The BMW i3 production vehicle will be officially unveiled on July 29, but to hold everyone over, the German automaker has released some specifications on its first i-model electric car.
The BMW i3 will be powered by an electric motor that’s good for 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, which the German automaker specified is “on tap immediately.” The motor itself weighs in at 110 pounds and maintains a linear flow of power even into the higher RPM ranges. The vehicle itself will have a near 50:50 weight distribution and will have a curb weight of 2,630 pounds, allowing it to accelerate to 60 mph in approximately seven seconds.
SEE ALSO: BMW i3 Production Vehicle to be Unveiled July 29 – Video
In everyday driving, BMW has announced that the i3 will have an all-electric range of 80 to 100 miles, with the possibility of it being increased by about 12 percent in ECO PRO mode, with another 12 percent more in ECO PRO+ mode. As announced earlier, the i3 will also be available with an option for a range-extender engine, a 650cc two-cylinder gasoline powerplant with 34 horsepower. It will essentially double the range to 160 to 180 miles for day-to-day driving.
As part of the BMW ConnectedDrive system, the i3 can claim to be the world’s first fully networked electrically powered vehicle, coming with an embedded SIM card that unlocks new services for the EV. One example is its navigation services developed to enhance electric mobility, such as the unique intermodal route guidance that incorporates local public transport connections.
More information on the BMW i3 is expected when the production vehicle makes it debut on July 29, 2013.
GALLERY: BMW i3
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