BMW's new electric car, the i3, has been officially unveiled in a series of lavish simultaneous presentations in London, New York and Beijing.
The i3 is the first model in BMW's new 'i' sub-brand which BMW will use to market its future range of electric and alternative fuel vehicles.
Remaining faithful to the i3 concept which was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2011, the production i3 will be unveiled to the public at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.
Priced from £30,680 (minus the £5,000 Government electric car grant), the i3 will be available to UK buyers from £25,680. British customers will also have the choice to get the i3 on a three-year leasing scheme which will allow them to get behind the wheel for a £2,995 deposit and monthly repayments of £2,995.
The i3 is available to order now; however, the first cars won't reach UK buyers until 16 November.
Unlike most alternative fuel vehicles which are available either as hybrids or fully-electric cars, the i3 will be offered to buyers with a choice of both technologies. The fully-electric i3 uses a 168bhp electric motor with 184lb-ft of torque, giving a 0-62mph time of 7.2 seconds and a top speed of 93mph.
BMW claims that the electric i3 will be good for 80-100 miles on a single charge; however, if you're looking for extra range, the i3 range extender hybrid could be a good choice. It mates a 34bhp 650cc two-cylinder motorbike engine to the 168bhp electric motor, keeping the batteries topped up on the go and extending the car's range to between 160 and 186 miles. Despite the extra power, the range extender weighs considerably more than the electric car, extending the 0-62mph time to 7.9 seconds.
Prices for the range-extender model start from £28,830 (including the Government grant).
Of course, recharging time is the major bugbear with an electric car. BMW claims that the i3 can be fully recharged in between 8 and 10 hours from a standard 230V household socket. Find a public recharging point and BMW claims that the battery can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in less than half an hour.
The i3 will be available in four trim levels: Standard, Loft, Lodge and the top-spec Suite. All cabins get wood trim and leather upholstery, along with a special sat-nav system which shows the driver where the nearest recharging points are.
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