Photo: Car and Driver
At the Amsterdam Test Drive event held by BMW, the guys from Car and Driver were also present, to see exactly what the i3 is capable of. After seeing all the pretty photos BMW released and all the mouth-watering specs, it was finally time to get behind the wheel of the car.
Sure, some lucky journalists got to test the prototype before it was released but that car was camouflaged and only allowed them to experience some of its greatness and only on a private track, not inside a crowded city like Amsterdam, the place where the i3 is supposed to really shine.
From the first moment you'll notice that people will stare at you. i3's unconventional design will draw attention everywhere and that might be either flattering or downright annoying, depending on the person.
The engine carries the 1,200 kg (2,900 lbs) car easily, thanks to its 170 HP and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque. The electric unit will also blow you away with a redline of 11,400 RPM, not that you'd ever see that number pop-up on the floating screens inside the car.
Talking about the interior, we should mention that it's completely in tune with the i3's forward-thinking, eco approach. The only downside of the cabin is the gearshift lever, now located on the steering wheel column. It's operation can be confusing, at least at the beginning, until you get used to it.
Inside the city, one-pedal driving is easy to do, thanks to the aggressive deceleration you experience once you take your foot off the acceleration pedal. The conventional brake pedal is almost useless, excepting for emergency braking.
Bottom line, it's hard to find a better car than the i3 in this segment, with such a premium feel and all its advantages in this price range. The car is capable and thoughtful, keeping most of the BMW core characteristics whilst leaving some behind to achieve electric greatness.
Via: Car and Driver
From the first moment you'll notice that people will stare at you. i3's unconventional design will draw attention everywhere and that might be either flattering or downright annoying, depending on the person.
The engine carries the 1,200 kg (2,900 lbs) car easily, thanks to its 170 HP and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque. The electric unit will also blow you away with a redline of 11,400 RPM, not that you'd ever see that number pop-up on the floating screens inside the car.
Talking about the interior, we should mention that it's completely in tune with the i3's forward-thinking, eco approach. The only downside of the cabin is the gearshift lever, now located on the steering wheel column. It's operation can be confusing, at least at the beginning, until you get used to it.
Inside the city, one-pedal driving is easy to do, thanks to the aggressive deceleration you experience once you take your foot off the acceleration pedal. The conventional brake pedal is almost useless, excepting for emergency braking.
Bottom line, it's hard to find a better car than the i3 in this segment, with such a premium feel and all its advantages in this price range. The car is capable and thoughtful, keeping most of the BMW core characteristics whilst leaving some behind to achieve electric greatness.
Via: Car and Driver
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