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.

At its core, premium mobility and utility are melded together into one well-rounded package. The exterior doesn't deviate far from the model upon which it's based, sharing many panels and parts with the existing G01 third-generation X3. Although it may look humdrum in comparison to other SUVs in the BMW portfolio, this familiarity will likely contribute to its success in the role of carrying the i brand forward in South Africa, for the time being.