The Auto Express New Car Awards took place yesterday, and among all the awards – from the Pick-up of the Year to the Small SUV of the Year – there were two slightly newer categories; Best Electric Car and the Technology Award. As you’d expect, the first went to the best EV on the roads today, and the latter was awarded to the brand with the most innovation across the board – and BMW won them both.
Electric Car of the Year – BMW i3
The BMW i3 is one of the most important cars on the road today. Sure, it’s not got the speed or the glamour of its i8 sibling, and it doesn’t sale in the same numbers as the Leaf, but the i3 is still an iconic electric car. Inside and out, it displays new thinking, innovative design and a sophisticated technology – three things BMW’s i brand has become known for. Fresh from a new facelift, Auto Express awarded it the title of Best Electric Car, beating competition from the new Renault Zoe and the Tesla Model S.
Technology Award – BMW
BMW also won the Technology award, but before we explain why, it’s worth outlining exactly what the award is for. Rather than in-car tech alone, the Technology Award is designed to recognise brands that are innovating across the board, inside the car and out, from apps to hybrid vehicles.
Alongside in-car tech such as the 5 Series’ gesture control and Smart Key, Auto Express also pointed at the brand’s hybrid line-up, which is currently one of the most comprehensive in the industry. The I8 is still one of the best cars I’ve ever driven, and Auto Express commended the technology transfer from the bonkers hybrid supercar to the rest of the “normal” BMW range.
“It’s the lessons the company has clearly learned from the i8, and carried over to its more modern models, that have impressed us this year,” said Auto Express. “The i3, Europe’s first premium compact electric car,has benefited from a recent facelift, and among the improvements is a greater range.
“Plus, plug-in hybrid tech has also been launched on BMW’s core models this year to great success, with the economical 3, 5 and 7 Series PheVs providing a genuine alternative to the diesel norm.”
In addition to BMW’s physical products, Auto Express also highlighted the German brand’s research and development into driverless tech – especially its partnerships with technology brands. “BMW is future-proofing its line-up, working together with tech giants Intel and Mobileye, and investing heavily in mapping company Here to develop fully automated cars that are slated for production in 2021.”
[“Source-alphr”]