The BMW i3 94Ah is named the inaugural winner of the 2017 World Urban Car award at the New York International Auto Show.
“We are delighted and honoured that the BMW i3 has been recognized as the World Urban Car of the Year,” said Ludwig Willisch, Head of BMW Group Region Americas. “This award highlights BMW Group’s commitment to sustainable mobility through BMW’s first all-electric vehicle made primarily of carbon fibre. The design brief for the BMW i3 was to create a Mega City Vehicle for the cities of the future. Today, the new 2017 BMW i3 94Ah provides more range, paired with a high-level of dynamic performance, making it the perfect urban vehicle for people around the world.” Launched in 2014, the born electric BMW i3 represents a new era of electro mobility offering a visionary design, a ground-breaking vehicle architecture, dynamic performance and innovative connectivity. No other car represents such a holistic approach to sustainability throughout the value chain.
World Car vice-chairman, Mike Rutherford, commented: “It’s an award whose time has come. Everyday cars in many – perhaps most – parts of the world will have to become smaller if road and parking space is to be found for them in increasingly packed towns and cities whose populations are swelling annually. This year’s winner in our inaugural World Urban Car category proves that these small vehicles don’t have to be cheap, undesirable and unpleasant to drive. Quite the opposite. It is among the best value-for-money products on the market”.
The BMW i3 94Ah offers 50 per cent increased battery capacity (33kWh) thanks to the higher energy density of the lithium ion cells. The BMW i team have worked to ensure that the battery dimensions remain unchanged while still offering a significant range increase. The driving performance figures of the 170hp AC synchronous electric motor remain virtually unchanged. The motor propels the BMW i3 from zero to 62mph in just 7.3 seconds making the BMW i3 the sportiest and most efficient electric vehicle in the premium segment.
