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BMW Goes Beast Mode on the i3, but It’s Only for 50 Buyers

Compared to the Nissan Leaf or the Tesla Model S, BMW’s all-electric urban car still has some ground to cover. However, as of September 2015, global cumulative i3 sales totaled over 34,000 units. It’s a popular EV, there’s no questioning that, but there’s always room for improvement. The German automaker is bringing a special edition to the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, and it was recently previewed online.
BMW i3 Shadow Sport edition 4 photos
Photo: BMW
BMW i3 Shadow Sport editionBMW i3 Shadow Sport editionBMW i3 Shadow Sport edition
The BMW i3 won the 2014 World Car Design of the Year Award and the iF Product Design Gold Award, which proves that you don’t have to be an EV enthusiast to admire the looks of the small but generous car. Even the greatest cars on the planet can get better, especially when it comes to their looks.

The long-expected option for BMW’s electric car will only be available to 50 customers in the U.S., at least for now. Called the 2016 BMW i3 Shadow Sport edition, it was unveiled in a live Periscope event ahead of the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, where it will make its official debut.

Carbon fiber has been primarily used from the ground up, and a 170 horsepower engine developing 184 lb-ft of torque propels the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 7.2 seconds. The special edition BMW i3 is electrified by the same 22-kWh lithium-ion battery as the standard model and comes with an estimated 81-mile range.

“The BMW i3 offers interior space comparable to the legendary BMW 3 Series on a shorter overall body. Its 32.4-foot turning circle and a relatively long wheelbase make it agile and engaging to drive, yet ideally suited to driving in dense urban areas. With a combined rating of 124 MPGe, the BMW i3 is the most efficient electric as rated by the US EPA.”

Sure, EV enthusiasts most likely knew all this, but it’s safe to say the new option turns a regular already-good-looking i3 into more of a head-turner.
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