BMW announces its futuristic all-electric 'i3' city car

BMW has introduced its futuristic, all electric car concept, named i3, which is designed for city use and is expected to hit dealerships in 2012. With the European Union emission levels getting stricter from next year, many companies are now focusing on electric or hybrid models of their automobiles.

BMW i3 Concept

The i3 concept is a five door hatchback design with fully transparent doors, and roof made of glass. It is a first car from BMW that has been designed ground up for electronic propulsion. The “coach doors” have an opposing construction that makes it look unique and spacious. Designed with a long wheelbase, its short front and rear overhang make parking easier.

Touchscreen displays are mounted on the dashboard with a large number of functions. These functions are accessible via smartphone and can be used to find the vehicle, nearby charging stations etc. Renewable raw materials have been used in the construction of interiors, which include the instrument and door panel made from natural fibers and naturally tanned leather seats giving it the ambiance of a lounge.

i3 is based on innovative LifeDrive architecture. It consists of two sections – the section for life consists of passenger compartment, while the drive section consists of power-train and battery. Drive section is mostly the bottom half of the car, made of lightweight aluminum. Life passenger compartment forms the top and is made of carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). All this helps in keeping i3 lightweight with 2750 pounds. Use of CFRP offers various advantages over steel. It’s 50 percent lighter than steel, never rusts and offers better protection.

i3 has a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery. It has a single-speed transmission, 170 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque. Maximum range per charge is 140 miles, which considering the traffic conditions in cities might come down to 80-100 miles. This is on par, compared to Nissan’s electric car, Leaf. The maximum speed is 93 mph with the acceleration of up to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds.

The Rex (range-extending) model of the car will include the gasoline-based motor that will recharge the battery in case it runs out of power. BMW hasn’t announced any price tag for i3 but considering Nissan’s Leaf and Chevrolet Volt price of $33000 and $4000, respectively, i3’s price too may fall in this range.

Via: Diseno-art