The new all-electric BMW i3 will pace the men's elite runners at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON this weekend, one of the car's first active outings. BMW is backing the race as title partner for the 15th time, and the event has drawn more than 84,000 athletes from 162 nations.
The i3 is the second model in BMW's Neue Klasse line, built at the company's parent plant in Munich, and the company says deliveries are scheduled to begin this year. BMW quotes an all-electric range of up to 906 kilometres, a figure that carries a footnote in the announcement.
Tim Beltermann, Head of BMW Germany, framed the marathon outing as the car's first competitive appearance. "We are very much looking forward to the first 'competitive appearance' of the new BMW i3," he said, adding that the model is "an endurance specialist".
BMW describes the i3 as the first all-electric 3 Series, pairing sixth-generation eDrive technology with the Panoramic iDrive interface and a high-performance computer the company calls Heart of Joy. BMW says that computer responds ten times faster than previous systems, and that it sits alongside three other high-performance computers at the centre of the car's software and electronics architecture. The announcement does not disclose pricing for the i3.
Race organisers will have 60 course and organisational vehicles at their disposal, among them the i3, the iX3, and the electric iX, i5, i4, iX2 and iX1 models. BMW is also supplying 14 motorcycles and two e-scooters, with the motorcycles tied to the company's Berlin plant, where they have been built since 1969.
The marathon is the largest event of its kind in Germany, and its programme includes handbike and wheelchair races alongside amateur and elite fields. BMW says it supports the race with all-electric on-course vehicles.
The i3's appearance comes as BMW positions the model as the start of a new chapter for its electric lineup. The company says the car offers precise, assured handling and a modern take on the design cues of its sedans.
