plus there’s an additional 34bhp on offer. The extra heft of the combustion engine means it’s actually slower than the electric i3, taking 8.1 seconds to get from 0-62mph.
Offering zero tailpipe emissions in pure electric form and emitting just 12g/km for the range-extender (a 1g/km reduction in comparison to the previous model), the i3 could cost a 20 percent tax payer just £37 a month for the 2016/17 tax year.
Standard kit remains unchanged with 19-inch alloys, Bluetooth, sat-nav, climate control, parking sensors, cruise control and a 6.5-inch screen controlled with BMW’s iDrive all available. You’ve also got a choice of four interior ‘worlds’ that upgrade the cabin materials – Loft, Lodge, Suite and a new Atelier.
First deliveries of the revised BMW i3 will start from July 2016.
To learn more about the BMW i3, read our full review.
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