The first wave of BMW i3 units have come ashore here in the United State, with the first few i3 sales going to some prominent figures within the green->ke3234 community. BMW i3 No. one was delivered to Boston resident Charles Rabie who is also a Tufts University professor of practice, electric vehicle proponent, and current owner of a BMW ActiveE.->ke3771
The i3 represents BMW's->ke178 first all-electric vehicle->ke1030 intended for mass consumption. It utilizes a hybrid-synchronous electric motor that produces 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque powering the rear wheels with a range up to 100 miles. Power is stored in a 22-kWh lithium-ion battery that can be recharged in 30 minutes when connected to a fast-charge station or roughly eight hours with a conventional home charger.
What’s more, a range-extender model is available with a 650 cc, two-cylinder gasoline engine. The little engine only produces 34 horsepower, but pushes the i3’s total range to 180 miles of everyday driving. The engine works well for doubling the i3’s range, but it also increases the car’s overall cost by some $4,000. Then again, on a car costing over $46,000, an additional $4k isn’t a bad price for the ability to drive twice as far.
Also atop the list of folks getting an early i3 is Ashlan Gorse Cousteau. She is a former E! Entertainment correspondent and the wife of Philippe Cousteau, who happens to be the grandson of Jacques Cousteau, the famous French explorer. It surely is a small world.
Click past the jump to read more about the BMW i3
The BMW i3 is an all-new car from the tires up. It’s built largely out of carbon fiber and only weights 2,635 pounds soaking wet. Being green and using renewable resources within its construction is a big part of the i3. Many of its interior panels are constructed from plants, recycled materials, and wool.
The i3 is available in three trim levels: Mega World, Giga World, and Tera World. (Don’t ask us, we don’t know) The base Mega World might be the least expensive starting at roughly $46,000, but it still comes with plenty of amenities. Navigation, ConnectedDrive with eCall, i Remote, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel are all standard. Checking option boxes can get expensive as a decked out i3 will set you back over $57,000.