{"id":112851,"date":"2026-03-06T03:13:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T06:13:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automotive.einnews.com\/article\/897566163"},"modified":"2026-03-06T03:13:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T06:13:34","slug":"2027-bmw-i3-prototype-drive-mule-gauge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/03\/06\/2027-bmw-i3-prototype-drive-mule-gauge\/","title":{"rendered":"2027 BMW i3 Prototype Drive: Mule Gauge"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Along with its moose and reindeer populations, Arjeplog, Sweden, is home to a healthy number of mules. Not the sort that comes from breeding a horse and a donkey, but the camouflaged prototype vehicles automakers employ during the development phase of a new model or technology. <\/p>\n

The Swedish locality is a cold-weather testing hub for several automakers and industry suppliers, including Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW. The latter brand first began testing in the area in the 1970s, eventually opening a dedicated testing center in the vicinity in 2006. The 69-acre facility sits a stone’s throw away from Lake Kakel. It’s a sizable body of water that freezes over in the coldest months of the year, at which point its surface serves as an ice track that further supports vehicle testing.<\/p>\n

This lakeside site is where BMW brought us to get an early drive of the upcoming battery-electric i3<\/a> sports sedan, which is kin to the iX3 SUV<\/a>. We were let loose in a fleet of disguised i3 50 xDrive prototypes wearing 19-inch wheels wrapped in Hankook iON i*cept winter tires over snow-covered roads and a handling course laid out on the ice. <\/p>\n

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For Sale Near You<\/h3>\n

See all results for new 2027 i3 for sale<\/a><\/span> near 20147<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"2027View Photos<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
BMW<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

The all-wheel-drive i3 has the same 463-hp dual-motor powertrain as an equivalent iX3, and it should also have a similar battery as the SUV, which gets a 112-kWh pack good for an estimated 400 miles of EPA range. The i3 does receive its own chassis setup that better aligns with the more engaging handling dynamics long associated with the 3-series model line, plus its lower center of gravity and less mass versus the iX3 ought to aid its agility. <\/p>\n

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