BMW Australia has ushered-in the all-electric i sub-brand with the first BMW i3 arriving downunder.
The i3 city car goes on-sale locally in July next year and will be followed a few months later by the stunning i8 sports car.
Both have received more than 1,000 enquiries from potential customers with BMW Australia holding several deposits for the i8 – even though pricing for both cars has not been finalized.
BMW says the i sub-brand is an iconic change for the company and, having sampled the i3, we agree this is the most compelling concept yet for electric vehicles.
The German giant has taken a holistic approach to its i brand cars – these are not hybrids, they’re purpose-built electric vehicles with a totally sustainable platform (how they’re made, the materials used and recyclability.
Production of the i3 and i8 has now commenced at BMW Leipzig plant which uses 100 per-cent wind-generated electric power and consumes 50 per-cent less energy and 70 per-cent less water than conventional vehicle assembly facilities.
At the heart of the BMW i3 is BMW’s ‘LifeDrive’ vehicle architecture – a passenger cell in carbon-fibre (some deliberately unpainted and raw inside) and lightweight aluminium chassis and drivetrain. All-up weight is just 1,195kgs.
Doors are opposing ‘coach’ doors (there is no B-pillar) and the lithium-ion battery pack is mounted low for space-efficiency and optimized ride/handling.
Power comes from a 125kW/250Nm electric motor mounted under the rear hatch and driving the rear wheels. As per other electric vehicles, maximum torque is delivered instantaneously, allowing rapid acceleration.
The battery is backed by an eight year/100,000 kms warranty.
You can option a ‘range-extender’ 25kW 0.65-litre, two-cylinder petrol engine which sits alongside the electric motor and used purely to charge the battery. Normal range is 130-160kms but the ‘range-extender doubles that.
While the BMW i3 was conceived as a ‘mega-city’ vehicle, mega-cities are defined as those with populations in excess of 20-million. BMW Australia points-out that half of the world’s population lives in cities and while Australia doesn’t have any cities with those sort of numbers, peak-hour congestion in Sydney and Melbourne, combined with our new city-based lifestyle combine to provide ideal conditions for the i3 to be enjoyed by local buyers.
For example the diminutive 9.86-metre turning circle makes city driving and parking a breeze.
Measuring 3,999mm in length, the i3 exhibits the hallmark BMW design philosophy – with some twists. The hallmark ‘kidney grille’ has no air vents and the U-shaped lights front and rear and high-gloss black front hood (replacing the bonnet) are unique to i brand vehicles.
Storage is impressive – there’s 35-litres in a compartment where the normal bonnet would be and 260-litres is available with the rear seat in-place or 1100-litres when folded.
The driving environment is dominated by two high-resolution monitors – a 5.5-inch screen straight in front with vehicle information and a 10.3-inch screen centre dashboard with secondary information such as the satellite navigation screen and reversing camera image. Interior materials feature naturally treated leather, wood, wool and other renewable/recycled elements while retaining the premium character which is the BMW DNA.
The expected BMW technology is all there including adaptive cruise control and active lane-keeping assistance.
Each i3 has a SIM card which unlocks BMW’s ConnectedDrive services (still being developed for Australia but includes an I-phone app which enables remote management of the vehicle).
For home re-charging customers can order an i brand wallbox which enables complete re-charging in six hours.
As far as public re-charge points are concerned, interestingly feedback from trials in Germany swung strongly in favour of home charging but the public DC ‘fast charging’ points do allow the i3 to be fully re-charged in under 30 minutes.
BMW has yet to discuss with government incentives for buying electric vehicles. In the UK, buyers of I brand vehicles are eligible for a £5,000 rebate. As a starting point, BMW says i brand buyers here should be eligible for free tolls and free parking.
There’s no doubt with people becoming increasingly socially responsible and believing in sustainability, the BMW i3 (and later the i8) with their combination of truly visionary mobility services and inspiring design and the best electric vehicles to date. The ‘new’ premium? Yes, for sure.
