Always associated with great engines and great performance, BMW launches forcefully into the electric market, populated - at least in the collective imagination - by small cars with little power and dubious aesthetics. The bet of the German house is called i3, it has a 170 horsepower heart and a high voltage battery that allows you to travel up to 160 kilometers on a single charge, which can be done with a normal electric cable at home or in charging stations public. And for those who don't trust the electric completely, it is possible to have – as an option – an additional 34 horsepower gas engine which extends the range up to 300 kilometres.
But we don't live on green innovations alone. Fans of remote control via smartphone will be able to download an application (for iPhone and Android) which tracks the charge level, battery conditions, location and service messages.
The BMW i3 will go on sale in Europe in November with a starting price of 34,950 euros. An interesting and innovative position within a market that knows no half measures, between the expensive Tesla and the less refined and cheaper Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt. But the German company's move could soon have formidable competitors in the luxury category: Mercedes Benz and Audi are already getting organized. Meanwhile, the Munich car manufacturer is not standing idly by and is already revealing a few details about the new i8, a hybrid sports car. And Mini, controlled by BMW, is also field testing the electric version of the historic two-seater: the Mini E.
