Herm
Well-known member
I liked the video of the snow testing, it really shows how the car looks.. hopefully the production models will be toned down from the concepts.. way down!
Boomer23 said:I just noticed in the text from the NYT article that the i3 is a four seater. That gives me some pause, along with evnow's comments about the size of the car. More like a Mitsubishi i, than a LEAF, I guess.
Late in this decade I expect multiple cars from multiple auto majors. I just hope we will all have well paying jobs ... and the stock market has stopped tankingBoomer23 said:BMW is dropping early hints at an i4 and and i5 for late in this decade. The i4 may be a two seat coupe based on the i3, while the i5 may be a family sedan based on the i8.
Okay, color me interested.
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/11/scoop-new-bmw-i3-rex-with-range.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;A prototype of the upcoming BMW i3 hatchback was spied wearing its production-ready body, while being transferred on a truck in Europe.
Fans of the roundel had the opportunity to see what the Bavarian company's foray into the electric car segment will look like when it hits the market in 2013 with the i3 concept model, which is currently on display at the Los Angeles Motor Show.
Not surprisingly, the prototype seen here suggests that the production version will have a slightly more conventional appearance. The shape of the roof remains as do the suicide-style rear doors but it looks like they will be much smaller in length than on the concept with the front doors featuring a handle, something that leads us to believe BMW may follow a similar solution as the one used on the MINI Clubman.
This particular test car also wore "Hybrid Test Vehicle" stickers on the front doors, which points to the REx model. For those of you with a short memory, BMW plans to launch two editions of the i3.
The standard model will be a plug-in EV only fitted with an electric motor that resides at the back driving the rear wheels. On the concept model, the battery-powered motor is rated at 170-horses (125 kW) and 250 Nm (184 lb.ft) with the lithium-ion batteries offering a cruising range of around 120km to 160km (80-100 miles).
The second model of the series will be the i3 REx that adds a small displacement petrol engine to the mix. While there have been rumors about a two-cylinder unit sourced from BMW's motorcycle division, the company is mum on official details. What we do know is that the internal combustion engine will charge the batteries and thus significantly extend the driving range.
Sep-2013.LTLFTcomposite said:Looks like another vapor car to me. Have they said anything about production and delivery dates?
Not vaporware at all! It looks like the Rocky Mountain Institute's Hypercar work is finally bearing fruit!evnow said:Sep-2013.LTLFTcomposite said:Looks like another vapor car to me. Have they said anything about production and delivery dates?
The new carbon fiber plant they have already started operating in eastern WA doesn't look anything like vapor to me.
You should checkout Tom's blog about i3.
http://minie250.blogspot.com/2011/11/bmw-i3-special-sneek-peek-review.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Great video, thank you for posting that, Andy! Tom Moloughney used the holiday break to pen a nice write-up on his experience with BMW's EV program. They don't seem to lack ambition. One of the Nissan guys from the UK mentioned at the Google meeting that BMW's R&D center in Munich imported a Leaf a few months ago. They are apparently taking it under the microscope, which has Nissan concerned. Hopefully something good will come out of it.AndyH said:Not vaporware at all! It looks like the Rocky Mountain Institute's Hypercar work is finally bearing fruit!
http://blogs.insideline.com/readersrides/2011/12/toms-mini-e-two-and-a-half-year-wrap-up.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;We're not trying to be the first to the electric car market, just have the best one when we get there.
The electric motor over the rear axle – which generates output of 125 kW/170 hp and impressive torque of 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) from a standstill – and a small turning circle combine to deliver pleasingly agile driving characteristics. The BMW i3 Concept accelerates from 0 to 60 km/h (37 mph) in under four seconds and from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than eight seconds.
The BMW i3 electric car will cost significantly more than opposition such as the Nissan Leaf and Vauxhall Ampera when it goes on sale next year, according to the company's sales and marketing boss, Ian Robertson.
'We are a premium brand and we will be bringing it to market at a premium price,' he said.
Industry speculation is that the i3 could cost around £35,000, after the £5000 Government grant for zero-emission cars.
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/bmw-i3-to-cost-more-than-rivals/261726
I think i3 will cost about $43k. This also corresponds to what the BMW guys have talked about - it would cost less than a BMW 5 series car (starting $46,900 in the US). They can price the car at $50k (which would be 10 to 12k more than Leaf/Volt) and the net price will be $43k. Anything more they are competing with a larger car with a longer range - Model S.LindsayNB said:If they have their currencies straight the i3 may be rather more expensive than earlier speculation, 40,000 British pounds ($63,324 U.S.) before incentives. I'm not sure what the usual price ratio of US and UK car prices.
Yes, BMW has already stated that the i3 will be priced competitively, and will cost less than a 5 series. I will dig up that quote this afternoon. They clearly have the Leaf in their sights, and will act accordingly. On a related note, I can confirm that the drivetrain they are developing is performance-oriented and will likely result in a vehicle that's very fun to drive and excels at high speeds. I just hope they will chose better tires, and won't repeat the runflats mistake like on the ActiveE.evnow said:I think the car will cost about $45k. Anything more they are competing with a larger car with a longer range - Mosel S.LindsayNB said:If they have their currencies straight the i3 may be rather more expensive than earlier speculation, 40,000 British pounds ($63,324 U.S.) before incentives. I'm not sure what the usual price ratio of US and UK car prices.
surfingslovak said:I just hope they will chose better tires, and won't repeat the runflats mistake like on the ActiveE.
Boomer, thanks for your comment. You seem to be well-versed with BMW's recent vehicles. Although I used to work there, that was back in the E36 and E38 days. Believe or not, I even got to test some of the early hand-built E38 V8 prototypes, but I digress. I drove VWs and Audis almost exclusively since then, and I'm not familiar with the goings-on at BMW. I believe that we have their ear however, and several people from the MINI-E and ActiveE community regularly talk to their R&D staff. I think that it woud be worth arguing against the use of runflats on the i3, but it would behove us to articulate well.Boomer23 said:Don't hold your breath on the runflats. Despite much concern among BMW's customer base regarding cost, availability and unsprung mass of runflats, BMW continues to fit them almost exclusively.
surfingslovak said:Boomer, thanks for your comment. You seem to be well-versed with BMW's recent vehicles. Although I used to work there, that was back in the E36 and E38 days. Believe or not, I even got to test some of the early hand-built E38 V8 prototypes, but I digress. I drove VWs and Audis almost exclusively since then, and I'm not familiar with the goings-on at BMW. I believe that we have their ear however, and several people from the MINI-E and ActiveE community regularly talk to their R&D staff. I think that it woud be worth arguing against the use of runflats on the i3, but it would behove us to articulate well.Boomer23 said:Don't hold your breath on the runflats. Despite much concern among BMW's customer base regarding cost, availability and unsprung mass of runflats, BMW continues to fit them almost exclusively.
I'm about to fit my ActiveE with a different set of tires to demonstrate how much, if at all, energy economy will improve. Another argument we have heard from a former MINI-E driver was that runflats are noisy, and she had her mechanic swap the tires out. If she had a flat, she would call a tow truck, and does not particularly care for runflats or any emergency kits the manufacturer wants to include.
I realize that everyone has different needs and expectations, but runflats should be an option at best. If there was enough space in the vehicle, some folks might decide to carry a spare with them, much like we are starting to see with the Leaf. I personally think that carrying a spare would have much lower impact on the overall efficiency of the vehicle than runflats. I would appreciate any comments and insights on the topic.
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