After showing us the final production version with minimal camouflage and sharing the first details on its first ever series production electric car, the new i3 sub-compact (supermini), and just before its world premiere on July 29 at parallel events in the cities of London, New York and Beijing, BMW has announced pricing.
If you’re in the United States, you can get into an i3 from as low as $41,350 (equal to €31,323 / £26,910 at today’s exchange rates) before any federal or state incentives, plus $925 for destination and handling. Sales will begin in the second quarter of 2014.
In the UK, prices start from £30,680 OTR ($47,142 / €35,711), but there’s also a £5,000 government subsidy towards ownership subject to OLEV grant being approved, which drops it to £25,680. First deliveries will begin in November this year, with BMW also offering a leasing option by signing up to a 36 month contract and paying an initial £2,995 (incl. VAT) followed by monthly payments of £369 (incl. VAT) and contract mileage of 24,000 miles.
As for BMW’s home market of Germany, the i3 starts at €34,950 (£30,026 / US$44,216).
The base price is for the pure-electric i3 that sports a 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque hybrid-synchronous electric motor electrified by a 22-kWh lithium-ion battery that offers a driving range between 80 and 100 miles (130-160 kilometers).
Pricing for the range extender version featuring an additional 650cc two-cylinder petrol engine to maintain the battery charge and increase the range to around 180 miles (290 km) on one tank of fuel, will be announced at a later date.
While the i3 has 3-Series MSRPs, in its latest release, BMW said that it also offers, “interior space comparable to the legendary BMW 3 Series on a shorter overall body” – if that’s any comfort to those worried about the high-price tag.
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