Munich leading the charge

BMW SA's latest offerings span the practical and power-packed spectrums of EV motoring

- Alex Shahini

Price: R1 290 000 Powertrain: Permanent magnet synchronous electric motors, rear Power: 210 kW @ 6 000-17 000 r/min Torque: 400 N.m @ 0-5 000 r/min 0-100 km/h: 6,8 seconds* Top speed: 180 km/h Range: Up to 460 km* Rivals: Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge, Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4Matic

A new dawn is upon Munich, whether South Africa is ready for it or not. After a century of producing vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, BMW i, the Bavarian carmaker's electrified branch, was born to signal a shift into the next milestone of mobility. This was ushered in by the outlying first generation of i-badged vehicles but over the past decade, BMW has been gearing up for an electric takeover, with its silent sub-brand entering the mainstream. Now, BMW has amassed a collection of battery-electric vehicles it has officially introduced on to our market, and hopes to shift buyer perception in their categories.

Moving forward as an intended volume product in the electrified line-up is the BMW iX3. It looks and drives very much like its ICE counterparts. The BMW X3 has by now become a mainstay for the German automaker, so it made sense for an electrified version to help lead the charge into greener mobility.