BMW RELEASES NEW DETAILS ON UPCOMING I3 ELECTRIC CAR

The hotly anticipated 2014 BMW i3 electric car is set to be revealed on July 29. If eighteen days seems like too long to wait, you're in luck, as BMW has released a slew of new details on the vehicle, including a ballpark price and on-sale date.

The rear-wheel drive electric car will be powered by a rear-mounted electric motor, which BMW says will produce 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. With moderate driving, the i3 should be able to go 80 to 100 miles on a full charge. BMW says using the i3's ECO PRO setting, which greatly increases regenerative braking, can improve range by as much as 12 percent.
The i3 will also be available with a range-extending engine, which will keep the battery powered after it is depleted below a certain level. It's a similar powertrain strategy to that employed by the extended-range electric Chevrolet Volt.
BMW has included some impressive connectivity features with this car as well. For instance, an embedded SIM card unlocks a world of exclusive apps for navigation, concierge and emergency services that make EV transportation as easy as possible. One interesting feature we're looking forward to testing is the intermodal route planning, which includes options for public transportation, in addition to driving, when planning a trip in your i3.
The i3 will also come with the BMW iRemote app, which will allow owners to remotely access all kinds of information. With iRemote, drivers can turn on heat/AC, send their car a driving route, get charging information and find EV charging stations from their smartphones.