BMW's compact hybrid the i3 will be offered in pure electric form from later this year.
The EV model will be offered here along with an upgraded Range Extender variant during the second half of this year.
The revised i3 models will sell from $74,300 plus on-road costs for the pure electric model, or $85,300 plus on-road costs with the Range Extender, increasing the range of the model from 190 kilometres to around 300 kilometres.
The BMW Group New Zealand managing director Florian Renndorfer said the addition of the pure electric i3 demonstrated the firm's commitment to sustainability.
Both new BMW i3s feature a significant improvement in range capability, thanks to a larger-capacity lithium-ion battery pack. An increase from 60Ah to 94Ah has been realised, enabling the electric i3 to increase range from 190km to 300km, according to the European NEDC standard.
‘Real-world’ range, for example when driving in inclement weather with the audio and air-conditioning systems running, offers around 200km from a single electric charge.
The new 33kWh battery system (29kWh useable) system feeds a rear-mounted electric motor that produces 125kW and an instantaneous 250Nm torque peak, delivered to the rear wheels.
This enables the new BMW i3 to achieve the benchmark 0-100km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds, or 8.1 seconds in the Range Extender variant. Electricity consumption is 12.6kWh/100km (NEDC), which BMW says makes the i3 the most efficient electric vehicle in its segment.
The battery pack is rated at 33kWh (29kWh useable), up from 22kWh. Importantly, the pack can be replenished via a regular household AC socket and supplied cable, or through public charging stations.
For the first time in New Zealand, future-proof DC charging capability is also included as standard equipment on the new BMW i3 range. This system is capable of providing charge to 80 per cent capacity in around 40 minutes.
The charging connection on both BMW i3 variants are of the Type 1 (SAE J1772) standard, and DC charging is achieved through the same connector port utilising the Combined Charging System (CCS) standard.
Opting for the i3 with Range Extender adds a further 150km range (for a total 450km), thanks to its 650cc two-cylinder petrol engine which replenishes the battery charge while on the move. The new battery pack occupies the same space as before, retaining the packaging and 260L luggage capacity of the current vehicle in either variant.
The new BMW i3 range offers as standard 19-inch light-alloy wheels, headlights with LED elements, Navigation system, reversing camera and Parking Assistant, BMW ConnectedDrive technology, automatic air conditioning and the ‘Atelier’ interior theme. The BMW i3 with Range Extender adds such features the ‘Lodge’ interior theme, Navigation system Professional, and a revised 19-inch light-alloy wheel style.
As with all BMW vehicles sold new in New Zealand, both BMW i3 variants are standard with a full BMW ConnectedDrive suite of technologies including Real Time Traffic Information, Concierge Service, BMW Online connectivity and Intelligent Emergency Call. Remote Services is also included as standard equipment, allowing charging activation and the viewing of charge status, interior preconditioning to heat or cool the vehicle, and a number of selected functions to all be controlled remotely via Smartphone.