BMW CE 04 review: Say hello to India's most expensive electric scooter

India Today

2 days ago

Can an object really be defined by the price one puts on it? In our field, it's often detrimental to judge a vehicle purely by the price tag it carries, and it's better to just look at all that it has to offer and then factor in the cost. However, there are some cars, motorcycles, and in this case, scooters, that are defined by their asking price, and the BMW CE 04 is one such machine. One big reason for the hefty fee is the fact that it is an imported model or CBU. When I first arrived at the BMW office to pick up the CE 04, there it was in all its glory, standing apart from all the other models present in the basement parking. It made an impression right away because of its unique design language. But also because it looked nothing like I've ever seen before on Indian roads. That's always one thing that gets me going, to test a four or two-wheeler that is a unique proposition. Since its most obvious, in-your-face feature is its design, it feels like a good place to start.
The CE 04 is quite futuristic looking and seems like a maxi-scooter.
advertisementOn the whole, this is a thoroughly futuristic-looking scooter. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a maxi-scooter, but it certainly seems like it falls in that category. The CE 04 boasts an over-the-top yet sophisticated design language, thanks to those angular cuts to the panels on each side of the front apron, and just under that rather narrow but long seat.
The front of the CE 04 gets a flyscreen and automatic LED headlamps.
There's a tiny flyscreen up front, which in all honesty, doesn't seem to have any practical use, but does make it look cooler. BMW has fitted it with LED lighting all around, and the headlamp unit comes on automatically, which again feels really cool at night. Then there are some other unique bits that I love, namely the little gap under the seat, the side-loading storage space under the seat, which, if you leave the 2.3kWh charger at home, should be good for (small) bag of groceries.
The offset rear monoshock gives the CE 04 a distinct look.
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I also love the offset rear monoshock, which gives the CE 04 a distinct look from the rear, along with the extremely bright rear lamps. There's a twin-disc brake setup at the front, which does a great job of bringing this 231kg scooter to a confident halt, but that's for later. The disc wheel at the back with that dotted design again looks special, but I'm not a huge fan of the decorative stickering in and around this electric scooter.
The 10.25-inch TFT screen has an interactive UI and graphics.
That being said, I do appreciate the fairly massive 10.25-inch TFT screen, which will dwarf most cars at this price point, and I love the UI and graphics in use. The switchgear complements the screen with its tactile feel and easy-to-read markings. It was a joy to interact with it, and I must give BMW full marks here for providing that upmarket feel with this particular aspect. There are two colours on offer, and one of them, Imperial Blue Metallic, can be had with the 'Style Avantgarde' variant of the CE 04.
The disc wheel at the back with that dotted design that looks special.
Our 'Light White' review unit came with the aforementioned stickers, and there are two packages one can opt for to get more goodies, and these include 'Comfort' and 'Dynamic'. The former gets heated grips and a backrest, while the latter gets an adaptive headlight, DRLs, and other features besides.
The CE 04 uses atoothed-belt drive which should make it eaiser to maintain.
Before we dive into the riding experience, best to get some hardware facts out of the way. The CE 04 is equipped with telescopic front forks and a pre-load adjustable rear monoshock, and comes packed with an 8.5kWh battery pack, which is good for a claimed range of 130km. That figure is based on the WMTC or World Motorcycle Test Cycle. Either way, it isn't a lot when compared to some of the scooters on offer in the country. Nonetheless, the CE 04 more than makes up for this with its performance. Its permanent-magnet liquid-cooled synchronous motor is good for 42bhp and 62Nm of peak torque, which is plentiful.
The CE 04's power delivery is smooth and seamless, and there's a healthy dose of it.
advertisementThe real exhilaration comes from the nature of the power delivery, which is smooth and seamless, and there's a healthy dose of it. It's important to note that the CE 04 comes with a toothed-belt drive, which, in essence, should make it less of a hassle when it comes to maintenance and cleanliness.
The side-loading storage space under the seat can store the 2.3kWh charger or a small bag of groceries.
advertisementBMW claims a top speed of 120kmph, but it can exceed that quite easily, thanks to the chassis setup, which feels sure-footed and planted on the highway. It can be a little difficult to manoeuvre in slow-moving traffic, but on the move, it feels simply lovely. Before we go any deeper, it is pertinent to mention that the 780mm seat height is a bit on the higher side, and the narrow seats feel uncomfortable for longer stints in the saddle.It's spacious for sure, but it requires a little more width to appeal to a wider audience. Another fly in the ointment is the flush side stand, which was unnecessarily hard to find and put down, and just felt like a hassle.
The BMW CE 04's handlebar falls comfortably to hand.
The ergonomics are also a bit of a mixed bag; on one hand, the handlebar falls comfortably to hand, but one has to sit with their legs far apart thanks to that design. Honestly, riding the CE 04 felt closer to riding a cruiser-like motorcycle than a maxi-scooter, and that isn't a bad thing. It depends on the perspective and use case, rather than being a maximum bang for your buck.
The switchgear complements the screen with its tactile feel and easy-to-read markings.
advertisementApart from this, there are a total of four riding modes - Eco, Rain, Road and Dynamic. Eco had the highest level of regeneration, which was annoying but good for range. I found myself using Road mode at all times, since it had the least intrusive regen and felt most natural.
The CE 04 can charge from 0 to 80 per cent at 2.3 kW in three and a half hours.
Dynamic offered an incremental bump in the power delivery, but it didn't feel very different from Road. All in all, it has a more than satisfying shove from the motor, a slightly stiff setup when it comes to ride quality, which makes it fairly able when it comes to handling, but I wouldn't go too hard on corners either.VerdictIt's time to address the white elephant in the room - price. The BMW CE 04 retails from Rs 15.25 lakh (ex-showroom), which is, without any stretch of the imagination, a huge price tag. Remember when I mentioned whether a vehicle should be defined by its price? Well, in the case of the BMW CE 04, you can't help but gawk at the screen, rubbing your eyes in amazement. However, if one looks past this, BMW's CE 04 is the ultimate showpiece, one that values form over function, and is a piece of retrofuturism art. I'd want one just to stare at all day, but not so much ride it.Subscribe to Auto Today Magazine
BMW's CE 04 is the ultimate showpiece, one that values form over function, and is a piece of retrofuturism art.