The manufacture of the BMW i3, BMW’s first “i” brand EV, will end later this summer after nine years and more than 250,000 sold units. Even so, the eccentric little compact can depart with pride since the electric future it foresaw has come to pass.
Along with its “i” stablemate, the BMW i8, the BMW i3 debuted as a concept in 2011 and was boldly futuristic. The recently introduced “i” brand projected a futuristic image of a world filled with electric vehicles. It was a future that ultimately never materialized because our current reality is superior. Almost all new cars in this future are electric, yes, but they are the standard.
According to the Electrify America ad campaign, EVs are now commonplace. In 2011, a year before the first Tesla Model S vehicle left the factory, they weren’t normal, and the BMW I vehicles didn’t even make an effort to be normal. Even with the i3 equipped with Rex, they were happy to be unusual and even avoided being labeled as hybrids.
There won’t be a direct competitor to the BMW i3 that utilizes the same high-end, expensive, lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber structure. Instead, the iX1, an all-electric version of the BMW X1 crossover that sits just below the iX3, and an electric version of the next-generation MINI Cooper will subtly replace the i3.
BMW executives agree that the brand’s new EVs will benefit the i3’s followers. The Mini Electric or the future BMW iX1 will be ideal for today’s customers who want a fully electric city car that is precisely fitted for urban driving or a small but roomy vehicle for an active lifestyle, a BMW UK spokeswoman told Autocar. The BMW Group will have six BEV cars available on the market by the end of this year, and 13 by 2023.
In This Article...
BMW iX1 2022 image gallery
The i3 is reportedly going to be replaced by an electric X1 crossover, which is the smallest and least expensive high rider made by BMW. It will serve as an indirect replacement, but if you want a brand-new i3, there is still time to purchase one since it is anticipated to continue production until 2024. As a result, it will be marketed alongside the anticipated iX2, which is anticipated to make its debut in 2022.
According to BMW Blog’s report on the iX1, the cheapest model will only have front-wheel drive and a 180 horsepower engine. It is believed that it will be a development of the motor that now powers the i3 and the new MINI Cooper SE; the more potent 250 horsepower version will probably include a second, smaller motor that drives the rear wheels.
The iX1 will be built on a brand-new model that is anticipated to be unveiled in the later half of 2021 rather than the present X1 generation (the F48). The normal gasoline, diesel, and hybrid powertrain options will be offered alongside the electric variants as well.
Tomorrow is the officially declared day for the reveal of the production version of the iNext, for those who desire a BMW EV that was created from the ground up as an electric vehicle. It will be significantly larger and more expensive than the iX1, but it will also offer greater performance, luxury, and range and target a different market.
A misplaced dream
After four and a half years of ownership, we decided to sell our i3. Though saying goodbye was difficult, a few things helped. We realized, for one, that the range extender was no longer necessary. Our family had grown, so we purchased a Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, a plug-in vehicle with a 30-mile range, for hauling and road trips. With it serving as our backup vehicle, the range extender on the i3 turned from a safety net into a dead weight problem.
We briefly debated purchasing a second i3. By enlarging the battery pack, BMW had corrected one of the vehicle’s major flaws, offering the most recent BEV model 153 miles of range—roughly twice as much as ours. But not much changed with the rest of the vehicle.
BMW initially discussed extending the range and introducing other body types on the same base. I had a fantasy that we would eventually trade in our i3 for a quick, rear-wheel-drive electric wagon. I believed an X3-sized crossover was more likely to occur. After only a few months with the i3, I was certain that BMW had what it necessary to create a version 2 that was truly outstanding. However, after hearing about reboots and delays for years, we stopped waiting for BMW and began looking elsewhere. In the end, we switched out the BMW i3 for a Volkswagen e-Golf.
If BMW hadn’t given up on the i3, I can’t help but wonder what may have occurred. A few years after the urban runabout was unveiled, Harald Kruger was promoted to CEO by the business. He was meant to give the business fresh life because he was young and energetic. Instead of honing his company’s EV strategy during the subsequent four years, he chose to hedge. Because of the complaints from the unions, Kruger came under fire in 2016 from the company’s chief labor representative and vice chair. Manfred Schoch said at the time, “Management has been sluggish to decide on investing in new electric vehicles. He had been pleading with the CEO and the board to develop additional BMW I vehicles. Anything else would hurt the company’s bottom line.
Why We Won’t Miss The BMW i3
It is extremely heartbreaking to see BMW discontinue its little electric hatchback after nine years on the market given how great it was.
In 2011, as interest in electric vehicles increased, the BMW i3 was first unveiled as a concept car. The design was later evolved into a working model that was released for purchase in 2013 as a 2014 model. The BMW i3 has enjoyed considerable success since that time. The compact electric hatchback from BMW has sold over 250,000 units and was named the World Car Design and World Green Car of the Year winners at the 2014 World Car Awards.
Unfortunately, all wonderful things must eventually come to an end. BMW terminated the i3 in all markets in July 2022 after ceasing manufacturing for the US market in July 2021. The company cited consumer demand for larger-than-the-i3 electric automobiles as justification for the withdrawal. Another reason is that the manufacturer wants to move away from the i3’s distinctive appearance and produce electric vehicles with more traditional styling. The BMW i4 and BMW iX models are taking the place of the i3 as a result. We are sad to see the i3 depart, but there are other reasons as well.
What will take the place of the BMW i3?
The absence of the BMW i3 has left a gap in the Bavarian portfolio for a cheap EV that needs to be filled. The new BMW iX1, which will check many of the same boxes the i3 did when it was first announced, may very well be that something. The BMW iX1 might even surpass other EVs from the company once it goes on sale.
Actually, the BMW iX1 and i3 are not that similar. The later vehicle utilized plastic body panels with a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) chassis, which not only made it incredibly lightweight but also highly recyclable and sustainable. It also had an oddball design, a small footprint, and some of the most entertaining driving characteristics of any electric car at the time. None of those things will be present in the iX1. However, it will include many of the same features that people cherished in their i3s.
For example, the BMW iX1 will have a starting price that is estimated to be in the low-EUR40,000 area. Even though it won’t be exactly as little as the ultra-compact i3, it will still be small enough to be usable as a city car. Additionally, it will be a sporty-looking, sleek compact crossover, which will appeal to younger customers even if it won’t have the same quirky appearance as the i3.
The iX1 more than makes up for what the i3 lacks in terms of upgrades. To begin with, the iX1 will be a much more useful car than the i3. Due to its conventional crossover form, it will have additional room for second-row passengers, headroom, and baggage. Although its interior won’t be quite as futuristic as the i3’s was, it will be a lot more usable, making it the ultimate luxury while also making consumers’ lives easier.
Additionally, the BMW iX1’s interior technology will be years ahead of that of the i3’s. Even when it was brand new, the BMW i3’s cabin and interior technology were antiquated. Just adding a sunroof to the i3 required a mid-cycle upgrade. In addition, it lacked numerous cutting-edge safety features, including blind-spot monitors, a head-up display, sophisticated cruise control, and many other modern entertainment features. The BMW iX1, on the other hand, will feature the most recent versions of iDrive 8, the digital gauge cluster, and all of BMW’s cutting-edge safety equipment.
Of course, there will be various iX1 model variations with various power and performance levels and ranges. However, the BMW iX1’s maximum range is expected to be around 431 kilometers (267 miles), which is significantly less than the i3’s maximum range, which was over 150 kilometers from the 120 Ah battery.
Will the nature of the BMW iX1 be similar to that of the i3? Virtually probably not. With its endearing quirkiness, the BMW i3 served as a type of electric Isetta of the current day. However, that character had to put in a lot of extra effort to get around the i3’s technical, mechanical, and usability flaws. Since the BMW iX1 will be a far more functional and useful vehicle with many fewer flaws, this issue won’t arise.
The BMW iX1 will likely replace the i3 as the most popular EV in BMW’s portfolio when it is released because of its pricing, functionality, and aesthetic appeal. Will the i3’s appeal ever be replaced by it? No, but it will be enhanced in every manner more pragmatistically.
What distinguishes the BMW i3 from the i3s?
The i3s features a more potent motor even if the i3 has a longer range.
A 135 kW electric motor in the BMW i3s produces 184 horsepower. It can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds and has a top speed of 99 mph.
The i3, however, features a 125 kW motor. It has a top speed of 93 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds.
Therefore, even though the BMW i3 costs more than the i3 and has a shorter range, it all boils down to performance. Better acceleration, a faster peak speed, and excellent handling are all provided.
The BMW i3 and i3s actually differ from one another in a few key ways. The more expensive, sportier i3s has stiffer suspension, larger wheels, and it sits lower to the ground. Additionally, there is a sport driving option that increases responsiveness compared to the conventional i3.
What does the BMW i3’s future hold?
The rear-wheel-drive i3, the centerpiece of BMW’s electric vehicle program, was initially available with a single electric drivetrain or a range extender (REx) drivetrain, which combines a 647cc two-cylinder petrol motorcycle engine and an electric motor. It generated a maximum power of 168 horsepower in both instances and utilized a 22.2 kWh lithium ion battery.
The battery capacity was then increased in 2017 to 33.3kWh. The i3 S, a performance model with wider tracks and 181 horsepower, was added to the lineup that same year.
In October 2021, BMW said i3 production had topped 200,000 units. Officials anticipate that it will have sold more than 250,000 units by the time production ends in July 2022.
The Mini Electric or the future BMW iX1 will ideally fulfill today’s customers who seek a fully electric city car that is tailored for urban driving or a small but roomy vehicle for an active lifestyle. These vehicles will encourage more people to switch to all-electric driving.
“Therefore, the decision has been made to stop BMW i3 production from summer 2022,” reads the statement. “After a decade of establishing the standard in its class and paving the path for today’s generation of electric automobiles.”