BMW Debuts i8 and i3 Concepts
With a planned production launch of 2013 and 2014, the BMW i3 and i8 are a dramatic departure for the German brand, and represent the automakers EV ambitions. Both models make use of advanced materials and drivetrains to deliver the best in sustainable mobility.
The all-electric i3 will be the first mass-produced vehicle to make use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, which allow a dramatic reduction in weight (the concept weighs roughly 2700 pounds), without necessitating a reduction in space. BMW claims the i3 will have a 200-liter (7-cubic-foot) trunk, which gives it more cargo volume than a Mazda MX-5, but less than a Fiat 500. The electric drivetrain is expected to haul the i3 to 62 miles per hour in less than 8 seconds thanks to an electric motor with 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque on tap. All the while, an 80-percent recharge should be achieved in under an hour. Top speed is limited to 93 miles per hour. Notably, the i3 also offers an optional range extender, allowing the i3 to function in a similar manner to the Chevrolet Volt, with the gas engine acting only as a generator for the electric motor.
Design-wise, the i8 is based off the EfficientDynamics Concept from a few years back. It uses a modified version of the i3’s electric motor in conjunction with a 220-horsepower, 1.5-liter, turbocharged three-cylinder gas engine. Working in conjunction, the two powerplants can accelerate the i8 to 62 miles per hour in under 5 seconds, and on to a governed top speed of 155 miles per hour. Oh yeah, it should also be able to travel 100 kilometers on only 3 liters of fuel (giving it a rating of 78 US miles per gallon). As if it didn’t sound good enough, due to the nature of the front-mounted electric motor and the rear-mounted gas engine, the i8 is essentially all-wheel drive.
BMW is planning on a 2013 launch for the i3, with the i8 coming out in 2014. Expect more information on these eco-friendly cars when they arrive on the auto show scene.
Please scroll down for the official press release from BMW.
BMW Group presents mobility of the future +++ World premiere of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 concept +++ Reithofer: A milestone in the history of the company +++ Sustainability across the entire value added chain
Frankfurt a.M. / Munich. The BMW Group showcases its visions of future mobility in the shape of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept studies. Unveiled for the first time, these concept vehicles provide a glimpse of the first electrically powered production cars from the new BMW i sub-brand, due to be launched as the BMW i3 in 2013 and the BMW i8 in 2014.
“We are marking another milestone in the history of the BMW Group. As Chairman of the Board and an engineer myself, I am very proud of this project,” declared Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, at Friday’s premiere of the two vehicles in Frankfurt. “As the world’s leading premium car manufacturer, our aim is to offer customers purpose-built electric-drive cars as well,” he added.
With its zero-emission electric drive and a range of approximately 150 kilometres, the BMW i3 Concept has been specifically developed for use in an urban environment, its dynamic 125 kW electric motor and rear-wheel drive ensuring BMW-style dynamic handling. Thanks to its innovative LifeDrive architecture featuring a carbon passenger cell, the BMW i3 Concept combines an extremely low weight of 1,250 kilograms with optimal interior space and the highest crash safety levels. With four seats and a 200-litre luggage compartment, this vehicle is fully suited for everyday use.
Draeger: a revolution in car design
“This vehicle will mark the launch of the first volume-produced car featuring bodywork largely made of carbon. It’s a revolution in automotive design,” stressed Klaus Draeger, Member of the Board responsible for Development. The application of this new CFRP technology allows a weight reduction, compared to a conventional electric car, of between 250 and 350 kilos, and that means more dynamic handling coupled with a greater range. The BMW i3 does the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in less than eight seconds, while a high-speed charger achieves an 80% battery charge in just an hour.
Thanks to the emission-free drivetrain and a value added chain designed to be sustainable all along the line, life cycle emission figures for the BMW i3 are at least a third lower than for a highly efficient combustion-engine car. If the BMW i3 is run on electricity from renewable sources, the figures improve by well over 50%.
BMW i8 Concept: new-generation sports car
The BMW i8 Concept goes from 0 to 100 km/h in less than five seconds and boasts fuel consumption of under three litres per 100 km. Its plug-in hybrid drive with a system output of 260 kW allows a range of up to 35 kilometres in electric mode – sufficient for most everyday journeys. For more dynamic driving or out-of-town routes, a high-performance three-cylinder petrol engine also comes into play. The sports car has an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h and space for up to four occupants. “The BMW i8 Concept is the sports car for a new generation – pure, emotional and sustainable,” Draeger underlined.
With BMW i, the BMW Group is corroborating its position as the most innovative and sustainable auto manufacturer in the world, as reflected in the fact that it has been the supersector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the sixth year running. With BMW i, the BMW Group is providing answers to the mobility challenges of the future while pursuing a holistic approach. In addition to purpose-built premium vehicles with electric drive, the company is also offering intelligent mobility services.
The focus here is on solutions for improved use of parking space, intelligent navigation systems with location-based information, intermodal route planning and car-sharing schemes such as DriveNow. Following MyCityWay, ParkatmyHouse marks the second investment by the recently launched venture capital company BMW i Ventures in a company providing internet-based mobility services. Parkatmyhouse allows private individuals to use the internet or a smartphone app to rent out their private parking spaces on a short- or long-term basis.
Both the BMW i3 and the BMW i8 will be built at BMW’s Leipzig plant in Germany. Some 400 million euros are earmarked for investment in new buildings and facilities by 2013, while 800 new jobs are to be created. Vehicle production will be CO2 neutral and will draw on renewable resources. The company is currently investigating the possibility of erecting its own wind turbines on the plant site.
The BMW Group
The BMW Group is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 25 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
The BMW Group achieved a global sales volume of approximately 1.29 million automobiles and over 87,000 motorcycles for the 2009 financial year. Revenues totalled euro 50.68 billion. At 31 December 2009, the company employed a global workforce of approximately 96,000 associates.
The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last six years.
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