iX1 eDrive20 sticker shows rebate ideal has been dropped.

CLEAN Car’s demise has likely come at cost to those looking to buy  BMW NZ’s least expensive electric.

Had the Government incentive remained, the iX1 eDrive20 might well have been considerably cheaper than it has actually priced.

BMW NZ confirmed last May it would strive to avail the wholly battery-enabled equivalent of its cheapest petrol car, the $72,400 X1 sDrive18i, for less than $80,000, so it could achieve the $7015 Clean Car subsidy.

However, the incentive was scuppered at Christmas and announcement yesterday the car will release for $86,900 shows so has this intent.

No comment about Clean Car or the original ideal was offered in a media pack delivered yesterday. However, in theory, had the car been offered at $79,990 in the rebate era - as many EVs were - it would have become a $73k car drivaway for incentive earners.

However, the Auckland-sited operation has proclaimed the derivative is at a “compelling new entry point” and has become “the most affordable fully electric BMW available in New Zealand” and will open up “emissions-free driving to a broader base of customers.”  

The announced price is for a base package. Options lift it higher. 

The dearest extra is a $5500 ‘innovations’ package that adds an alarm, panorama sunroom, harmon kardon hi-fi, a heated steering wheel and electric adjust for the front seat. 

There are also XLine and M Sport packages, the latter for $2500 (M Sport wheels, adaptive M suspension, M mesh effect interior trim, M leather steering wheel, M gloss roof rails. 

XLine seems to cost the same, and lends 19 inch rims, aluminium roof rails and exterior highlights. 

Metallic paints are generally $1800, though the matt ‘frozen grey’ finish is $5500. You can larger rims to the bae package, again for a price.

The only battery BMW that has sat in the sub-$80k price range has been the small i3 hatchback, curtailed several years ago, before the rebate era. It was a $74,300 offer.

BMW already has an electric X1 variant here, the iX1 xDrive30, but that is a high-specification, more powerful type that retails from $98,900. 

Outputs of 150kW - versus 230kW for the xDrive30 - and 247Nm are cited for the iX eDrive20, with a 0-100kmh time of 8.6 seconds. The drivetrain’s top speed is electronically limited to 170kmh. 

A range of up to 475 kilometres is cited from the 64.7kWh battery, though BMW reminds this is a provisional value according to the WLTP test.

By comparison, the X1 sDrive18i has a 1.5-litre three cylinder petrol engine developing 103kW and 220Nm, with a combined economy of 7.2 litres per 100km.

Sales of BMW and Mini electric products accelerated last year, to point one in every four BMW-made cars sold in 2023 were battery-compelled; the same rate of interest Kiwis had in the marque’s specialist M-badged product. NZ M sales are globally the second-highest per capita.