CLUBHOUSE | DRIVING RANGE
PERFECTLY FORMED
THE NEW I3 FROM BMW IS SIMPLY ELECTRIC, WRITES BEN OLIVER.
I
t may not look like it, but the new BMW i3 is one of the coolest cars you can all its torque from standstill and not just keeping buy: cooler even than the latest super car from Ferrari or Lamborghini. Why? pace with petrol-powered cars, but embarrassing Because it’s electric, so everyone will know you’re environmentally conscious. It’s them away from the lights, and doing it all in nearalso a really clever piece of engineering, so everyone will know you’re a smart, silence. tech-savvy early-adopter. And unlike the Tesla Model S, the other hot electric But the i3 adds F1-st yle carbon-fibre car of the moment, it has bold, edgy styling and a badge from an established, construc tion, an exceptionally elegant, desirable, premium German brand. BMW isn’t going to struggle to sell these. minimalist cabin, and a truly extraordinary level In most markets, buyers are still concerned about the of technology that makes limited distances some electric cars can drive before a lengthy In most markets, buyers using an electric car even recharging session. Tesla gets around this by asking a much easier. Your i3’s charging are still concerned about can b e monitore d and higher price for its cars, and giving them a much bigger the limited distances battery. In a city market like Hong Kong, range just isn’t an controlled from an app on issue. But if you really think that you’re going to drive more your smartphone. You can some electric cars can than around 150km (BMW claims more) before needing to plan a journey in advance on drive before a lengthy charge your i3 overnight, BMW has a cheaper solution than your phone or laptop and recharging session. In Tesla’s vast battery. You can specify your i3 with a ‘range send destinations to your i3’s a city like Hong Kong, extender’: a hyper-efficient two-cylinder petrol engine which sat-nav. In some markets, it never actually drives the wheels, but is used as a generator will know exactly where the range just isn’t an issue. to charge the battery on the move, and give you well over nearest charging points are, 250km of real-world range. and whether they’re free. But personally, I’d keep my i3 simple, light, cheaper and pure. And it’s a decision I The app can tell you how to get back to where might have to make: I test a lot of cars, but few that I like so much that I start making you’ve parked your i3, and how long it would plans to buy. Top Gear’s James May has already taken delivery of his. Old-fashioned take to continue your journey on foot or by public car enthusiasts like us like the way an electric car such as the i3 performs: delivering transport instead. If you take the car, when you
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HK GOLFER・SEP 2014
HKGOLFER.COM
SCORECARD BMW I3 How much? HK$394,000* Engine:
168hp AC electric motor
Transmission:
Single speed
Performance:
0-100kph 7.2 sec
How heavy? 1,270kgs Range:
190km (electric only) 340km (range extender)
*Prices subject to final PRP approval by Customs and Excise
reach your destination the i3 can look around for a parking space and reverse itself into it, while you listen to one of the literally millions of songs on the cloud-based music services which you can stream into the i3’s cabin. And there’s more; far more than I can outline here. Few cars have debuted so much new technology at once. And one feature that comes as standard is the subtle nod of approval you’ll get from everyone who knows just how cool your i3 is. HKGOLFER.COM
HK GOLFER・SEP 2014
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