BMW has introduced a series of upgrades for the i3, including a more powerful battery and cosmetic revisions.
A a 33 kWh battery has replaced the previous 22 kWh unit, with the 50 percent greater capacity resulting to a combined (city/highway) range of 114 miles (183 km). This has yet to be confirmed by the EPA, but official data suggests it’s comfortably longer than the 81-mile (130km) figure of the previous version.
BMW’s refreshed i3 takes approximately 4.5 hours to top up when using a Level 2 charger, 1 hour more than the previous model. The larger battery also adds to the weight: the i3 now tips the scale at 2,961 lbs (1,343 kg) in all-electric form and 3,234 lbs (1,467 kg) when equipped with the range extender, which is still available for customers who want the 93 miles (150 km) extra range.
The all-electric powertrain in the EV model is still rated at 170 HP and 184 lb-ft (249 Nm) of torque, while the 650 cc, 2-cylinder petrol engine range extender delivers up to 38 HP more. Zero to sixty (96 km/h) takes 8 seconds for the range extender, while the all-electric i3 needs just over 7 seconds.
Cosmetic changes on the 2017 BMW i3 include the exclusive Protonic Blue metallic exterior color previously available on the i8 for US-spec cars . There are also two non-metallic paints, Capparis White and Fluid Black, along with four metallic finishes, Protonic Blue, Mineral Grey, Platinum Silver and Ionic Silver.
For the first time in the USA, BMW offers the electric moonroof as part of the package, while standard equipment on the 94 Ah variant includes LED headlights, automatic climate control, dynamic cruise control, DC fast charging, BMW Assist, BMW Teleservices, Navigation Business System, iDrive, BMW iRemoteApp functionalities, Driving Dynamic Control Switch and Park Distance Control, among others. An improved Home Charger Connect is also offered on the refreshed i3, using an LED interface and coming with standard WiFi connectivity.
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