[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

IAA 2017: BMW i3s

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COMMENTS

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Live from Frankfurt IAA, here is the first ever BMW i3s.

See our official model thread @ http://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1416797

Also see our other photos from the Frankfurt IAA:

Frankfurt IAA: BMW i Vision Dynamics
Frankfurt IAA: BMW M5 (F90)
Frankfurt IAA: BMW X7 Concept
Frankfurt IAA: BMW X3 M40i
Frankfurt IAA: BMW M8 GTE
Frankfurt IAA: BMW Z4 Concept
Frankfurt IAA: Alpina D5 S
Frankfurt IAA: BMW 6 Series GT
Frankfurt IAA: BMW M4 CS

BMW i3 and i3s

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Almost as if BMW went, let's see how ugly we can make this to manage the demand for an electric car ?

[Lancelot]

I like it. And it's really good to drive.

[ron_jeremy]

I really like the LCI and the i3s. But as for my needs, i want the 120Ah coming in july 18´. The i3 still looks fresh and modern, the changes are very minor. Very happy with my 16´, the perfect DD within the city.

[clbmw]

I3 is growing on me. This facelift looks a lot better. Still not sure about rear lights but the front looks better.

But I'm slightly sad to say, for me the Mercedes AMG Project One reveal overshadowed pretty much everything that BMW has shown here today in terms of excitement.

[Chihuahua]

It's certainly an improvement. Needs more low, and the i3 continues to look best in dark colors.

[Tallest]

I feel sad - for people hating on this car's looks - probably same people only ever buy sedans with I6 engines. There is so much more to this car and what it does. Would I buy it? If they ironed out issues in it for city driving its a good car. Those who never drove it probably shit on it also but try it once and you might change your mind. Interior wise its head and shoulders above what you get in your used 5 series.

[TimeFor]

So they bolted on some more plastic bits... ok. Don't really think the i3 should be trying to be sports car. I like the new fogs lights but otherwise I think I prefer the old look. ...At least from these photos.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by clbmw

I3 is growing on me. This facelift looks a lot better. Still not sure about rear lights but the front looks better.

Facelift is fine, a marginal improvement in looks.
The "s" model is also a good idea, though I will have to wait to drive it to evaluate its value proposition.

The trouble for i3 is that that the EV market has zoomed past the $45+K i3.
We now live in the world of fully functional $35K EVs with 200+ mile ranges. Bolt and Model 3 are here, Leaf v2 is coming the next month.

Nissan dropped the price on Leaf v2 to $30K, and increased the range to 150+ miles.
BMW raised the price on the i3 every time it made an improvement!

What used to be daring and cool, is fast becoming stale and over-priced.
A minor face-lift is not enough to change the above conclusion.


a

[clbmw]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Facelift is fine, a marginal improvement in looks.
The "s" model is also a good idea, though I will have to wait to drive it to evaluate its value proposition.

The trouble for i3 is that that the EV market has zoomed past the $45+K i3.
We now live in the world of fully functional $35K EVs with 200+ mile ranges. Bolt and Model 3 are here, Leaf v2 is coming the next month.

Nissan dropped the price on Leaf v2 to $30K, and increased the range to 150+ miles.
BMW raised the price on the i3 every time it made an improvement!

What used to be daring and cool, is fast becoming stale and over-priced.
A minor face-lift is not enough to change the above conclusion.


a

Yeah you're right, and at that price my other half will say we could buy a low mileage M3...

[jmg]

I have a feeling that BMW will be saving the higher range batteries for the upcoming i Vision Dynamic. Basically the i3 will be for urban driving <200 mile range, while the i5 or whatever it will be called will be >200 mile range. I don't think that's a smart move with the Tesla 3 and Bolt breathing down its neck, but I also have a feeling that they will announce a >200 mile range i3 next year as new 2019 model, and not just a refresh as this looks to be.

[tooshay]

If the i3 gets a 200+ mile range, I would cancel my model 3 order and stay with BMW. I love my i3 but the battery is outdated and everyone has a much longer range now. I find myself fighting for a charger at work now as there are too many other EVs hogging the fast charger. I need a car that can go the whole day without having to find a charger.

[Kiwi]

Originally Posted by tooshay

If the i3 gets a 200+ mile range, I would cancel my model 3 order and stay with BMW. I love my i3 but the battery is outdated and everyone has a much longer range now. I find myself fighting for a charger at work now as there are too many other EVs hogging the fast charger. I need a car that can go the whole day without having to find a charger.

I would go i3 rex than a 3 as Tesla has applied for government funding to help with there red ink on there balance sheet. The reason Tesla is able to keep going is growth. As soon as growth stops Tesla is gone if they have no money in the bank. There are no EV manufactures making money on EV cars they are all subsidised by there petrol engine car manufacturing.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Kiwi

I would go i3 rex than a 3 as Tesla has applied for government funding to help with there red ink on there balance sheet. The reason Tesla is able to keep going is growth. As soon as growth stops Tesla is gone if they have no money in the bank. There are no EV manufactures making money on EV cars they are all subsidised by there petrol engine car manufacturing.

Who cares if your lease will already be up if and when Tesla goes under? How does the long term viability of a car company affect the leasee? Isn't the point of leasing locking in the residual? Who's buying EVs when the lease terms are so favorable?

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by jmg

I have a feeling that BMW will be saving the higher range batteries for the upcoming i Vision Dynamic. Basically the i3 will be for urban driving <200 mile range, while the i5 or whatever it will be called will be >200 mile range. I don't think that's a smart move with the Tesla 3 and Bolt breathing down its neck, but I also have a feeling that they will announce a >200 mile range i3 next year as new 2019 model, and not just a refresh as this looks to be.

The refresh is just that, a slight bumper tweak and a long overdue "s" model.
I agree that BMW will never properly re-engineer i3 to accept more battery packs (8 cells now). But when Samsung finally releases the increased capacity 120Ah batteries (vs. 94Ah today), i3 will get them. Maybe for a premium price (similar to 60Ah vs. 94Ah price bump), but it will get them, along with a ~25% range increase to ~142 miles.

Alas, that will be not significant enough to matter in range wars, leaving i3 far behind Model 3 and Bolt, as well as other EVs that will hit the market between now and 2020...

a

[JorgenTrued]

I was at the Frankfurt IAA 2017 show. Invited by Porsche. I have had a good eye to the i3 ever since I saw it at BMW Welt in Munich in 2014. Last year I bought a Melbourne Red i3s with all the bells and whistles. Such a great car. Love it!

[bitmanEV]

Originally Posted by JorgenTrued

I was at the Frankfurt IAA 2017 show. Invited by Porsche. I have had a good eye to the i3 ever since I saw it at BMW Welt in Munich in 2014. Last year I bought a Melbourne Red i3s with all the bells and whistles. Such a great car. Love it!

Fully agree and still have a smile on my face when driving around as my daily car