Australian specifications and pricing have been confirmed for the 2018 BMW i3 and i3s.
The new model year sees a range of styling, performance and connectivity updates for the little electric car.
Two versions of both the i3 and i3s will be available in the form of Battery Electric Vehicles with Range Extender variants.
Designers have aimed for a strikingly sleek appearance with the BMW i Black Belt including the A-pillars and roof line.
A revision of the front and rear aprons aims for a wider, sportier stance whilst a chrome-design trim strip across the rear and wider positioning of the eDrive badges assist with the aesthetic.
All-LED headlights, including DRLs, are standard and the new turn signals also feature the LED technology on the i3 and i3s.
Exclusive to the i3s version are 20-inch light-alloy with a double-spoke design available in Bicolour or Jet Black.
Melbourne Red metallic and Imperial Blue metallic now join Capparis White, Fluid Black, Protonic Blue and Mineral Grey metallic on the colour options list.
Moving to the interior sees the options of ‘Lodge’ equipment line as standard, offering a new covering for the seats in Solaric Brown made of a combination of natural leather tanned with olive leaf extract and wool-based textile material, or the ‘Loft’ available as a no-cost option. The ‘Suite’ line is also available offering full natural leather upholstery.
For a splash of interior colour a new BMW i blue seat belts are on the options list.
Both the BMW i3 and i3s come with the latest iDrive6 system. They also include, as standard, Navigation system Professional displayed on a 10.25-inch Control Display with increased resolution.
The voice recognition system has also undergone an upgrade for faster and easier operation.
Joining the options list for the 2018 BMW i3 and i3s will be Apple CarPlay which is a $479 option – this really should be standard.
ConnectedDrive will also be available for the first time on the i3 which could be useful for displaying the nearest public charging station information on the navigation system’s map. BMW i-specific navigation features also include intermodal route guidance.
Keeping the i3 moving will be the same 125kW electric motor package, which uses the 94Ah high-voltage battery, and offers a range of 300km based on the NEDC cycle.
The sportier 135kW/270Nm electric motor package is reserved for the BMW i3s and includes an updated drive system with modified motor control and specific taper roller bearings for optimised power delivery. This offers an electric range of up to 280km based on the NEDC cycle.
For both the i3 and i3s is the option of a 28kW two-cylinder range extender petrol engine, which offers 130 more kilometres.
The sportier ideals behind the i3s are supported by the inclusion of sports suspension as standard and SPORT mode, which is selectable via the Driving Experience Control switch.
The BMW i3 and i3s are equipped with a Type 2 charging system which is designed to handle Australian DC charging infrastructure. The i3 can also accept three-phase AC charging from home, the office or public charging stations.
While the specs have improved, the pricing remains exorbitant. If Tesla can actually get some Model 3s to Australia, BMW will need to reassess its i3 pricing strategy.
2018 BMW i3 LCI and i3s pricing (excluding on-road costs)
BMW i3 - $68,700
BMW i3 Range Extender - $74,700
BMW i3s - $69,900
BMW i3s Range Extender - $75,900
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