PressClub South Africa · Article.
BMW i3 finalist in the 2016 Wesbank / SAGMJ Car of the Year.
Thu Jan 21 08:53:04 CET 2016 Press Release
Having established itself at the pinnacle of its segment worldwide, the BMW i3 with the range extender (REX) will participate as a finalist in the 2016 Wesbank / South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) Car of the Year competition.
Press Contact.
Thando Pato
BMW Group
Tel: +27-12-522-2070
send an e-mail
Midrand. Having established itself at the pinnacle of its segment worldwide, the BMW i3 with the range extender (REX) will participate as a finalist in the 2016 Wesbank / South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) Car of the Year competition.
The SAGMJ has run the local Car of the Year competition since 1986, with WesBank – one of South Africa’s largest vehicle finance institutions – as its headline sponsor since inception. Motul and Hollard Insurance supply support sponsorship.
In the competition’s 30-year history, BMW has won a record six times in 1988 (BMW 735i), 1990 (BMW 525i), 1993 (BMW 316i), 1997 (BMW 528i), 2001 (BMW 320d) and 2011 (BMW 530d).
Next month (3 and 4 February 2016), a jury comprising members of the SAGMJ will evaluate the BMW i3 and all other eleven finalists during a two-day event at Gerotek in Pretoria to determine the winner. The evaluation days offer the Jury the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with the vehicles on specific aspects including aesthetics, build quality, ergonomics, fuel consumption, environmental friendliness, safety features and value for money. The winner of the competition will be announced at a gala dinner on the 8th of March 2016.
The BMW i3 is the BMW Group’s first volume-produced model driven purely by electric power and introduces a new era of mobility for urban dwellers looking for alternative mobility solutions.
In the listings of the most popular electric vehicle (EV) models, the BMW i3 occupies third place world-wide. It is the world’s first premium car conceived from the outset to incorporate an all-electric drive system.
A crucial element within the success story of the BMW i3 has been that it is the only EV worldwide with an optional REX. Since market launch in March 2015, 83 BMW i3's have been sold in South Africa. In its mission to deliver driving pleasure in urban areas, the new BMW i3 has come up with the perfect package. The BMW i3 REX, features a 650cc two-cylinder petrol engine with an output of 28kW, which maintains a minimum charge level and boasts range up to 300 kilometres.
The BMW i3 has acquired a number of accolades since its market launch, the most recent being the Design of the Year and Game Changer of the Year at the Cars.co.za Consumer awards.
In 2014 the BMW i3 was named the 2015 Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. The evaluation by Green Car Journal was based on BMW i3’s zero emissions at the point of use, its innovative lightweight design and the high percentage of sustainably produced materials in its production process.
For more information about the Wesbank / SAGMJ Car of the Year visit www.wesbankcoty.co.za.
For media queries, please contact:
Ms Thando Pato
Manager: Product Communications (MINI, BMW i and BMW Motorrad)
BMW Group South Africa
Telephone: +27-12-522-2070
Mobile: +27-72-232-5624
Email: thando.pato@bmw.co.za
The BMW Group
With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2015, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.247 million cars and nearly 137,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2014 was approximately € 8.71 billion on revenues amounting to € 80.40 billion. As of 31 December 2014, the BMW Group had a workforce of 116,324 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupview
Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com