The BMW i3S Is The Sportier Way To Buy A Small BMW EV

BMW has clearly had a stein or two too many over the weekend, revealing a lower, wider and more powerful i3.

The 181bhp, 199lb ft i3S, with 14bhp and 15lb ft more than standard, sits on a wider track and 20-inch tyres that, while still tall and narrow, are half an inch wider than those on the regular i3. Specific motor control software extracts the extra performance from the i3S, reducing the EV tendency to tail off at higher speeds.

BMW claims that the 40mm-wider i3S is a handy four tenths quicker to 60mph than its lesser brother, while past 60mph, the i3S is as much as 40 per cent punchier. It still tops out at just 100mph, though – the i3’s vmax is 93mph.

This new, more potent option sits 10mm lower than the ordinary i3. A ‘sports suspension’ setup has specially-developed springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, says BMW. There’s also – gasp! – a Sport mode, which gives you something like 95 per cent of the available torque for five per cent throttle travel. We exaggerate, but you get the idea. It also weights-up the steering. Mmmm, sporty.

The i3S, being essentially a minor tweak to the range, is available with both full-EV and range-extender drivetrains just like the regular i3. With the petrol engine and tiny fuel tank, both derived from a BMW maxi-scooter, driving range rises from a theoretical 95-100 miles to around 180.

LED headlights are standard across the lightly-revised i3 range. Melbourne Red and Imperial Blue are new colours to speak of, and regular navigation system updates are now issued ‘over the air’, making sure owners always have the latest data.