BMW today held a huge launch for the BMW i brand in Frankfurt and unveiled the new BMW i3 Concept and the BMW i8 Concept. The BMW i brand is about the development of visionary vehicles and mobility services, inspiring design and a new understanding of premium that is strongly defined by sustainability.
The BMW i3 is a pure electric that seats 4 passengers and “embodies an intelligent form of urban transportation and commuting.” The i3 is built on a new BMW LifeDrive architecture that is all about being light, spacious and dynamic.
The i3 is 151.4 inches in length, 79.2 inches in width and 60.5 inches in height, which makes it 4.7 inches longer, 12.8 inches wider and 5.2 inches higher than the Mini Cooper. It rides on a 4.1-inch-longer wheelbase, at 101.2 inches, and has wider tracks.
Power for the BMW i3 comes from an electric-motor that sits on the rear axle and produces 170-hp with a maximum torque of 184 lb-ft. That gives the BMW i3 Concept the ability to go from 0 to 60 kmph in under 4 seconds and from 0 to 100 kmph in less than 7.9 seconds. The single-speed gearbox sends power to the rear wheels and keeps sending it until the i3 hits a top speed of 150 kmph.
On a full charge, the BMW i3 Concept can travel a total range of 80-100 kilometers. The battery can be fully recharged in 6 hours from a standard power socket. If you end up going for the high-speed charger, the battery can reach 80 percent charge in just one hour.
For those that won’t some extra range, the i3 offers an optional Range Extender, known as the REx. While no technical details are available right now, BMW says that REx is a small gasoline engine that drives a generator and maintains the battery charge level – extending the range of the electric motor. Think of REx as just a reserve fuel can on board.
Also see – BMW unveils Vision EfficientDynamics in India
More pictures of BMW i3 Plug-in Electric Concept Car –
