Last 18 units of the BMW i3 delivered; paves way for the next-gen model

KUALA LUMPUR: The final 18 units of the BMW i3s were delivered at a special event at BMW Welt, thus making it a special moment for one of the pioneers of vehicle electrification.

In its nine years of life-cycle over 250,000 BMW i3s were manufactured and it has been sold in more than 74 countries globally (including the i3).

Coming back to the last 18 BMW i3s, they all were painted in Galvanic Gold Metallic hue with Glossy Black trims on a few panels. The cars were delivered to a single Munich-based car rental company called CarVia. These cars would be offered by the company on a per day basis for EUR 44.10.

A little bit about the BMW i3s -

The BMW i3s is a five-seater, B-segment, high-roof hatch manufactured by BMW and sold globally in over 74 countries. Although the name ‘i3’ was bestowed upon a China-exclusive EV version of the 3 Series, the car never actually made it to the People’s Republic.

Powering the EV is a 33.2 kWh battery that offers a range of up to 245 km. The single e-motor generates a maximum power of 185 hp along with a peak torque of 270 Nm. The drive is sent to the rear wheels via a single-speed transmission. The setup allows the car to complete a century sprint in 6.9 seconds and has a limited top speed of 160 kmph.

The Malaysian-spec model retailed for RM 278,800 and included the following features as standard -

• 20-inch Style 431 BMW i light alloy five-double-spoke wheels
• Suicide doors
• A 5.7-inch coloured TFT LCD display for the instrument cluster
• A 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with BMW
• Navigation System Professional
• Dark Truffle Vernasca leather upholstery
• Sports Suspension

BMW’s future plans -

BMW plans to take forward the ‘i3’ name with the global electric BMW 3 Series that is set to make a debut in 2025. Sitting on the brand’s Neue Klasse platform, the upcoming EV will launch along with a ‘sporty’ EV SUV which is rumoured to be the next-gen BMW iX3.

Also Read: Upcoming 2023 BMW i7 previewed in Malaysia; pre-bookings open