Updated 2017 BMW i3 goes 114 miles with new 33-kWh battery

autoblog.com

6 points·Osiris30··5 comments

I'm sorta within the target audience of the i3. I live in a mostly walkable mid-sized European city with a comparatively well implemented public transportation system. Nonetheless, and particularly in the colder months, I would like a small electric city car.

Unfortunately the i3 is almost too much car. For my intended use it's pretty expensive and kinda big... at least compared to the Renault Twizy. The Twizy is much closer to the size and cost that suits my probable usage but it's obviously designed as primarily a summer car and it's honestly right at the lower of limit of acceptable size. If Renault chose to update the battery pack for the Twizy it would be a much more attractive option. (For those who might not know, Twizy owners do not buy or own the battery, they must sign up for a long term lease / maintenance contract).

I keep hoping someone brings a vehicle to market that's in between the BMW i3 and the Renault Twizy... or for some reason a discounted i3 appears on the used market in my area.

Agreed- like a 3 seater with a bit of luggage... Like a car "pod" for city use only.

I think the i3 has great potential and mass appeal and is accessible at its price point. But having said that, I'm still confused why BMW went out of its way to design it as an "alternative car." I might be alone in this, but I find the car really ugly. But it wouldn't stop me from driving one!

Yeah, it's not really an attractive car is it! Though having sat in one briefly I have to say that, given the external footprint, the interior is enormous and those little suicide doors make it feel even bigger.

For 30K more (a lot I get but...) you get 2-2.5x the range and a way cooler car for the lower end S.

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