FRANKFURT—BMW AG on Friday presented two concept cars for the first generation of electric vehicles to be launched under its new sub-brand i starting in 2013, and said it will invest in a company named Parkatmyhouse, which offers a service to rent out private parking space via Internet or smart-phone application.
The upcoming i3 "will mark the launch of the first volume-produced car featuring bodywork largely made of carbon," BMW research and development chief Klaus Draeger said during a presentation in Frankfurt.
BMW didn't elaborate on the expected annual sales volume, but Chief Financial Officer Friedrich Eichiner noted that in terms of earnings per vehicle the new cars will contribute to the company's targeted earnings before interest and taxes margin range of between 8% and 10%. Making electric cars economically viable despite expensive components such as the battery is a key challenge for the global auto industry.
The world's largest luxury-car maker by sales volume will initially launch two new vehicles under the new sub-brand, the BMW i3 and the BMW i8, which will be launched in 2013 and 2014, respectively, and built at BMW's German plant in Leipzig. The i3 will be a purely electric powered car for urban areas. The i8 will be based on the plug-in hybrid sportscar concept BMW Vision EfficientDynamics.
The new sub-brand is the outcome of BMW's Project i, a task force established in 2007 to explore future mobility concepts and one of the Munich-based firm's most important think tanks. It is a cornerstone of BMW's plan to expand in the field of alternative drivetrains and green technology, making cars more environmentally friendly to comply with tightening emission regulations world-wide.
In November, BMW said it will invest around €530 million and create more than 1,000 jobs, together with its joint-venture partner SGL Carbon SE, as part of its plan to launch the new megacity vehicle and start producing carbon fiber components to reduce the vehicle's weight.
Both companies forged a U.S. joint-venture to produce carbon fiber in Moses Lake, Wash.
BMW has named SB LiMotive, a joint venture between Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. and Robert Bosch GmbH, as the battery supplier for the new car. The battery is a key component for electric vehicles as it determines the range and performance of the car.
COMMENTARY: Those are great looking cars, especially the i8 electric hybrid car, but I'm not so keen on the color combinations. The i3 all-electric four-door sedan is very functional. Very similar to an SUV with that hatchback door.
BMW i8 Electric Hybrid Specifications and Price
The Basics
- Vehicle Type: exotic car/premium sporty-performance car
Drivetrain (CG estimates)
- Drive wheels: front/rear/all (see text)
- Engine: 1.5-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder with two electric motors and plug-in lithium-polymer battery pack
- Horsepower: 360 (total maximum available)
- Torque: 600 pound-feet (total maximum available)
- Transmission: rear-mounted 6-speed dual-clutch automated manual, front-mounted single-speed reduction gearbox
Dimensions (Vision EfficientDynamics concept)
- Wheelbase: 109.5 inches (CG estimate)
- Length: 181.1 inches
- Width: 74.8 inches
- Height: 48.8 inches
- Base curb weight: 3,100 pounds
Estimated Price
- Price: The 2014 BMW i8 may cost between $350,000 and $400,000.
BMW i3 All-Electric Four-Door Sedan Specifications and Price
Full specifications of the BMW i3 Concept are as follows:
- Length/Height/Width: L 3845 mm, H 1537 mm, W 2011 mm
- Wheelbase: 2570 mm
- Number of seats: 4
- Kerb weight: 1250kg
- Output: 125kW/250Nm
- Top speed: 150km/h
- Acceleration: 0-60 km/h 3.9 seconds, 0-100km/h 7.9 seconds, 80-120km/h 6.0 seconds
- Electric range: Everyday range: 130-160km, FTP72 cycle: 225km
- Battery charge time: Standard: 6hr for 100 percent charge, Optional: 1hr for 80 percent charge
- Luggage compartment: Approximately 200 litres
- Price: $50,000+
Courtesy of an article dated July 29, 2011 appearing in The Wall Street Journal and an article dated July 30, 2011 appearing in Road & Track
http://www.autoluxs.com/bmw-i3-first-electric-car-2013-bmw-i3-concept-megacity-vehicle/
Wow!.. I its truly amazing cars.. I love the design also it features.
Posted by: Airport Transportation | 08/18/2011 at 01:25 AM