World premiere for BMW's electrifying i3

The BMW i3 has been officially unveiled in its final production form, via a glitzy ceremony that was broadcast simultaneously in London, Beijing and New York.

Master of ceremonies was BMW's Dr Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the board of management, and the event ran over three hours.

Such an occasion signals the importance of the i3 to BMW. With European markets applying increasingly stringent emissions legislation in coming years, low-emissions or even zero-emissions cars – as in the case of the i3 – will be an important element of any manufacturer's product range.

The new EV, as we reported last week, is still around 12 months away from a local retail launch, but Aussies will get a chance to see the EV at the Melbourne Marathon, less than three months from now.

It's yet to be announced whether the i3 will be available to purchase in Australia or leased to customers. BMW Australia may choose to offer both options. Should it be leased to local customers rather than sold, motoring.com.au has been told that the monthly lease payments will be based on a projected price range from $50,000 to $70,000. Those prices reflect the likely inclusion of both Pure EV and plug-in variants of the i3 for the local product range.

The electric drivetrain will be the same in both cars. BMW claims that the 125kW/250Nm motor mounted in the rear can propel the i3 to a top speed of 150km/h and knock off a 0-100km/h time in 7.9 seconds. The plug-in model also features a 650ccm twin-cylinder petrol engine to recharge the lithium-ion battery pack, which is liquid-cooled.

As of this month, BMW claims to have received almost 1000 enquiries concerning the i3 and its more exotic sibling, the i8 coupe.

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