BMW’s China-only sub-brand unveils first EV

BMW’s China-only Zinoro sub-brand has published a full set of details about its first model, a re-badged BMW X1 powered by an all-electric drivetrain.

Called 1E, the crossover shares most of its sheetmetal with the aforementioned X1 but its front end features a model-specific bumper and a two-slat radiator grille that prominently displays Zinoro’s round emblem.  Out back, the 1E ditches the X1′s two-piece tail lamps in favor of smaller one-piece units while gaining a more sculpted hatch.

The story is different inside the crossover, where the bulk of the cockpit is lifted straight from the BMW parts bin.  The 1E features a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel and an instrument cluster consisting of two analog gauges.  Automatic climate control, navigation, heated front seats and rain-sensing wipers come standard. ÂÂ

Power comes from a 170-horsepower, 184 lb-ft. electric motor mounted on the rear axle, a setup that chops four cubic feet of cargo from the X1′s already limited 14.8 cubic feet.  Hooked up to a lithium-ion battery pack, the motor can power the 1E for 93 miles at speeds of up to 80 mph.  The pack can be fully recharged in seven and a half hours when plugged into a regular household outlet.

The 1E is largely an experimental vehicle and customers will only be able to rent the vehicle from authorized Zinoro dealers in Beijing and Shanghai.  The monthly cost of renting the crossover has not been calculated yet but it will include registration, insurance, maintenance and roadside assistance.

The Zinoro 1E will arrive in the aforementioned showrooms before the end of next year.  It will be built in China in a factory operated jointly by BMW and local partner Brilliance, and at the time of writing the two companies do not plan on offering the battery-powered crossover in Europe or in the United States.<![CDATA[
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