The German folks at BMW decided to reveal an official photo gallery with the new BMW i3.

However, there are not too many reasons to cheer up as these photos show a prototype model which is still wearing a thick layer of camouflage.

Anyway, this won’t stop us to remind you that the upcoming BMW i3 is powered by an electric motor producing 170 horsepower and 250Nm of torque.

With these resources, the 0-100 km/h acceleration is possible in 7,9 seconds with a top speed of 150 km/h. BMW also says that you will get a driving range of about 130 kilometers on a single charge.

Even the driving range may seem insufficient, let’s not forget that we talk about a zero-emission model.

The German company also stated that a range-extending model is currently in the works. This special version of the BMW i3 will provide a range of about 300 kilometers thanks to a small conventional engine which will recharge the batteries.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post BMW i3 gets official photo gallery, still wears camouflage appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

This is the day all of us were waiting for many months, since BMW announced the new i sub-brand to be more precise. If we already knew how the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid will look like mainly as it is based on the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept, the new i3 electric model was somehow shrouded in mystery until now. As we previously announced, BMW held a press conference today revealing more details about the new range containing eco-friendly models.

Fortunately, they also displayed the first two models scheduled to enter the market in 2013. Since now, we got the opportunity to see the new i3 only in few renderings and spy photos but today we can clearly see how the new fully electric city car looks like.

The model bears the “concept” badge but it will certainly keep most of the concept’s features considering that it will debut this fall at Frankfurt. As we already knew, BMW i3 features the LifeDrive architecture and as mentioned above, it is a fully electric five-door hatchback designed mainly for the crowded cities, its dimensions providing an advantage in this situation.

“The BMW i3 Concept is an uncompromisingly sustainable vehicle designed for urban areas. Driven purely by electric power and purpose-built to meet the demands of sustainable and emission-free mobility, it embodies an intelligent form of urban transportation and commuting,” says BMW.

Actually, we talk about the smallest BMW ever with a length of 3,84 m, a width of 1,53 m, has a height of 2 m and a wheelbase of 2,5 meters. Under the bonnet, the new BMW i3 packs an electric engine able to deliver a total output of 170 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h being done in less than eight seconds.

“Its innovative LifeDrive architecture renders the BMW i3 Concept light, safe, spacious and dynamic. Innovative use of materials and intelligent lightweight design, moreover, not only enable the i3 Concept to travel long distances on a single charge and provide superb safety in the event of a collision, they also help give the car its excellent driving dynamics,” conclude the Germans. More details, photos and videos of the new BMW i3 will be available in the coming days on our blog!

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Marcus M.

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The post BMW i3 Concept completely revealed with full photo gallery appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

It seems that new details regarding the BMW i3, more or less official, are emerging as the debut date approaches. The BMW i3 is part of the new i sub-brand, a range of electric models that will bear BMW’s badge, the first models being scheduled to debut starting 2013.

More exactly, we talk about the BMW i3, a three-door fully electric model that fits best the crowded cities, its small dimensions consisting an advantage in this regard. The 2013 BMW i3 features a new drivetrain with an electric engine able to produce 134 horsepower, power which will be sent to the rear wheels. A hybrid version of the model might enter the range later.

On the other hand, the second model from the new i range is BMW i8, a vehicle based on the well-known Vision EfficientDynamics concept. If i3 wants to be a small and practical zero-emission vehicle, i8 inherits the supercar characteristics of the concept and therefore, is not anymore a fully electric vehicle.

We actually discussed about the powertrain which follows to be available under the bonnet of the new i8, a hybrid aggregate consisting of an electric and a petrol unit being most likely to be seen. If we shortly reviewed all the important details we already knew about BMW’s i range, let’s switch to the new information which concerns the i3.

The Bavarian zero-emission model features a set of lithium-ion batteries that is rumored to provide a driving range of around 257 kilometers and provide a top speed of 160 km/h. Moreover, some unofficial sources claim that the i3 will come with a luggage space of around 400 liters (14.1 cubic feet), which is quite a lot considering the dimensions and that we talk about a four-seater.

A lightweight structure will be used in the manufacturing process while BMW plans to produce around 40,000 units each year at the Leipzig plant where the new i8 will be manufactured too. If all these assumptions prove to be true, the new i3 can be characterized as an innovative eco-friendly model with enough power under the bonnet and a satisfying driving range.

According to the details above, the luggage space seems to be another key feature of the model even if you won’t bet on this at the first glance. The starting price is rumored to spin around $35,000 but is still quite prematurely to know the exact pricing and availability.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post The new BMW i3 rumored to start at a price of $35,000 appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

After last month we had the opportunity to get in touch the first official details on the new BMW i sub-brand, today, we have the first photos of the new BMW i3, the first model bearing the i badge which will enter the market in 2013.

Benefiting from the LifeDrive architecture, the new BMW i3 promises innovative features such as a a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic cell together with an aluminum chassis and other components, all focused on lightweight and efficiency. For the beginning, BMW plans to build around 30,000 vehicles in the first year.

The first “Born Electric” i model was caught in these spy shots somewhere in a frozen land while BMW was filming most probably a video teaser for i3. These spy shots are very important as are the first pictures that give us key details on the shape and features of the new German eco-friendly model.

The new BMW i3 will be built at the Leipzig factory and the price of the new German model is expected to be around €40,000.

Spy Shots: Worldcarfans

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Marcus M.

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The post Spy Photos: BMW testing the new i3 in some frozen lands appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

As we previously set, BMW will introduce most probably by 2013 the first two models bearing the new i electric badge.

We talk about BMW i3, a three-door four-seater city model that will benefit from a lightweight aluminum structure and most probably is the model associated with the MegaCity project. From the first details, the electric engine that will propel the new BMW i3 benefits from a rear-wheel drive system, is fitted with lithium-ion batteries and is able to develop around 170 horsepower.

What is interesting is that the electric unit one the new i3 will be placed somewhere in the rear, the battery pack being able to offer you a driving range of 160 kilometers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zOri1pnUiM

The new i3 and i8 will benefit from BMW’s LifeDrive system including a carbon fiber cell and an aluminum chassis. About the new i8, the things get more clear as the well-known BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is actually the new i8, a vehicle which will be a sporty supercar with an electric engine under the bonnet and a conventional one having the mission to charge the batteries.

The new BMW i3 will also benefit from a special version that will have an extra conventional engine which will significantly increase the driving range if you consider that the standard model does not provide enough autonomy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPhRITdnrhE

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post Extra details for the first BMW i models + videos appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

As the Germans recently promised, we have some official details regarding the new electric range developed by BMW, information released today, as we expected.

Somewhere in 2013 the first model bearing the i badge, namely i3, will be revealed in a production-ready version. For now we know that the new BMW i3 will be a three-door vehicle with a lightweight aluminum structure. Together with the new electric model, another i model will enter the market around the same date.

We talk about the BMW i8, a model which is inspired by the Vision EfficientDynamics, as we set few months ago when the German supercar was tested in Abu Dhabi. The new electric i range will bear the “Born electric” slogan and the Germans will attack the same premium segment but this time in the electric models area. The Germans will start the production of the i3 and i8, the first models to debut, at the plant in Leipzig. More details and videos coming soon!

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post Official details about BMW’s new i electric sub-brand available now appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.