BMW i3 Concept Coupe Electric Car Debuts

[misterbeemer]

Originally Posted by v1p3r

It's a city car. It is supposed to be small and compact, with usable space and city range. There will be more Project i cars with different looks and dimensions.

Open your mind and don't expect everything, especially a city EV, to look like a 3-Series.

I agree...it has to be compact and lightweight...couldn't they just do the EV stuff to the black cars in this post http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=627861?

Just saying...the old car looks far more elegant than this box on wheels...make the old car a bit lighter...put the batteries in and call it a day.

[faucj]

No not everything has to look like a 3-series, and some may like this sort of vehicle and the way it looks, but I still think a 2002-like/1-series electric car (coupe) with Tesla Roadster-like performance and great handling would be awesome!

[LaynEE92]

The according to my automotive engineering professor. The i series is not just a concept car. It will be a production car. He has been to the plant several times already.

[Levi]

Fine. That is a city car. Can I then know why should the get "Sport +" button? What wrong with calling coupé every BMW that has 4 wheels and slap an M badge on every BMW? That is not being open minded. Why not slapp an M badge on my *ss and call my d*ck a coupé?

[Matski]

I like the i3 Coupe concept, but I agree, it's not a Coupe, it's just a 3 door hatch back. I saw both the i3 and i8 at the BMW-i Park lane showroom, and both look much better in the flesh.

I'm sure the production version will have a slightly more conventional look to it.

[KSERGEI-BY]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

Seriously? That's a pretty weak correlation considering all the other differences. I bet the Citroen has four wheels too. Copy cats!

EDIT: Pretty sure my dad's 2007 Econoline cargo van has a 2-spoke steering wheel as well (like this). Looks like Citroen are the copy cats now.

Im sorry but for some reason I really hate 2-spoke weels, and citro is the 1st what came in mind. Among other things that I really found not that different.

Question is - do you really like what you see in this pictures? I just dont. I actually like many current bmw's and Im ok with hatchbacks (for ex Audi A1 is ok for me).

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by KSERGEI-BY

Im sorry but for some reason I really hate 2-spoke weels, and citro is the 1st what came in mind. Among other things that I really found not that different.

Question is - do you really like what you see in this pictures? I just dont. I actually like many current bmw's and Im ok with hatchbacks (for ex Audi A1 is ok for me).

I really do. I like it a lot. I love modern, minimalist design. The house behind the car in this press photo is pretty much my dream home:

http://www.m3post.com/goodiesforyou/...t_Coupe_30.jpg

I love the way BMW breaks up the exterior panels, but still manages to keep a minimalist feel (they avoid it becoming busy). I do think calling it a coupe is a misnomer. Shame on BMW for engaging in the misuse of the term, but it's all over the place. I'm not crazy about the format (city car) in general, but I think this is an attractive and modern example. It looks like a hatchback with the same "coupe" (blegh) treatment given to the X6 SAV.

On the inside, I think it's stunning. I don't really have an opinion on two-spoke steering wheels, but in general, people tend to prefer spokes in odd numbers. The "odd number" rule applies to a lot of design decisions, so I can definitely understand the dislike there; I just don't share it. What I love about the interior is the juxtaposition of angular design, minimalism, and natural textures. Plenty of BMW interiors have featured wood panels, but none have featured them with an open edge, giving a shelf like appearance. It reminds me of this famous wood lounge chair designed by Charles and Ray Eams.

The overall effect is that this car is from the future. I don't know what year they intend to put it in to production, but if it's anywhere this side of 2020, it will be ahead of its time design wise.

EDIT: I see from your signature that you're an E36 owner. The E36 was a very handsome car, IMO, but it follows the 3-box form pretty closely. There are plenty of examples of great design with 3-box styling, but the form has been around for a long time. This design is a complete departure, so it wouldn't surprise me to hear that people who prefer 3-box don't like the new designs.

[Bimmerlover76]

Hyundai, now BMW... I see a trend with the rear windows.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Think about it.

A CVT tranny can be considered a 1 speed, if the shift-points are removed from the user.

Such as Park/eDrive/Reverse

If it had a CVT then they would indicate it as such.

It's a single speed transaxle. Single speed transmissions are sometimes used with electric motors since their peak torque is reached at 0 RPM, and they can typically spin up to 10000RPM+. The Tesla roadster uses a fixed gear transmission as well, for example.

[ron_jeremy]

Very intresting.
And certain bits and pieces is allready seen before.
As the picture 18 shows, the touch idrive seen in the new X5.
I like it alot actually.

[motorsport_cat]

anyone what those headlights are? theyre more like neons than led

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by bmw8

anyone what those headlights are? theyre more like neons than led

They're LED according to the BMW i website:

http://www.bmw-i.com/en_ww/bmw-i3/

My guess would be that they use optics just like the surrounds on current BMW models. The LED is shined into a piece of plastic that has optical characteristics (it guides and distributes the light).

[jadnashuanh]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Think about it.

A CVT tranny can be considered a 1 speed, if the shift-points are removed from the user.

Such as Park/eDrive/Reverse

Seems you don't understand a CVT. The CVT is infinity variable within the min/max of the pulley setup - the number of motor revs varies per wheel revolution depending on where the pulleys are set. The electric motor in this thing is always the same ratio of motor revs per wheel revs - i.e., a single speed transmission - it is functionally directly connected to the wheels with no variable gear multiplication.

[flyga3]

Hmmmm....
Well the interior is pleasant with many new textures and designs. But the exterior is not that eye pleasing.
The words that come to mind are "people mover".
I would expect this design to interlink with other i3's on the highway into an automated train and forget the "ultimate driving" of it. If the "numb steering" feel given the new electric power steering design on all current BMW models, then how shall this drive? BMW: Do not loose that go-kart feel of the road.

I expected BMW would have already unveiled a similar "Tesla Model S" electric by now, given BMW's much larger resource and technology base with respects to sedans. That Model S is much more in "BMW alignment".

But as long as those diesels come to the US, I can forget all this "i" stuff.

[Remonster]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Think about it.

A CVT tranny can be considered a 1 speed, if the shift-points are removed from the user.

Such as Park/eDrive/Reverse

There would be no point in a CVT with an electric motor, when they say single-speed you can be sure they mean literally one gear like a Tesla.

[Jason]

Looks like the prototype spy pics were very accurate, and also shows just how much better something looks once it's polished up into final form.


Spy pic from: http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=740072

[SCOTT26]

Both the BMW i8 Spyder and i3 Coupe concepts are 90% the production i3 and i8 models.
The reason why we have showed you just variants of these two models instead of anything outwith the i3 and i8 is because we want to keep the public updated. We want to show you the progress these cars are taking because at first with the i3 and i8 nobody believed that they would make production looking as they did.
The further concepts provide that window that shows the progress and also answers that question that yes they will look as striking as the initial concepts.

By 2020 BMW expect to have a full range of BMW i models available, currently under development within BMW in Munich and Toyota in Japan is our smaller i8 model. But BMW are looking at other concepts for the brand such as an i1 City car, a mid-line sedan and a SAV model.
As I said they are looking at, as for now the current priority is the i3 and i8 and bringing them to the market.

The goal for BMW i is to bring individuality in sustainability to the premium segment , A BMW i car will always have a distinctive design and drivetrain.
One thing a BMW i car will never be is a conventional electrified BMW model .

[bradleyland]

I can't wait to see the production product. If the styling and interiors follow this line, I can see myself being a life long BMW customer. The move to EV is inevitable, and I'm very excited to see where BWM is taking that concept.

[red-sauerkraut]

Originally Posted by Remonster

There would be no point in a CVT with an electric motor, when they say single-speed you can be sure they mean literally one gear like a Tesla.

Sounds like a party

[Fuman]

A city daily drive. Hmmm...

[Booster]

"Primer"

[Vector Pilot]

Good to see the word "Concept." i3 Coupe's specs and style looks like a design studio project. I recommend BMW look to Tesla for inspiration.