2017 BMW i3: What's New

Vehicle Overview

What it is: The BMW i3 is a purpose-built electric car with rear-wheel drive and seating for four. Constructed of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and aluminum to save weight, the i3’s electric drivetrain gives it a range of up to 114 miles or so, according to BMW. Competitors include the Nissan Leaf, Fiat 500e, Volkswagen e-Golf and Chevrolet Volt.

To address the range anxiety associated with electric cars, BMW offers an available two-cylinder gas engine for the i3. The engine doesn’t drive the wheels but rather charges the lithium-ion battery to extend the i3’s range.
New for 2017
A higher-capacity 33-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack increases the i3’s estimated driving range to 114 miles from 81 miles. A new residential charging station is available from BMW i, and it takes about 4.5 hours to charge the battery on Level 2 service. A power moonroof is now available.
Significant Standard Features

• 170-horsepower electric motor
• Rear-wheel drive
• Traditional front doors and rear-hinged back doors
• LED headlights and taillights
• Automatic air conditioning
• Tilt/telescoping steering wheel
• Heated front seats
• 50/50-split folding backseat
• Navigation system
• Required in every new car: front airbags, antilock brakes and an electronic stability system

Significant Available Features

• 38-hp, two-cylinder gas engine-generator
• Backup camera
• Leather upholstery
• Adaptive cruise control
• Bluetooth audio streaming
• Forward collision warning