Before the release of the new BMW Brilliance i3, the official relevant staff also asked us how to see the upcoming i3 car.
We said it more euphemistically at the time, saying that the BMW i3's customer base was actually aimed at BMW fans. At this stage, there are obviously two camps in the intelligent tram circle, one camp is still obsessed with the brand, culture, and mechanical quality of traditional oil vehicles, and the other camp has long been taken away by new cars, automatic parking, intelligent cockpit, voice control, etc., and various fashionable concepts emerge in an endless stream.
We believe that the BMW i3 car must be aimed at BMW fans, and can only dig customers in this customer base.
Of course, the words must also be heard from both sides. BMW knows better than all that it is unrealistic to blindly be carried down to their field by the public opinion of the new car to fight with them, so the product positioning of BMW Brilliance electric i3 has become what it is now - China's special supply, on the eve of electrification, it is bmw's vanguard, and the completion is a phased task; in the confrontation with the new car, we must have the courage to ignore their pulling and abide by their own advantages; and in the horizontal comparison with their own products, it must not be so abrupt. You can't break the sales volume and price system of your own product camp.
Some people may have been confused, and many car companies themselves may be confused, but this is also where traditional car companies twist when they fully promote electric products.
Source: BMW official website
We all know that manipulation is the soul of BMW. So in this era when it is difficult to define the personality of electric vehicles, it is necessary for BMW to continue to consolidate such a label on the i3.
So we see that on the BMW Brilliance i3, a model, a configuration, the i3 eDrive 35L was finally priced at 349,900 yuan, which was 50,000 yuan lower than the 399,900 yuan that the BMW iX3 later adjusted the official price.
In terms of architecture, of course, we do not have to argue whether this is a "oil to electricity" platform, although BMW officials have repeatedly emphasized that CLAR is a general platform for oil and electricity, with certain advantages over other products, but we must also admit that it is not a pure electric platform developed to meet the electric era. According to official information, BMW's new generation model platform is estimated to have to wait for several years. Now, it is a "oil to electricity".
Compared to the four-door coupe i4, the BMW i3 is a more regular sedan. We also actually took a ride, it has a space that is more in line with the positioning of household products, and the oil car has a similar positioning, and as a domestic BMW, it is also an extended version preferred by the Chinese.
Next is the process of BMW i3 "oil to electricity".
For example, the front-mounted engine was removed and replaced by a rear-mounted motor. A single motor is set in the rear, with a specification of 210kW/400N·m, and a time of 0-100km/h is 6.2 seconds. Equipped with a 70-degree ternary lithium battery pack, it achieves a CLTC endurance of 526km.
But perhaps because the motor, which did not belong there, encroached on the position of the rear axle, it was necessary to make some adjustments to the chassis.
The new i3 also features HRS hydraulic rebound damping technology for the front and rear suspensions, and for the first time, the rear axle is equipped with an adaptive air suspension that does not belong to this class. In order to ensure the overall rigidity of the body, the rear chassis of the vehicle is also equipped with a rear anti-roll bar, and in the position of the front load compartment of many electric vehicles, the front shock top tie rod is used instead. BMW also said that this also improves the rigidity of the overall body.
We can clearly see that we lost the front trunk due to the problem of "oil to electricity" itself, but BMW's idea is to make up for it with handling performance.
For example, the 70-degree ternary lithium battery pack placed on the chassis also lowered the center of gravity of the i3 by 44 mm compared to the 3 Series, expanded the front and rear wheelbase, and equipped with a DSC dynamic stabilization system including the ARB anti-slip stability control unit. At this point, BMW's caliber provides better traction and grip for the vehicle, giving the new car a better performance and over-bending stance. However, the publicity is also less than the description of the 50:50 ratio, and I think the real driving experience still needs to wait for the vehicle to be evaluated after getting started.
In order to enhance its product performance, many features of the next generation of BMW's redesigned 3 series have taken the lead in the current i3. This is good news.
Source: BMW official website
The appearance of the new i3 has some differences from the current 3 Series. The new i3 3D stereoscopic effect LED headlights have a new internal and external structure, the "Angel Eye" headlights have evolved, the new eyebrow design, the double kidney grille with increased contour, and the bracketing style have also been upgraded. The lower lines on the side of the body have also been heavily modified to "sporty", and the new style of "shark gills" deflector and "L" shaped lines complement the sharp waistline, further optimizing the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle.
Source: BMW official website
Of course, there are still many people who will complain about its price. We also think it may be a little more expensive at this stage, but I believe that in the near future, the BMW i3 is likely to have the same discount as the iX3 today.
Therefore, it must be admitted that this is the current stage, and now in this product system, BMW can pile up all the configurations on the i3, and it is not realistic to want BMW to break through such a positioning in the group system to transform the product.
This is the BMW Brilliance i3, and those who shout ET5 vs i3 may not even think about this car. But for those fans who have a BMW brand bonus and shout "life can't go around a 3 series" every day, this may be a delicious feast.
*Images are from BMW official
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