Dealership for BMW i opens

The first BMW i dealership in New Zealand has been officially opened by Simon Bridges, Minister of Transport, with BMW Group New Zealand managing director Nina Englert and Ian Gibson, dealer principal of Team McMillan. Englert says: “BMW i represents a world-leading and innovative solution for sustainable personal mobility. The opening of this dealership marks a significant milestone in the history of BMW in New Zealand.” The stars of the show – the new i3 and i8 – saw enthusiasts eager to take the new electric vehicles for a test drive. Check out our photo gallery of the new dealership “We’ve had a new i8 in the country for the past two weeks and it has received an incredible response wherever it has gone,” says Englert. “I’ve enjoyed spending an evening driving it and I’m now even more of an advocate for the new model than before. It’s dynamic, exciting, delivers the feeling of a real sports car and is the most head-turning BMW I have ever driven.” As part of the launch, pricing for the range was also confirmed. The i3 has a driveaway price from $83,500 and the powerful i8 is priced from $278,000. “We consider this to be competitive for what are all-new models designed from the ground up with leading-edge technology,” says Englert. “BMW i represents the ultimate statement when it comes to green motoring. They are tailor-made innovative vehicles, constructed from a clean sheet and as such are literally born electric.” In terms of range and performance, the i3 available in New Zealand has a small two-cylinder 650cc range-extender fitted as standard meaning a journey of about 340km – the equivalent of driving from Auckland or Wellington to National Park, or between Christchurch and Picton. The i8 has a three-cylinder 1.5-litre engine, which provides drive to the rear axle. When working in tandem with the forward-mounted electric engine, it offers a range of around 600km. The i3 can accelerate from 0-100kph in 7.9 seconds, while the i8 clicks off the stop watch in 4.4 seconds. Both models have won acclaim in 2014, with the i3 earning World Car Design of the Year and the World Green Car Awards, while the i8 has been earmarked as a future classic. “With the launch of these new models, especially the i8, you can have your cake and eat it,” says Englert. “Sports performance motoring is now greener than ever.” Check out our photo gallery of the new dealership