BMW’s first mainstream electric model, the BMW i3, has enjoyed extensive success overseas and can now lay claim to achieving a significant local award.
The new model claimed New Zealand’s most prestigious automotive honour when it won the AA New Zealand Motoring Writers Guild Car of the Year title last December.
The achievement was especially groundbreaking as it was the first time in the 25-year history of the award that an electric car had secured the title.
Judges said ‘The BMW i3 showed itself to be not only a revolutionary car in the emerging electric vehicle segment but also proved a dynamic product to drive.’
Furthermore, the i3 ‘won over the guild members, who cover all regions of New Zealand – from the Far North to Dunedin. It stands out due to its pioneering design, its individual interior but more importantly its performance on our roads.’
Managing Director of BMW New Zealand, Florian Renndorfer, said “the BMW i3 is an incredibly significant vehicle to BMW as it is derived from an innovative clean-sheet design, one which features sustainably sourced and innovative materials and an electric powertrain developed specifically for the all-new model.
“Its lightweight construction, featuring extensive use of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, keeps weight to a minimum and at the same time the torque-laden electric motor offers a dynamic and truly engaging driving experience expected from a BMW.
“In our eyes, the BMW i3 represents an important step in the future of sustainable personal mobility and, when coupled with New Zealand’s high percentage of renewable energy resources, it really is the ultimate statement when it comes to green motoring.”
