• New range features improved handling and technology
• New i3s adds a sportier, more powerful option to the list
• Both i3 and i3s available with optional range extender petrol engine
• LED headlights and SatNav now standard across the i3 range
• Available to order now from £34,070

IF you were considering the BMW i3 as your next company car then now is the time to get one. Even if you weren’t considering the BMW i3 as your next company car then now is still the time to get one.

BMW has announced today that the i3 is set for a major refresh and the updated models will be revealed at next months Frankfurt Motor Show.

Incidentally BMW has also said they are available to order from August 2017, a few weeks before they are officially unveiled.  As there are only two days of August 2017 remaining we think that technically means the new i3 is on sale right now.

The updated BMW i3 range features a bit more power, updated chassis technology, enhanced handling, and new design touches.

The extra power comes in the form of the new i3s. This is a sportier version with a 184bhp electric motor – as opposed to the 170bhp motor in the standard i3 – and modified drive system. It’s not a huge increase but it’s enough to make the i3s a little more responsive. The new version is also lower and wider than the regular i3, comes with exclusive 20-inch alloys, and boasts uprated sports suspension.

Both the i3 and i3s are available with the optional range extender petrol engine to make longer journeys more practical without hammering the economic reasons for choosing one in the first place. Emissions figures range from zero to around 15g/km depending on whether you opt for the range extender. BMW figures suggest that the fuel consumption of the range extender versions hovers somewhere around the equivalent of 400mpg.

Both models also feature an improved traction control system that improves stability and traction. The updated BMW i3 is not a sports car by any stretch of the imagination but improving the handling isn’t always about getting around a corner faster. It also makes for a more comfortable experience.

The design touches in the refreshed BMW i3 and i3s are as subtle as the changes beneath the surface. The front and rear have been restyled to emphasise the width and give a sportier look. LED headlights are now standard across the i3 range. There are also lots of little contours and inlays that serve to enhance the look and feel of the BMW i3. You can even choose from a wider range of colours.

The interior remains light and airy but with a few new trim options now available. A range of driver assistance features are now also available on the BMW i3 and include park assistance, traffic jam assistance, as well as a wider range of safety systems such as active cruise control and speed limit information.

The updated BMW i3 also boasts an updated version of the iDrive system with improved voice control and On-Street parking information service. As well as improving connectivity every i3 will now come with the BMW Navigation system Professional as standard.

Obviously we were joking when we said you should get the new BMW i3 even if you don’t want one. A relatively small, electric car is not going to be suitable for everyone.

But if that is what you are looking for then the updated BMW i3 really is an excellent place to start. A starting place that just got a little bit better.