On the finish of final month, BMW bought promoting house in Occasions Sq. to advertise the 2023 XM throughout its debut day. The exact same nifty 3D billboard has now served because the immersive venue to spotlight how electrical autos have progressed in half a century of evolution. The well-known intersection in midtown Manhattan, New York Metropolis had the 1602 Elektro and i4 M50 star in the identical business to spotlight the EV evolution.
For many who are usually not accustomed to the 1602 Elektro, it was BMW’s very first electrical automobile. Developed to function a shuttle throughout the 1972 Olympic Video games in Munich, Germany, it was primarily an EV conversion of the 02 Collection. Solely two autos have been ever produced, and each served as assist autos for long-distance walkers and marathon runners. The engineers took out all of the oily bits to make room for a dozen of Varta batteries and a Bosch electrical motor.
BMW’s unique EV carried round 350 kilograms (771 kilos) price of batteries to feed juice to the rear-mounted electrical motor. It did 0 to 31 mph (50 km/h) in 8 seconds and topped out at 62 mph (100 km/h), so it’s secure to say it wasn’t the last word electrical driving machine. Nonetheless, the Munich-based marque needed to begin from someplace, proper? The vary was quoted at 38 miles (61 kilometers) offered the 1602e was touring at a relentless pace of 31 mph (50 km/h).
As for the opposite automobile featured within the advert, it’s the lately launched i4 M50 by KITH. It serves as a follow-up to the 2020 M4 Competitors x KITH and comes with customized logos and a singular paint known as “Kith Vitality Inexperienced.” Inside, the sporty electrical Gran Coupe has a full-grain merino leather-based in tasty Caramel. Solely seven automobiles are going to be offered to prospects.
Thoughts you, this isn’t the primary time BMW marks 50 years of EVs because it organized a lightweight present at its headquarters again in August. We’d argue an electrical sports activities automobile would’ve been higher, and it’d come additional down the road based mostly on a current teaser picture.
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