BMW i3 from $60K

BMW has launched its first electric car and, based on pricing structures announced for the US and Europe, the i3 will be priced from about $60,000 when it goes on sale in Australia next July.

It will be offered alongside a ‘REx’ range-extender version priced under $70,000 and expected to comprise half of all i3 sales globally and in Australia.

Contrary to our previous report, BMW Group Australia has also confirmed the i3 will be available in the same manner as any other BMW vehicle – via outright purchase or through leasing or finance plans such as BMW ‘Full Circle’ program.

The i3 REx is fitted with a 650cc twin-cylinder motorcycle engine that almost doubles the car’s driving range, from 160 to 300km. However, it also adds about 120kg to the weight of the i3, reducing its claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time from 7.2 to 7.9 seconds.

Three equipment grades are likely to be available for both powertrains in Australia, meaning six variants in total priced up to about $80,000 – before options.

Four i3 model grades (atelier, Loft, Lodge and Suite) will be available in Europe from November 16, differentiated only by interior cosmetic treatments, but it’s unlikely Europe’s entry-level grade will be offered in Australia.

The Loft presents a light-coloured interior with textile trim made from 100 per cent recycled raw materials for the seats and door liners, plus a grey leather-clad steering wheel with BMW i Blue insert.

The Lodge adds a dash-top trim strip made from eucalyptus wood, coarse-grain light grey leather seat and door trim and upgraded instruments. The top-spec Suite models adds Dalbergia Brown leather trim for the seats, centre console and door armrests, plus Satin Silver steering wheel trim.

Australian specifications are yet to be decided, but all i3s will come well equipped, with standard specifications including Professional satellite-navigation, a 10.2-inch floating central colour monitor and iDrive controller, USB/AUX/Bluetooth connectivity, 20GB hard-drive, climate-control air-conditioning, an electric parking brake, power windows/mirrors, rear parking sensors, remote central locking and a domestic charging cable.

In addition, all i3s come with 19-inch forged-alloy wheels with narrow 155/70-section Bridgestone Ecopia low-resistance tyres and a built-in SIM card providing access to a suite of BMW ConnectedDrive services, the extent of which is still being finalised for Australia.

In Europe, in conjunction with the BMW i Remote smartphone app, it will direct drivers to their nearest public charging station, provide route planning including local public transport connections and offer a range of remote services including battery charge information and cabin/battery pre-conditioning.

Of course, there’s a host of both stand-alone and grouped options, some of which may be standard in Australia.

Individual options include 20-inch wheels, a reversing camera, sunroof, sun-protection glazing, heated front seats, Comfort Access, digital radio receiver, a 360-Watt/13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and LED headlights, side lights and daytime running lights.

Option packs include Driving Assistant Plus comprising radar cruise control with stop function, Traffic Jam Assistant, Speed Limit Info, Collision Warning, Pedestrian Warning (both up to 60km/h) and Proactive Driving Assistant with active steering assistance.

There’s also a Comfort Package with radar cruise, auto-dimming mirrors, front centre armrest, multi-function steering wheel buttons, automatic headlights and wipers and extra storage solutions.

BMW hopes to sell at least 15,000 and up to 30,000 i3s a year worldwide and supplies will be strictly limited following strong pre-orders globally.

Only about 200 examples will find their way Down Under next year, available initially only via special BMW i retailers in Sydney and Melbourne.

BMW Australia has received more than 2000 expressions of interest for both the i3 and i8, a plug-in hybrid super-coupe due here by the end of 2014.

BMW held the i3 international launch this week in Amsterdam, where there are 97 electric vehicle charging stations. Australia has just three public EV fast-chargers – two in Melbourne and one in Adelaide.

BMW Australia says it is investigating the full suite of charging-specific options, which in Europe will include a Wallbox home charger (expected to cost between $1200 and $1500 here, plus installation), the more advanced Wallbox Pro, a ‘Solar Carport (€14,000) and 20kW lithium-ion storage battery (€20,000).

While the i3 takes eight hours to recharge via a standard household power outlet, the Wallbox home charging station reduces that to three hours and the Wallbox Pro is even faster and can draw power from existing solar panels, but pricing is yet to be confirmed.

BMW says the solar carport can generate enough power to charge the car for 25,000km a year, even in Europe.

BMW also hopes to offer the full suite of '360° Electric' support services for the i3, which comes standard with a SIM card that connects to BMW’s back-end server to advise the driver of critical charge and infrastructure information.

Taking into account real-time traffic, weather, time of day/week, topography and driving style data, the system assesses the car’s ability to reach a destination entered into its navigation with the battery charge remaining and advises its driver via the car’s large central monitor or a smartphone app.

If a given destination cannot be reached, drivers are directed to the nearest charging station and provided with alternative transport solutions including real-time schedules for buses, trams and trains.

In Europe, BMW has also linked with ChargePoint to provide a 100 per cent renewable recharging option, but no such power supplier yet exists in Australia, where electricity is almost exclusively coal-powered.

Also yet to be confirmed for Australia is Europe’s Flexible Mobility service, via which owners can borrow a conventional BMW for occasions such as a long-distance holiday.

The i3’s liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery comes with an eight-year, 100,000km warranty and operates most efficiently at temperatures between 18 and 24 degrees.

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