BMW will unveil a facelifted 2018 i3 at this fall's Frankfurt auto show, where the Bavarian company is expected to reveal a "hot hatch" variant of the EV called the i3S.
According to the UK's Autocar magazine, details are sketchy, but they have it on good authority from a source that a new range-topping model will boast a new electric motor cranking out more than the current one's 168 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque.
The current car manages a seven-second zero-to-96 km/h (60 mph) acceleration sprint (per Car and Driver magazine), which matches the Ford Fiesta ST, so bolting a more potent power source to the rear wheels would push BMW's little EV quite firmly into hot-hatch territory.
The 2018 update will also bring minor styling tweaks to details like headlights, taillights and bumpers, and Autocar says it expects a new dashboard and infotainment system, too.
No word on whether the 2018 tweaks will add driving range; BMW sells the current model with two battery options, good for 130 and 200 km of range, respectively.
Watch for the new i3's official reveal the second week of September, just ahead of the Frankfurt auto show's opening.
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