PROTOTYPE: BMW’s i3 concept
BMW’s all-new i3 – one of the most eagerly-anticipated cars in the manufacturer’s history – will be priced from £25,680 when hitting the UK in November.
The price structure means that customers can also grab an i3 on a 36month, 24,000mile lease for an initial £2,995, followed by monthly instalments of £369.
Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing at BMW, said: “The BMW i3 heralds the dawn of a new era for individual mobility and for the BMW Group.
“True to a genuine BMW, the BMW i3 has strong emotional appeal, outstanding product substance and a guarantee of sheer driving pleasure.
“With this leading-edge vehicle and compelling price, we will provide customers with an attractive offer for electromobility.”
The BMW i3 comes as standard with AC Fast Charging, which sees a 7.4Kw charge power-up the BMW i3 from 0-80% within three hours.
This can be performed by the optional BMW i Wallbox, created to give customers ‘a comprehensive and premium sustainable mobility experience’.
Installation will be provided at the customer’s home and ‘green’ power options will be offered via selected BMW i partners, for emission-free home charging.
AC Fast Charging is also the most widespread public charging option in the UK.
Occasional charging can also be performed using a pre-supplied cable, fitting a standard household socket at 3.7Kw, when a 32Amp AC Fast Charging port is not available.
Charging this way takes eight to ten hours.
DC Fast Charging is the third and final option available to owners, allowing a BMW i3 to charge 80% in 30minutes to one hour.
It uses a 50Kw connection to do this and is the best option for public locations where quick short charges are required.
The price for the 180mile range extender version, featuring an additional 650cc two-cylinder petrol engine, will be announced at a later date.
It will premiere on July 29 at parallel events in London, New York and Beijing.
Bob Garner
( Thursday, July 25, 2013 - 14:15 )
This is not as good a specification at launch as the Ampera or Volt which I drove recently at 100mph at Millbrook ……I also drove the hill course so a total of about 15 miles with zero fuel consumption.
The benefit of the two vehicles mentioned is, no ‘range anxiety’ due to the fact they already have the small petrol engine ready to re-charge as you drive ,and whats more…..they are great cars , good to drive and very well put together.