Expecting an onslaught of customers eager to get their hands on an electric BMW i3, the Bavarian automaker decided to start taking orders in Europe much earlier than planned. You can already reserve yours as long as you can stomach the €75,340 First Edition sticker.
Compared to the BMW i3, which Autocar has already reviewed (see the video above), the First Edition features a three-zone HVAC as standard, highly ergonomic seats, a heated steering wheel, and a Harman Kardon audio system. It also boasts a backlit radiator grille and wears M Sport accents throughout the exterior.
Options include wheels sized from 19 to 21 inches large, a heated rear bench seat, panoramic roof, six exterior finishes, and five interior trims.
All propulsion is handled by a dual-motor powertrain rated at 469 PS (463 hp / 350 kW) and 645 Nm (476 lb-ft) of torque. In Europe, the saloon is rated for an impressive 906 kilometers (563 miles) of range per charge. The battery pack holds 108.7 kilowatt-hours of electricity and can be replenished from a built-in 22kW home charger. The standard i3 charger is only rated at 11kW, so the First Edition should charge about twice as fast.
Other, more affordable BMW i3 variants are scheduled for announcement in the fall.