The list of electromod classics gets longer by the day. We’ve seen Porsche 911s, Jaguar E-Types, early Land Rovers and tiny Fiat 500s, and now it’s the turn of the BMW 2002 to become a volts-wagen.
The conversion comes from Germany’s Bavarian Econs and, unusually, uses a 400V system that allows rapid charging and delivers a significant performance boost. In the entry-level 2002te there’s a 33kWh battery powering a 178bhp electric motor for a considerable increase in performance over the original two-litre motor. Even in fuel-injected tii form the 2002 could only muster 126bhp from dino juice. Bavarian Econs has managed to minimise any weight increase with the electric powertrain, and the car comes in at 1,100kg – just a little more than factory-spec. Pegging a 0-62mph run in 6.2 seconds, it’s significantly swifter than the original car.
Of course Bavarian Econs also has its own take on the Munich Legend 2002 Turbo. Its Turboe gets a bigger 45KWh battery pack and a 247bhp motor which cuts that 0-62mph sprint down to 4.5 seconds. It gets 80kW charging, compared to the te’s 50kW rating as well. Both cars’ range is tipped at 120 miles and top speed is capped at 105 mph.
Bavarian Econs strengthens the bodyshell, adds KW Classic V3 sport suspension and the conversion also delivers a 50/50 weight distribution. “With the new weight distribution, the car has more traction,” says founder Edgar Navarro Soto. “The biggest difference is on curvy roads or in wet conditions. The ICE 2002 loses traction in the rear axle much sooner while the Econ can stay on track while turning.” The company says it has put the car to the test on Germany’s unlimited autobahns and on twisty alpine roads.
From the outside the te looks pretty standard, while the Turboe is more flamboyant, featuring wider arches, BBS alloys and a tasty front air dam. Aside from vintage-style sports seats and a Momo Prototipo wheel the interior has kept its original look, although the gauges are repurposed to show battery information instead of fuel level and engine temperature. Electric air conditioning and a sports mode are controlled by standard-issue switches.
Should you want a Bavarian Econ for yourself you’ll need to provide a donor car, then find over £120,000 for a 2002te or almost double that for a Turboe. You’ll need to be patient, too, with the waiting list currently up to 16 months.
