i3 variants

[WoodlandHills]

Since the i3 is just a passenger cell on a self contained platform, what should BMW build on it next? A two seat sportscar a la VW XL1? A true 4-door on a stretched platform with more batteries? A small urban delivery van?

Myself, I want a 200hp Ducati engined XL-1, but a two seat REx coupe or even cabriolet would be much more likely to end up in my garage to pair with an i3 REX sports wagon on an extended platform with 30% more range.

Does anyone know how well the current i3 drifts with the traction control off?

 

[jelloslug]

Something that will sell like a true 4 door or a SUV type vehicle, possibly all wheel drive. How about an i3X? You could put another motor up front.

 

[i3atl]

Does anyone know how well the current i3 drifts with the traction control off?

How do you turn it off?

 

[WoodlandHills]

I thought you access it in iDrive like in other BMW's? I believe you can program one of the 8 buttons to get to the menu if not the switch.

 

[i3atl]

I thought you access it in iDrive like in other BMW's? I believe you can program one of the 8 buttons to get to the menu if not the switch.

You can't quite turn it off from there - just make it less intrusive. I expect someone to find a way, but haven't seen any process yet.

 

[mrsmith]

I was in a field the other day and even with the traction 'off' it didn't want to donut!

 

[jadnashuanh]

SOmewhere, I saw an article describing an i3 coupe - essentially a two-door version of the existing vehicle. So, they are thinking about variations.

 

[PluviaPlumbum]

If you think about how many variants that BMW squeeze out of the Mini platform then I anticipate that there will be quite a few I concepts coming to the Major motor shows based on the i3 running gear.

 

[WoodlandHills]

SOmewhere, I saw an article describing an i3 coupe - essentially a two-door version of the existing vehicle. So, they are thinking about variations.

I think we ARE driving the i3 coupe right now. The stretched i3 will be the sedan or 4-door, they will need to make it longer to get room for real doors and for more batteries to haul around 4 adults on a regular basis. It is all a matter of different extrusions in the chassis: make it wider and longer with room for a larger motor and extender engine plus corresponding battery pack and you have an i5. Add a smaller front motor and you have either a Quattro-style performance model or an SUV, just change the wheels and tires and chassis setup and drop the appropriate bodyshell onto the platform. Enlarge it far enough and you have an i7 Tesla-fighter.

 

[jadnashuanh]

No, the picture I saw was essentially the same car, with front seats that slide forward to gain access (maybe a slightly larger door), and no rear doors. The rest of the car was the same. But, until something official comes out, that was just a photo of a prototype. Certainly, there are options to modify things more radically, and we may see that. While the USA seems to have a relative abundance of unsold vehicles in some markets, that is not true of other countries, so until everyone is caught up, my guess is variations on the theme may be slow to show up. Can't remember if the German auto show was last year, or the year before...the big one is every two years, and BMW tries to have something to show then.

 

[RJSATLBA]

I'd be surprised if any variants would be introduced whilst the volumes are still very low.