The German brand has used some radical new ideas for its new electric car.

He

The future is here! BMW has launched its long-awaited i3 electric city car in Australia. It’s certainly unlike any previous BMW, with its electric motors, carbon fibre reinforced plastic structure and cutting edge looks. What was your first impression, Daisy?

She

Looks, looks, looks. Yes, it may look a little like a grumpy porpoise – it wasn’t love at first sight – but the plastic i3 is unmistakably BMW thanks to its faux grill, solid backside and, in the car we tested, the alloy wheels, which elevate it from electric car to a truly original, exciting design. Inside it only gets better – I loved the wooden dash board panel, the recycled materials and exposed carbon fibre body peeking out from below the very slick “suicide” doors.

He

I’ve got to admit I’m underwhelmed by BMW’s usual interiors – they are conservative in terms of design and materials – but not the i3. I love the fact it uses the different materials like the wood and recycled fabric. I also liked the ‘floating’ infotainment screen in the centre of the console and the smaller tablet-style dashboard. The whole interior just looks fresh and original – it’s unlike anything else on the market. The carbon fibre body – or “Life module” in BMW-speak – you mentioned is a big part of what makes this car so special under the surface. Basically the i3 is built in two parts – the floor has the battery, motor and engine and the body sits on top. It’s all very clever but the proof is in the driving – how did you find the i3 on the road?

She

Onto my second impressions. Wow, this car can move. Granted, I’m new to the electric car game, but the feel of the motor is so unlike anything I have ever driven or even encountered on the road, that, well, it doesn’t really feel like driving. Incredibly nippy, accelerating from 0 to 100km/h in only 7.9 seconds, and with only a hushed, pulsing hum, it’s stealth, in family-friendly, city-minded disguise. The novelty of driving a car that sounds faintly like a nuclear submarine aside, it handles very neatly, is really responsive and is a breeze to control. Traditionalists – ie anyone who loves a manual gearbox and the mechanical rhythm and sound that comes with it – beware: the i3 is a drivable computer.

He

Yeah, it’s a strange sensation driving an electric car. The biggest difference for me, compared to a ‘traditional’ car, were the brakes. BMW harvests the energy when you slow down to charge the batteries, so as soon as you step off the accelerator you start slowing as if you have pushed the brake pedal. It took me a little while to get accustomed to it, but once I did it became normal. Did you get the range extender engine to kick in during your time behind the wheel? I got it to start at the end of a long trip, but even then I barely noticed because it was so quiet.

She

I didn’t get to see the “REX” in action, but did charge the car using the blue-lit power socket, which is a weird sensation. I don’t have a garage, let alone a parking space with ready electricity supply, so needed to plug it in in an underground carpark – I’m not sure how electric car-ready Sydney is. How many hours did you get out of one charge of the battery, Steve?

He

I live about 35km from the office, so I’m not exactly the target market, but it was more than capable of doing the round trip on a single charge. BMW claims 160km of range but even on a full charge the dashboard only claimed 100km was possible. And it did take several hours to recharge the battery so it does require patience and planning to get the most out of the i3. I agree, Daisy, I don’t think Australia is geared-up for electric cars just yet, but with the i3 and its supercar big brother the i8 – plus the Tesla Model S and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV already here and others on the way – the tide is turning. Of course, if you’re spending $70,000 on an electric city car you’ve probably got a garage to charge it. Which leads to the obvious question – would you buy an i3, Daisy?

She

I’m not sure it could fit a surfboard and handle long road trips, but for city use, yes, in a heartbeat. I’ve always wanted a car that treads lightly and the i3 does a cracking – and very fun – job of that. I love this car and what it represents. It’s the way ahead.

Read more and see video: Drive.com.au