POV driving video of test drive of the new 2018 BMW i3s

BMW i3s

BMW presented the updated i3 at the end of last year. The existing model was further improved with, among other things, new styling and improved and innovative equipment. The range was also expanded with a sportier variant, the i3s. We went out for a day with this electric sports enthusiast.

Different models

You can currently choose the i3 in different models. Purely electric, you can choose from the i3 (38,800 euros), the i3 advanced (41,600 euros), the i3s (42,450 euros) or the i3s advanced (45,250 euros). If you want more driving range, you can also opt for the i3 as a hybrid with range extender. This Range Extender is also available for the same 4 variants and prices are between 46,150 euros and 49,800 euros.

I3

Under the hood of the i3 we find a synchronous electric motor that delivers a power of 170 hp and a maximum torque of 250 Nm. These figures may not be that exciting on paper, but in practice this car accelerates very quickly. As with other electric cars, torque is available from a standstill. When you step on the accelerator, the i3 shoots away like an arrow from a bow. The sprint from 0-100 km/h takes 7.3 seconds. and the top speed is 150 km/h. The i3 contains a lithium-ion battery. This provides a driving range of approximately 200 km depending on driving style and driving conditions.

Sporty version i3s

The sportier i3s has a power of 184 hp and a max. torque of 270 Nm. The i3s sprints to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and the top speed is 160 km/h. You also get a SPORT mode that you can select by pressing the Driving Experience Control button. Of course, the extra power is a bonus. Personally, we think that the real added value of the i3s lies mainly in the improved handling. With the new i3s you get a sports suspension as standard that lowers the ride height by 10 mm. Compared to the i3, the track width of the i3s is also 40mm wider. You can also opt for exclusive 20-inch rims that are 20 mm wider than the previous versions. You can also optionally choose these rims in black (Jet Black), which makes the car look very sporty. All this means that the i3s has very good road holding, which also makes for fun, sporty driving.

Operation with 1 pedal

The operation of the i3s is very simple and user-friendly. Behind the steering wheel is a control element with a start/stop button to turn the car on and off. You can put the car in D to go forward or R to go backwards. You also have a neutral (N) position and a position for parking. It couldn’t be simpler. The foot control is also largely with 1 pedal, the accelerator pedal. You logically use this to accelerate. When you take your foot off this pedal, the operation of the electric motor is switched to that of a generator, and the batteries are charged. At the same time, this has the same effect as if you were pressing the brakes. This process even controls the brake lights as well. Of course there is a second pedal for braking, but in most situations you can actually continue by just playing with the accelerator pedal.

Charging

You can charge the i3s batteries via a traditional socket, the BMW i Wallbox or a public charging station. The updated BMW i Wallbox delivers a power of 11 kW. This allows you to charge the car in less than 3 hours, giving you a driving range of 180 km again. That is of course a lot faster than when you charge the car at the traditional socket. We can hardly imagine that you would not install a Wallbox at home.

You can also recharge your car along the way via a public charging station. In some places you can even charge your car for free while shopping. With a fast charging station you can also quickly charge the i3 on the go. For example, we parked our test car almost empty at a fast charging station and it was fully charged in less than an hour. After 40 minutes the battery is already approximately 80% charged with a fast charger.

Decision

The i3s is a quick and sporty car that is very easy to operate. The extra power of the i3s is a bonus, but in our opinion the big advantage of the i3s over the i3 is the improved handling. The driving range is sufficient at +/- 200 km and if you want more, you can consider the version with Range Extender. The finish inside looks durable and high-quality. Our test car was Rot in Melbourne and in that color it is a fresh and colorful appearance in the street scene, especially in combination with those handsome black rims.