Skip to main content

Photos: BMW i3 Concept Coupe

BMW will unveil the third model in its line of “Project i” vehicles at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week. It will be a two-door version of the i3 electric city car but, despite previous reports suggesting it would be called i4, the new concept car will be named i3 Concept Coupe.

Other than removing two doors, turning the five-door i3 hatchback into the Concept Coupe didn’t require much. The wheelbase remains the same, so what little rear legroom there was in the original i3 should be preserved. Bucket seats replace the i3 five-door’s rear bench, and they feature backrests that are molded into the trim panels.

The most unusual styling feature is definitely the rear quarter window, which looks like a pixelated teardrop. It’s hard to see what purpose the kinks in the window’s horizontal lines serve, but they do make the Concept Coupe look distinctive.

The newest i3 concept also wears striking metallic orange paint, which contrasts nicely with the car’s black trim. It makes the Concept Coupe look more like a production car and less like part of an Apple Store display.

The interior is the exact opposite; the gray-on-gray color scheme is pretty boring. The rest of the interior is basically the same as the original i3’s, including the eight-inch LCD touch screen.

The i3 Concept Coupe also features the same powertrain as the i3 five-door. It’s a 170 horsepower electric motor, driving the rear wheels. The lithium-ion battery pack should give all versions of the i3 roughly 100 miles of range per charge.

BMW first showed the i3 at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, and revised version has been making the rounds at auto shows. Pre-LA Show chatter suggested that a new iteration of the i3 would appear, but BMW has apparently decided not to apply the same numbering scheme it uses for its other coupes, all of which are even-numbered (4 Series, X4, etc.)

The i3 will be accompanied by the i8, a plug-in hybrid supercar that uses the small hatchback’s electric motor to drive its front wheels, and a 1.5-liter, turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine with 223 hp to power its rear wheels and charge the batteries.

BMW did not say whether the i3 Concept Coupe will be produced, but it seems like a logical next step. BMW is coupe crazy; it’s turned everything from the 3 Series sedan to the X5 crossover into coupes. With its minimal sheet metal changes, the i3 Concept Coupe would give BMW another “i” model at a relatively low cost.

However, that similarity could make the i3 Coupe less appealing to actual buyers, who go for coupes because of their evocative styling. The i3 Concept Coupe doesn’t really have that, teardrop window or not.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
BMW i4 brings the ultimate driving machine into EV territory
2022 bmw i4 electric sedan unveiled with 530 horsepower

BMW introduced the i4, its smartest and most futuristic sedan to date. Fully electric, connected, and powerful, it's a toned-down version of the Concept i4 developed to give buyers a battery-powered alternative to the 3 Series.

Like the design study, which was presented online in March 2020, the production model wears a giant grille that will fuel chatter for months on end. Some will love it, some will hate it; what's certain is that it won't go unnoticed. BMW is applying this styling cue across its range, and its market research reveals buyers like the more assertive look.

Read more
The pros and cons of electric vehicles
electric vehicles pros and cons car plugin getty feat

Largely fueled by government regulations, the electric vehicle (EV) segment is growing on a regular basis in many markets around the world. Most carmakers are developing at least a couple of battery-powered models, and many already have at least one in their portfolio. If you've never driven an electric car, let alone owned one, there are a few things to keep in mind before giving up gasoline for good. Here are the pros and cons of living with an EV.
Pro: They're cheaper to maintain
Electric cars are considerably more expensive than comparable gas-powered models, but you'll spend less money to keep one on the road. They're built with fewer moving parts, which reduces the likelihood of something breaking. Plus, the regular maintenance your gasoline-powered car needs to run smoothly (oil changes, fluid flushes, and the like) is no longer necessary. The biggest expense with EVs is the eventual need for a battery replacement, which will come with a four-digit price tag. Still, you should be able to get many miles out of your EV before that becomes an issue.

Oil changes, fluid flushes, and the like are no longer necessary.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more