First Drive: 2014 BMW i3
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 22,608
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From: Waiting for next track day
I think its a great design, but why does every green car ( other than the Tesla ) have to look so odd. I understand the aero aspects and needing the thin tires to reduce rolling resistance but come on.....it could have looked a little cooler than that
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 42,476
Likes: 320
From: California
really? seems most of the comments on this internet forum about it are very negative. 
but i think this is an awesome first effort by bmw. in my view it looks better than the prius and leaf, and is more practical than the volt. and it's rwd.
i can see lots of urban dwelling celebrities trading in their prius and buying them.
but i think this is an awesome first effort by bmw. in my view it looks better than the prius and leaf, and is more practical than the volt. and it's rwd.
i can see lots of urban dwelling celebrities trading in their prius and buying them.
if i had a short commute to an office, i'd be very interested in one of these!
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,540
Likes: 273
From: Illinois
I saw an i3 at the auto show on Monday and, to me, it looked better in person than in pics. Different, yes, but not too bad. Unfortunately I got sidetracked looking at other BMW's and forgot to go for a close up look.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: The Woodlands, TX
Ignore the five-star reviews: the BMW i3 Range Extender might be clever, but it’s not the perfect electric car
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,018
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From: CA™
There may be disquiet about its gentle rate of climb, but the electric car has, at last, taken off. The BMW i3 is leading the charge. Could it really be better in the real world than the Tesla Model S?
BMW, along with Tesla, is doing what looked impossible a few years ago. Electric cars are finally becoming desirable. Maybe it took the power of a couple of premium brands to help them on the way. Or maybe it's the radical looks and carbonfibre structure of the BMW i3? Either way, EVs are here to stay. And if the BMW i3 is anything to go by, they're here to be enjoyed, rather than endured.
BMW, along with Tesla, is doing what looked impossible a few years ago. Electric cars are finally becoming desirable. Maybe it took the power of a couple of premium brands to help them on the way. Or maybe it's the radical looks and carbonfibre structure of the BMW i3? Either way, EVs are here to stay. And if the BMW i3 is anything to go by, they're here to be enjoyed, rather than endured.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 20,237
Likes: 274
BMW erred greatly by doing full EV that can do only 65 miles in real life... thats just too low for what is very expensive EV. So they tried to fix it by offering neat range extender... they they gave it only 40-50 mile range as well.
It just wont do anything at all.
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The Prius has a dedicated buyer, people actually really like the styling and its cargo capacity makes it a logical decision. As much as people might hate the styling, people actually like it and modified it looks pretty good to my eyes.
BMW i3 Gets Production Boost Before US Launch
Electric cars are spreading throughout the industry, and one German automaker is ramping up production to make sure it can meet demand.
BMW has announced that it is boosting i3 electric-car production up to 100 units per day, just ahead of the car’s launch in the American market this month. ”The United States will be the biggest market for the i3. Because of this, we have started raising production levels and are currently at around 100 cars a day,” Harold Krueger, a BMW board member told Automotive News.
Previously, BMW was building roughly 70 units a day, and has produced about 5,000 units in total. The brand has already announced that 11,000 pre-orders have been received for the compact car globally, which will cost $41,350 in the United States. BMW is targeting 10,000 sales in 2014.
BMW has announced that it is boosting i3 electric-car production up to 100 units per day, just ahead of the car’s launch in the American market this month. ”The United States will be the biggest market for the i3. Because of this, we have started raising production levels and are currently at around 100 cars a day,” Harold Krueger, a BMW board member told Automotive News.
Previously, BMW was building roughly 70 units a day, and has produced about 5,000 units in total. The brand has already announced that 11,000 pre-orders have been received for the compact car globally, which will cost $41,350 in the United States. BMW is targeting 10,000 sales in 2014.