BMW chose the Frankfurt Motor Show to tease its upcoming pure-electric model, the five-door i3 city car with a concept study of the same name.
The concept, formerly known as the Megacity, features a 170 HP electric motor placed over the rear axle that is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack.
It generates 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque and drives the rear wheels, providing a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time of under 8.0 seconds while its top speed is electronically limited to 150 km/h (93 mph).
Recharging the battery pack takes six hours using a standard socket, while BMW claims that with a high-speed charger you can have an 80% charge in just one hour.
BMW has also revealed that the production i3 will be offered with a range-extending small-displacement gasoline engine that drives a generator which in turn charges the battery, thus significantly increasing the car’s driving range.
Expect the bodywork of the production version to be close to that of the concept displayed in Frankfurt, and the interior to be ditched in favor of a more conventionally styled cabin.
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