For those who have forgotten, BMW’s foray into the era of electric vehicles is led by a small hatchback called the i3. City runabout looks really cute on the outside and seems to run really well within the confines of the urban jungle, but as it turns out, it can also be fun on the track.
Stighiz from YouTube showing us how it was done in his BMW i3 while doing some hot laps at the Nürburgring. According to the owner, this BMW i3s is all stock, so no modifications have been added to make it a track weapon.
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First, let’s talk about power. As a sportier version of the i3, the i3s is powered by a BMW eDrive synchronous permanent magnet motor that produces 181 horsepower (135 kilowatts) and 199 pound-feet (270 Newton-meters) of instant torque. It also has a lower sports suspension, faster acceleration, Sport driving mode, and wider rear track, wheels and tires compared to the standard version.
We’re not sure if this ‘Ring-conquering i3s already comes with a bigger battery pack than the 2019 model, but the owner says that one full charge is good for three hot rounds. That’s pretty impressive, especially for a tiny car equipped with a small but larger (for 2019) 42.2 kWh battery.
If you’re curious about the track experience in a small EV, the driver has generously provided some feedback. According to him, the i3s chassis is good but corners must be approached with caution. The brakes also work well, complemented by EV regenerative braking.
Drivers also provide downsides, such as unnecessary ESP intervention and that the i3s are slow, citing two passages in ‘The Ring that “feels like an eternity.”
Then again, the BMW i3s isn’t a track toy so that’s to be expected. As they say, it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
