BMW I3
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 3:58 pm
I had the chance to take a new BMW i3 out for a drive. Its a really nice car to drive. Huge regen gives it a single pedal drive ability, something I enjoy but I know many dont like this. I have no idea if it can be changed or not.
My overall impression was of a car that drove well, handled well, had far too much bright display screen information on its Two screens, and an interior panel finish that looks like they still have the protective covering on. Many of the parts are really flimsy, I guess to save weight, but the charge flap is so light and bendy that I can see a good market for replacements.
Inside its as if they have spent all their effort on the technology, but the overall impression was of, it will be nice when they finish it. The panels have a strange finish, a bit like slightly coarse (used as in dirty grey) garden fleece (Spun woven fabric) of many layers compressed into a sheet then moulded into the dash and door panels. What it would be like with chocolately fingers or an apple laid on it I have no idea. It reminded me of an unfinished pre production Corsa my son brought over a few years ago.
But it is a superb drive. This one had the range extender which only has a 9 ltr tank, as apparently in California you can only have a range extender that can match the original EV range.Not sure if thats true or not. It has a number of operational regimes, one of which is to maintain the current state of discharge. The engine when it cut in was almost inaudible.
This worked a treat.
A nice car, Im unsure of its market, except I doubt it would be so good with grubby kids or a dog or a person who puts an uneaten apple on the flat dash.
I really did find the dashboard displays to be so data excessive as to be virtually unreadable in use. You just cant take it all in. To do so you wouldnt be taking any notice of the road.
It almost needs to give you the set up options then mostly close down to the bare necessities. I guess the TESLA suffers from this in an even more extreme way with its Laptop screen set vertically in the centre of the dash.
Give the opportunity would I have one. Yes but I would hate the interior and the displays.
Grumpy-b
My overall impression was of a car that drove well, handled well, had far too much bright display screen information on its Two screens, and an interior panel finish that looks like they still have the protective covering on. Many of the parts are really flimsy, I guess to save weight, but the charge flap is so light and bendy that I can see a good market for replacements.
Inside its as if they have spent all their effort on the technology, but the overall impression was of, it will be nice when they finish it. The panels have a strange finish, a bit like slightly coarse (used as in dirty grey) garden fleece (Spun woven fabric) of many layers compressed into a sheet then moulded into the dash and door panels. What it would be like with chocolately fingers or an apple laid on it I have no idea. It reminded me of an unfinished pre production Corsa my son brought over a few years ago.
But it is a superb drive. This one had the range extender which only has a 9 ltr tank, as apparently in California you can only have a range extender that can match the original EV range.Not sure if thats true or not. It has a number of operational regimes, one of which is to maintain the current state of discharge. The engine when it cut in was almost inaudible.
This worked a treat.
A nice car, Im unsure of its market, except I doubt it would be so good with grubby kids or a dog or a person who puts an uneaten apple on the flat dash.
I really did find the dashboard displays to be so data excessive as to be virtually unreadable in use. You just cant take it all in. To do so you wouldnt be taking any notice of the road.
It almost needs to give you the set up options then mostly close down to the bare necessities. I guess the TESLA suffers from this in an even more extreme way with its Laptop screen set vertically in the centre of the dash.
Give the opportunity would I have one. Yes but I would hate the interior and the displays.
Grumpy-b