BMW’s new approach to sustainable vehicles has seen its i3 model put on display at the LCV2013 event at Millbrook, before the car prepares for a wider public release at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
According to the manufacturer, the car is the first premium-segment car to be powered by an electric drive system in the world.
Some 2,000 visitors to the LCV2013 show were able to get up close and personal with the new car, which BMW has described as “revolutionary”.
Among the visitors was UK transport minister Norman Baker, who announced that the BMW i3 will be eligible for the Plug-in Car Grant offered by the government.
This will make the first premium, zero-emission vehicle affordable to motorists in the first instance, while also offering environmental benefits in the long-term.
The UK could soon be a key market for the BMW i3, says UK general manager for BMW Suzanne Gray, adding that BMW is working alongside the government and city authorities to bring a new vehicle which is appropriate for urban mobility for both the driver and the environment.
Minister Baker said the UK should not have to wait for future technologies, as vehicles like the i3 prove it is available for consumers now.
The BMW i3 provides 170hp and can get from 0 to 62mph in just 7.2 seconds, reaching a top speed of 93mph. Peak torque of 250NM is also on-demand instantly. Perhaps more importantly for the eco-conscious among us, the i3 produces 0 grams of CO2 emissions per kilometre.
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