BMW Reveals Pre-Production i3 EV Coupe

BMW AG is using this week's Los Angeles auto show to present a near-production coupe version of the i3 electric car it aims to introduce sometime next year.

The original i3, a sedan with impractical glass a roof and doors, debuted in concept form at the Frankfurt show a year ago. The coupe is a two-door hatch with a van-like profile and seating for four.

The new iteration is 13 feet long, 5.8 feet wide and 5.1 feet tall, making it wider and lower than the original i3 concept. Both cars have the same 101-inch wheelbase.

The i3 coupe's modular construction consists of a carbon-reinforced plastic passenger cell atop an aluminum chassis. The car has no B-pillars and is fitted with rear side windows that dip low to give rear-seat passengers a better view.

Like the earlier concept, the coupe's rear wheels are driven by BMW's "eDrive" system. The powertrain includes a company-developed electric motor that makes 170 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Power comes from a lithium-ion battery located under the floor. BMW has not revealed the battery's capacity but says the i3 coupe can travel about 100 miles per charge.

The coupe's instrumentation centers on two interactive displays similar to those in the i3 sedan: a 6.5-inch screen atop the steering column and an 8.8-inch navigation screen in the center of the dash.