This is BMW's preview of the i3 city car and i8 sports car due to make their world debuts in Frankfurt next month before hitting the showrooms in 2013
The i8 is a sports car with a plug-in hybrid system that’s as fast as an M3 yet more frugal than a Toyota Prius.
- Aren't their looks a little too whacky?
The i3 and i8 are certainly very futuristic in appearance. And even though they are still billed as concepts, BMW's future eco-friendly cars could be deliberately designed to look flamboyant compared to those currently on the road.
Just a small recap for some: the "i" is BMW's new model range encompassing ultra-low emissions and lightweight technology. The i3 was formerly introduced under the MCV (mega-city vehicle) project, while the i8's first hint came via the BMW Vision ED (efficient dynamics) concept car.
- Is that why they look slippery?
As you well know, good aerodynamics is correlated with efficiency. So there's good reason why the i3 and i8 should be made the way they look in concept forms as seen here in these official pictures.
And since you might be wondering about those doors, there also shouldn't be any reason why they can't make production. The i3's "cupboard" doors are already used by the Europe-only Opel/Vauxhall Meriva mini-MPV, while the i8's portals can be found in Lamborghinis.
- They look quite airy inside...
Yes, especially the i3 which is basically the size of a Honda Jazz or, Mini Countryman, to say it in the premium B-segment speak. Whether BMW will add a third seat in the rear for the i3 remains to be seen, although the M3-sized i8 will stay a 2+2.
With no centre transmission tunnel, the i3 is claimed to offer an airy and comfortable interior. Moreover, BMW's habit of stretching the front and rear axles as far apart from each other help maximise interior space.
- Umm... where's the engine located?
There's no engine in the i3 because it runs purely on electricity backed up by lithium batteries. The system is located on the rear axle making the i3 a rear-drive car. Freeing up space elsewhere in the car not only enhances cabin space but also the turning radius (freedom for front wheels) for extra driving agility around town.
The zero-emissions electric pack, equipped with a one-speed gearbox, produces 170hp and 250Nm, can run for 130-160km on a single charge and can be fully recharged via a household socket in 6hr (80% in 1hr).
Cars with pure electric power have maximum grunt from idle, so the i3 does the 0-100kph time in a not-so-bad 7.9sec before being waved down at an electronically-capped 150kph.
The i3 is a city car with pure electric propulsion with extra driving agility for town-use.
- Don't tell me the i8 has got this power...
Oh no, mate. The i3 is a city car, so it doesn't need a massive touring range. The i8, on the other hand, is a supercar that will go beyond the concrete jungle where an electric infrastructure isn't guaranteed, so it gets a plug-in hybrid system like the one featured in Vision ED.
Part of the electric components come from the i3 but is placed on the front axle instead. Supplementing it is a 1.5-litre three-pot petrol head situated in the rear, making the i8 an all-wheel-drive car with BMW's acclaimed 50:50 front/rear weight distribution.
Total outputs are rated at 350hp and 550Nm to help dispatch the acceleration time in a near M3-like 4.6sec with a 250kph capped top end. The i8 can run for 35km on pure electricity and, theoretically, an economy of 37kpl.
- Are these cars heavy?
Batteries mean weight. The i3, for instance, weighs 1,250kg _ 25% more than a Jazz. But the i8's leaner, because it has only inherited part of the i3's electric credentials. At 1,480kg, the i8 is almost like a stripped-out supercar with conventional power.
But what has really offset the batt's weight is the use of carbonfibre reinforced plastic for the body shell _ a highlight of the "i" cars that will become a significant part for BMW's (and Mini's) other future cars.
- Will they be expensive in the
BMW fashion? With the "i" cars, BMW is talking about new trends in manufacturing. For instance, the process is now simplified whereby the body and drivetrain come in separate, whole modules before being mated to each other.
The supply chain is also said to be going green with extensive use of recyclable materials and methods with minimal environmental impacts.
New investments certainly mean money, and BMW is a premium brand after all. So yes, the i3 and i8 won't be cheap. BMW hasn't discussed pricing yet.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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