i3 Interior Peculiarities

[websterize]

What's up with the raised edges on either side of the lower center console — those fins adjacent to the inner front seats? Is this form, or function, or both?

 

[elptex]

You say "raised", seeming to indicate that they rise above everything. They are just the line continuing from going all the way back to the rear of the console where the arm rest connects. So yes, it is raised in the area you have pointed out, though it is just a continuation of the lines of the storage bucket area underneath the armrest.

Based on that, to lower that line would reduce the height of the storage bucket under the arm rest. The alternate is to raise the middle bit where all the buttons are. Flush, however, is very clinical in such a setting. I suspect if everything were level/flush across that console, it would be actually look 'cheap', as in easier to manufacture.