Not even a week passed since the BMW i3S was unveiled and the marketing team is already hard at work trying to show its strengths. The new i3S comes with some interesting upgrades compared to the regular i3 but does that turn it into a proper dragster? Likely not, but you know what car was and still is used as a reference point on the 1/4 mile strip? The Dodge Charger, of course.
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Needless to say that if a BMW i3S were to drag race a modern-day Camaro, the advantage of the electric car would probably last for about a second but nonetheless, the video we’re looking at here is just trying to prove a point and it does so ingeniously. Of course, looking at the specs of the cars will show that this isn’t a far fetched experiment and that this could very well be the end result of a drag race between the two but then again, it’s not fair to compare a 21st century car with one that was built in the 1970s.
The BMW i3S comes with a couple of improvements over its ‘regular’ brother. The S has a 40mm wider track and sits 10mm lower. At the same time, the electric motor on board is different, sending out 184 HP and 270 Nm (200 lb-ft) of torque to the wider wheels the i3S comes with. The end result is a car that reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.9 seconds, 0.4 seconds faster than its brother. However, as the video points out, the most impressive acceleration bout happens up to 60 km/h (37 mph), a speed reached in just 3.7 seconds.
Therefore, while back in the day the Charger would seep fear into the hearts of those lining up against it, when it comes to electric cars, even an i3 doesn’t shy away from challenging it.
The Fun of driving the i3.
It’s the ultimate sleeper.
It kills in traffic.
Far more fun then to be driving the Dodge.
Far more fun than to be driving a six speed manual Porsche. The i3 just Kills in city suburban driving.
These cars were not designed for modern cities, they need to be where they’re designed to be, on a drag strip or Watkins Glenn.
What an utterly moronic video!!
It’s still too slow and barely improving anything from the i3. At least the styling was much better here (compared to the red one).
Maybe the response and lack of instant torque is improved? Because that’s not very good in the i3, if we’re being honest. It may be quick, but there’s a huge delay and a soft start unlike other electric cars.
“but then again, it’s not fair to compare a 21st century car with one that was built in the 1970s.”
Except, ya know, it’s a ’69 Charger… (so a few were built “in 1970” until the ’70 model came out…)
That said, If a modern car CAN’T outrun a car built 48 years ago… then there is something wrong. The idea that “a modern car is better because it’ll outrun your old muscle car” is silly. I would expect a new car to outrun an old one… thankfully the Charger will always be more cool…