Concept Official: BMW i3 and i8 Concepts

[K-A]

Well they're clearly becoming "softer", that goes without saying.

 

[EnI]

One question though, why are they still so heavy? the electronic motors/batteries? 1250kg for the i3 is not exactly light; 1480kg for the i8 isn't exactly light either.

Who ever said EVs or hybrids are / will be lighter than regular cars?
They carry quite some stuff extra over regular cars (batteries, electro motors, extra wiring, extra thermo isolation, extra ECU for Edrive management etc).
But they have to have all what regular car brings: all the safety & convenience features.

Batteries are still the heaviest part - quite exceeding weight of a full fuel tank. Since a lot of them are needed to reach a useful mileage. Therefore exotic lightweight materials are used: to bring the weight down - to the regular car level. Not lower. Without LW materials hybrids & EVs would be pigs - and they are, when based on regular car platforms, using conventional materials.

Look at the i8: only LW material is used - body frame entirely made of CFRP! - the ICE engine is small & light, fuel tank is small etc. but the car still weights 1480kg! Now imagine such a car being made from conventional materials: it would be at least 300kg heavier, if not more!

Sure battery unit could be smaller, and the fuel tank as well: resulting in a bit lower weight figures, but then mileage wouldn't be useful at all.

Yes, it's the battery tech that puts on all the weight. Although a single battery cell is relatively light, but the whole pack consists of huge number of cells, so the performance & mileage figures can be reached. Sure there is already a battery tech available offering more energy in a smaller pack - but the price is still way too high.

BUT ... expect battery tech progress to start blooming when EVs become more mass produced.

 

[go0gle]

the petrol companies can't be happy with this ...

New gen battery tech is essential for the future of the electric car, i don't think the ones they are using now are up to the task. They are too heavy, and you have to replace them after a while

 

[Giannis]

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[donkeykong]

i'm not a fan of the revised front end of the i8. What was the reason for chaging it?

 

[SCOTT27]

i'm not a fan of the revised front end of the i8. What was the reason for chaging it?

Passing crash regulations. Bar the difficult challenges that are complex for production, this is what you will be able to buy in 2014.
Everyone is going to want one, you can be sure of that.

 

[donkeykong]

Passing crash regulations. Bar the difficult challenges that are complex for production, this is what you will be able to buy in 2014.
Everyone is going to want one, you can be sure of that.

Over all I think the car looks great. Any hints on a price tag?

 

[Sayyaaf]

the cars belong to Peugeot ! They have nothing from BMW design language whatsoever except the kidneys.

 

[klier]

the cars belong to Peugeot ! They have nothing from BMW design language whatsoever except the kidneys.

BMW i brother. Regular BMW models will keep the familiar shapes and lines.

 

[dalab]

Scott, could tell us whether the fact that the wonderful i8 and i3 were presented on 29 July is not just to give relevance to be presented as an event in itself and separate sub brand "i" and further that the series 1 will already be on sale in September, means that there will be some new surprises for Frankfurt? some other bmw concept or production car, mini, rolls?

 

[SKY]

Worst change is the i8 front end. The concept looked so much better. The rearlights have also be revised for the worse. Oh and BTW, the concept kidneys were absolutely fantastic, and these ones look so plain, they could at least mantain the kidneys.

 

[Human]

All good points. I understand change is never easy. We face it at our job's every day. Unfortunately the fun to drive/affordable (debatable term) enthusiast car will fall off the radar. I speak of a top price range of around $120k +/- US dollars. No car company will defend that price point (The little people can't afford that type car... you better slot some more production line for the i3.....once you have stepped on the Green slope...it can be a very slippery place to try and stand) and relative low volume (think M5) in the Green abyss. These type of cars will either stop being produced in a post "Green" Auto world or be so castrated from a content perspective....they would be a shell of the former "enthusiast" oriented car. Unfortunately/Fortunately depending on the side of the economic scale you fall....the only true performance/enthusiast cars will fall to the Ferrari's,Aston Martins,Lamborghini,Bugatti,etc.Collector type cars/prices. I hope I'm wrong. Thanks. PalBay

The BIG problem is that EV's is factually not the answer to a greener way of driving, Power Station/Grid Pollution, Disposing of Used Batteries, Manufacturing Process and Materials used in New Battery Production has all against it. Hybrids and EV's is a POLITICAL driven incentive that makes politicians look good and a means OEM's (i.e. BMW AG) use to obtain funding from Governments.

IMO the best solution - long term - is Hydrogen powered vehicles (because dwindling oil reserves and Bio-fuels from i.e. maize etc. is not sustainable - nor is EV's as stated already)

The current experiments i.e BMW i ; Chevy Volt etc.etc. cost Billions, money wasted and mark my words today (copy+paste+save!) 10 years from now we WILL all laugh at BMW, Governments @ all and say: "We told you so!" LOL

I wished BMW the best, only the opposite is true....BMW i will not make it into the next century if not funded by political driven incentives. As a standalone brand and if investors in the BMW Group see this tapping into BMW AG's cash reserves - they will kill off BMW i as fast as it came.

 

[klier]

Worst change is the i8 front end. The concept looked so much better. The rearlights have also be revised for the worse. Oh and BTW, the concept kidneys were absolutely fantastic, and these ones look so plain, they could at least mantain the kidneys.

Disagree. I think both the grille and new headlights/rearlights look fantastic. All those design elements inside out are just crazy awesome, on the i3 as well....I actually start to really like the i3, already better looking than the new One (not hard).

Wish Osna came around to say something. He'll love the design on both cars.

 

[Sayyaaf]

BMW i brother. Regular BMW models will keep the familiar shapes and lines.

Still a BMW mate, it has the roundel ... I don't buy this i crap, it isn't another brand if it has the BMW logo.

 

[klier]

It doesn't even have that, as there is a blue ring around the logo unlike normal Bimmers...

Anyways...i8 vs VED:

Vision Efficient Dynamics:

i8 Concept:

 

[Betty Swollocks]

It doesn't even have that, as there is a blue ring around the logo unlike normal Bimmers...

That DEFINITELY makes a big difference then.

 

[klier]

Well if you think so....

And yea I detected the negative sarcasm, don't worry mr Sour.

 

[Cashmere]

Stupid question, but will the production versions actually have the transparent doors and two tone paint jobs?

 

[SCOTT27]

The i8 and i3 will be offered with a choice of personalisation options for color and trim . What is interesting is that they take a whole new direction from BMW in terms of color and trim but very much with the BMWi "Science Fiction , today" feel to the look and materials.

As covered previously you cannot have the full glass doors because of side impact regulations. So you will get the door in it's CFRP form but with personalisation it could be finished in body color , contrasting color or even as plain Carbon. Color for Exterior and interior will be unique to the brand just as BMW do not share any colors with Rolls-Royce and MINI (MINI Goodwood excepted). Since the advent of the Vision Efficient Dynamics which is approaching it's second , yes second birthday. Every aspect was looked at to see what can be retained but progressed via legislation for production. The overall progress of the i8 over the Vision Efficient Dynamics shows some of the form that will be available when the car is launched , as they have been working on how to keep the car identifiable and of course make the car compatible for the real world.

This Autobild impressions gives you an idea of how the car will look for production.

 

[wookieecrisp]

To be honest, the car looks MUCH better without the weird glass doors. I love that red one!