BMW i3 Hits The Track For Some Hot Laps

Germany’s BMW brand has always been one for building the “Ultimate Driving Machine”, and there are those that worry that the rush to make cleaner, green cars is going to reduce performance. After seeing this video of the all-new BMW i3 electric car taking to the track for some hot laps though, I’m not the least bit worried that BMW is getting boring.

Now I’ll grant you that music and creative editing can go a long way in a video like this, and with a top speed of 93 just MPH, that 2014 BMW i3 isn’t going to set the world on fire. That’s what the much faster (and three times as expensive) BMW i8 is for. Still, the 7.2 second 0 to 60 mph time is on par with most mid-size sedans for acceleration, and is actually a couple of seconds faster than competitor vehicles like the Nissan Leaf or Fiat 500e.

This video highlights the supposed athletic abilities of the BMW i3, and with its rear-wheel drive putting 170 horsepower and 184 ft-lbs of torque to the ground. With an all-electric driving range of around 100 miles, and an optional gas-powered range extender that about doubles the range, the $42,000 electric Bimmer also happens to have a lot more go-juice than most of the competition. No wonder Germans placed more than 10,000 pre-orders for the spunky electric coupe.

For EV enthusiasts waiting for something more exciting than the Nissan Leaf, but can’t quite afford to shell out $70,000 for a Tesla Model S, the BMW i3 makes a pretty compelling pitch.

Source: Gas2.0