The BMW i3 wins World Urban Car Award 2017; World leader in alternative drive systems in the premium segment.
The BMW i3 continues to build on its successful start to life in both the global new vehicle registration rankings and various major competitions. Most recently, the all-electric BMW i3 (94Ah) was crowned the winner of the World Urban Car Award 2017 presented at the New York International Auto Show. The i3 combines a vehicle concept developed from day one to provide pure-electric mobility in urban areas –featuring a passenger cell made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) –and powerful BMW eDrive technology with an extremely powerful high-voltage battery to increase the car’s range by around 50 percent.
The BMW i3 (94Ah) was the inaugural winner of the new urban mobility category of the renowned World Car of the Year Award (WCOTY). The competition’s Steering Committee launched the prize in recognition of the specific demands on personal mobility in urban environments. As well as the restricted availability of road and parking space, plans to reduce the emissions generated by road traffic present vehicle manufacturers with challenges that only innovative vehicle concepts can hope to address. World Car Vice-Chairman Mike Rutherford noted how the BMW i3 had demonstrated that such models can be classy and attractive, and also very enjoyable to drive. With its compact exterior dimensions and 170 hp electric motor, he described the BMW i3 as “among the best value-for-money products on the market”.
Since its launch some three-and-a-half years ago, the BMW i3 – with its steadily rising registration figures – has been a constant presence at the top of the sales charts for premium compact electric vehicles both in Europe and around the world. Evidence of the i3’s leading role in the development of electric mobility can be found not least in the fact that, in many markets, it now has a significantly higher share of the electric vehicle market than its parent brand BMW can claim in segments for conventionally powered models.
The BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car has also contributed to the international success of the BMW i brand. With its unique and enthralling blend of driving pleasure and sustainability, it has risen to become the world’s most successful hybrid sports car. In 2017 alone, the BMW Group is on course to sell more than 100,000 cars with all-electric or plug-in hybrid drive systems. Based on its constant increase in sales, BMW Group is expecting around 15-25%of its worldwide sales in 2025 to be powered by an all-electric or plug-in hybrid drive system.
As well as enjoying continuing sales success, the BMW i brand has also been an increasingly prolific accumulator of awards for its products and all-encompassing approach to sustainable mobility. Among the highlights of recent months have been winning the “Golden steering wheel 2016” award in the “Alternative Drive Systems” category. Back in 2013, the BMW i3 won the “Green steering wheel” award in the same competition, making it the first model to earn the distinction – presented by “Auto Bild” and “Bild am Sonntag” in recognition of exceptional environmental performance – for the second time. A few weeks later, the BMW i brand was presented with the “Premium Pionier Elektromobilität” international editor’s award in “Auto Zeitung” magazine’s “Auto Trophy” competition.
The BMW i3 (94Ah) also won over the “Car of the Year” jury in Great Britain at the start of 2017. The i3 topped the poll organised by “What Car?” magazine in the category for electric vehicles priced between £20,000 and £40,000. And not long afterwards, the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car added another trophy to its collection, winning the “Auto Bild Allrad” magazine readers’ poll in the all-wheel-drive hybrid car category.