Following months of preliminary details and leaked photos, BMW has finally decided to fully reveal the i3, ahead of a public debut scheduled for September at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It tips the scales at only 1,195 kg and has the following dimensions: 3999mm long, 1775mm wide and 1578mm tall, with a 2570mm wheelbase and 707mm front / 722mm rear overhangs. The electric version is powered by a 168 bhp and 184 lb-ft electric motor which works together with a Samsung-produced 22 kWh lithium-ion battery which provide the car with a range of 118 miles. BMW says in real world conditions it should offer 81-100 miles.
There’s also a range-extender variant which has a 2-cylinder, 650cc gasoline engine taken from the company’s C650 CT maxi-scooter. In this configuration it outputs 25 bhp and 41 lb-ft and serves the purpose of generating electricity. The BMW i3 REX is 120 kg heavier than the pure electric model so it weighs 1,315 kg. It should return 471 mpg UK with CO2 emissions standing at 13 g/km.
The 2014 BMW i3 pure electric model will do 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 7.2 seconds while the REX needs 7.9 seconds for the same job. Both of them will be electronically-capped to 93 mph.
Source: BMW
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