New BMW sub-brand: BMW i

[bum-man]

If it is Smart size and has a carbon fiber chassis it would undercut that by a large margin I would think. Perhaps around 800 kg?

 

[Beemer B773ER]

i8 sounds interesting. Any M version planned?

i8M.... I-ate-em!

and in reverse, M8i = Matey

or.. Mi8 = Might.

 

[klier]

If it is Smart size and has a carbon fiber chassis it would undercut that by a large margin I would think. Perhaps around 800 kg?

The Mini Rocket man will be Smart size. This is a bit bigger I think.
It will still have heavy batteries though. 800 kg is too good to be true.

 

[Osnabrueck]

What is the weight target for the i3, for example? 1000 kg? Better not be a whole lot more!!

Honestly... No idea. This is "blue ocean" territory, because BMW is creating this segment from market insights and a whole lot of conjecture.

Let's just talk price target... What's the public willing to pay for the entry-level BMW of the future? $30k? $60k? It's important, but BMW is making these decisions based on their investments and product roadmap, not necessarily what the masses are prepared to pay in 2013.

Who's to say that the i8 couldn't or shouldn't be a six-figure status symbol? From what we know - just about everything is on the table.

Lexus has been beating the eco-chic drum with very mixed results since 2007. BMW is going to get it right by creating an eco-performance 'lifestyle brand.'

This is compelling stuff.

 

[klier]

i8: bye bye diesel, hello petrol

According to Dr Klaus Draeger, i8 will get a (4 pot) petrol engine instead of the 3 cylinder diesel as seen in the VED.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

This is compelling stuff.

Without trying to seem overly dramatic....this could well be history in the making... not history as in a record, or world-first or some other quantitative measure, but rather the establishment of a brand from the company that really understands marketing. It may not be of much interest to those who aren't interested in marketing and all that it encompasses, but for a handful of us, not only are the vehicles they produce going to be popcorn-munching compelling, but also how they go about building the foundations for the BMWi brand.

Compelling indeed Osnabrueck!

 

[TheDriver]

According to Dr Klaus Draeger, i8 will get a (4 pot) petrol engine instead of the 3 cylinder diesel as seen in the VED.

Will require slight tweaks in the engine compartment though this switch of engine due to fuel complications was probably envisaged shortly into it's development and long before this becoming public. Performance might not be effected but the emissions and economy figures most likely will.

I don't think it was ever BMW's intent to take on the supercar establishment directly because the performance just isn't there and nor is the whole sensory bombardment you normally get for a supercar but it could very well point to the direction of how future supercar development could look. Anyhow this will sell BIGTIME in California as a stablemate to their Prius.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Report: 2014 BMW i8 Supercar To Feature Gasoline Engine, Not Diesel

We’ve had a pretty good idea as to what the upcoming BMW i8 supercar, the production version of 2009’s Vision EfficientDynamics concept car, would look like thanks to the reveal of the original concept and subsequent prototypes. Then, just this week, BMW announced its eco-focused ‘i’ sub-brand and confirmed the i8 name for its new supercar along with the release of these teaser sketches.

What we don’t know is what powertrain is destined to appear in the future BMW supercar. Both the Vision EfficientDynamics concept and prototypes have been fitted with a plug-in hybrid system. In this case, a combination of a three-cylinder turbodiesel with a hybrid synchronous motor at the front axle and a full-hybrid engine at the rear axle, enabling an overall system output of 328 horsepower.

However, for production, the i8 will almost certainly come with a gasoline engine with more than three cylinders. The information was revealed by the automaker’s R&D chief Klaus Draeger who spoke recently with Autocar.

Draeger explained that the i8 will be a global model and that diesel was largely relevant to European markets only.

The BMW i8 has been confirmed for sale in Europe by October of 2013, which means the car will likely reach U.S. shores in time for the 2014 model year. As BMW’s flagship, pricing won’t be cheap, with early estimates hovering around the $200,000 mark. This is not surprising given its likely competition and advanced plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

- Report: 2014 BMW i8 Supercar To Feature Gasoline Engine, Not Diesel

 

[HighestOfHigh]

BMW's i Ventures gets new president, board

BMW i Ventures Names Edward Robinson President, Announces Plans for Setting Up an Incubator Space in New York City

Advisory Board also Established; Josh Rubin, Founder of Cool Hunting, Becomes First Member

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BMW i Ventures – the automaker's recently established venture capital company with an investment fund of up to $100 million to develop individual mobility solutions for the world's biggest cities – today announced Edward Robinson, a 32-year BMW Group veteran, will be President. In addition, the fund announced the planned creation of an incubator laboratory space in New York City and establishment of an expert advisory board whose purpose will be to guide decisions regarding future investments.

"As urban populations around the world increase, the goal of BMW i Ventures is to develop and leverage technology to further the freedom of mobility," said Robinson, who will assume the BMW i Ventures role in addition to his continuing service as President and CEO of BMW Financial Services, Americas Region. "We have chosen to base our operations in New York City because of its position as a center of digital media and technology and its proven commitment to furthering this industry."

These announcements come as BMW i Ventures moves into its next phase of development with New York City as its base of global operations and on the day that New York City will announce the winners of the BigApps 2.0 competition, a contest that challenged software designers to mine public data housed within New York City government to benefit the public. BMW i Ventures is a strategic partner of the BigApps initiative and will help announce the winners today. BMW Group Member of the Board Ian Robertson also sits on the jury of the BigApps competition and served on the BigApps selection committee. BMW i Ventures will double the prize money awarded to this year's winners.

Established in February of this year, BMW i Ventures is focused primarily on mobile connectivity and location-based services aimed at increasing the freedom of mobility of individuals in the world's most heavily populated urban centers. Significantly, BMW i Ventures will focus on premium mobility services – meaning that it will also look for solutions that are not exclusively related to automobiles.

The fund's first investment was in MyCityWay, a set of location-aware apps for urban navigation that provides users with information on public transportation, parking availability and local entertainment that was one of the winners of New York City's inaugural BigApps.

Beyond financial investment, the BMW i Ventures plans to establish an incubator space in its facility to further support up-and-coming companies and technology solutions.

"We had the potential to establish BMW i Ventures headquarters in a number of the world's mega cities but we chose New York City because it is one of the world's most complex and vibrant cities as well as for its sheer level of talent and creativity," said Joerg Reimann, Managing Director of BMW i Ventures. "We also credit Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) for creating a welcoming environment and nurturing the City's tech scene."

Also announced today was the establishment of the BMW i Ventures advisory board and Josh Rubin, principal at Captain Lucas, Inc. and founder of Cool Hunting as the first member. Rubin has been noted for his expertise on strategy, content, and design for digital products, services, and publications, specifically in mobility-user experience and consumer behavior.

"With the assets BMW brings – not just in terms of financial, but including brand recognition, market access, technological and engineering as well – BMW i Ventures is poised to become a major enabler of software-based mobile solutions for years to come," said Rubin. "There are so many companies with early-stage products that with the right amount of guidance and fostering could become the next indispensable tool for urban mobility."

All of today's announcements culminate to set a positive foundation for BMW i Ventures' future work.

- BMW's i Ventures gets new president, board

 

[SCOTT27]

BMWi Sustainable Neighbourhoods Project.

YouTube - Sustainable Neighbourhoods -- Mission Statement

 

[EnI]

The BMW i product portfolio will also feature an electric bicycle - BMW just filed a registration for "i Pedelec" trademark.

Think of futuristic CF & composite material based electric vehicle - just like the other BMW i products.

It's expected the production version of BMW Concept C scooter will also be sold under BMW i badge. The idea is also that the next BMW superbike will be marketed under BMW M sub-brand accordingly. To spread the i & M brands on bikes as well. Not a bad idea IMO.

 

[Giannis]

The BMW i product portfolio will also feature an electric bicycle - BMW just filed a registration for "i Pedelec" trademark.

Think of futuristic CF & composite material based electric vehicle - just like the other BMW i products.

It's expected the production version of BMW Concept C scooter will also be sold under BMW i badge. The idea is also that the next BMW superbike will be marketed under BMW M sub-brand accordingly. To spread the i & M brands on bikes as well. Not a bad idea IMO.

Indeed, that is a great idea, which communicates the virtues of the BMW brand, throughout all of its sub-brands.

 

[SKY]

The BMW i product portfolio will also feature an electric bicycle - BMW just filed a registration for "i Pedelec" trademark.

Think of futuristic CF & composite material based electric vehicle - just like the other BMW i products.

It's expected the production version of BMW Concept C scooter will also be sold under BMW i badge. The idea is also that the next BMW superbike will be marketed under BMW M sub-brand accordingly. To spread the i & M brands on bikes as well. Not a bad idea IMO.

I sume BMW M motorbike already exists with the S1000 RR

 

[EnI]

I sume BMW M motorbike already exists with the S1000 RR

I does, but it still doesn't wear M badge. Yet.
Perhaps the next generation ... or BMW Motorcycles are working on something above the S1000 RR?

IMO it's a great idea to enhance the BMW M & BMW i brands with proper motorcycles (eg. with futuristic electric scooter for i, and with superbike for M). Will see ...

 

[SCOTT27]

Bilder aus AUTO BILD 30/2011 - Bilder - autobild.de

 

[Shining Star]

 

[E38_E30]

*delete*

 

[Shining Star]

Here's a larger image from Autobild's cover.

 

[Rainer271]

Check Out the BMW i Mobile App in Real Life

Shmee is a lucky man. BMW just launched the i8 in the UK and he was invited to take a drive in it as well. As he’s a tech junkie (he says so himself), every of info on the technology available on the new plug-in hybrid sports car had to be explained to him. Including the BMW Mobile App for i cars.

There are two cars compatible with it at the moment, as you probably guessed, the only two i cars BMW is making right now: the i3 and i8. What we have in the video below is a real-life example of how this app works on the latter.

Through it you can actually do a lot of things. For starters, you know how you always wonder if you locked your car once you get inside your house? Well, with this app, you don’t have to go back anymore and check it yourself, you can use your phone to do that. Not only that but you can also check if the windows are closed and the battery charge level.

Furthermore, you can actually schedule your car to charge at various intervals of time so you can be sure everything is set when you leave home. In this regard, you can also pre-heat it or cool it down if it’s been parked in the sun for longer periods of time.

Other functions include detecting the nearest charge stations and their status (if they’re occupied or not) and then sending the coordinates to your car’s navigation system. You can flash the lights, lock and unlock your car or even honk, to find it in a parking lot.

Since both the i3 and i8 were built with efficiency in mind, a sort of efficiency counter is also available on the phone, telling you just how careful you were when driving. Behind the wheel of the i8, we don’t expect high ratings but in the case of the i3, things might be different.

Last but not least, you can check your car’s status regarding the maintenance service. The app will tell you when you need to change the oil, filters, brake pads and so on. And just think that not even 10 years ago, to do that you had to use a laptop and a OBD cable...

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http://www.autoevolution.com/news/check-out-the-bmw-i-mobile-app-in-real-life-video-84174.html#

 

[Betty Swollocks]

For starters, you know how you always wonder if you locked your car once you get inside your house? Well, with this app, you don’t have to go back anymore and check it yourself, you can use your phone to do that. Not only that but you can also check if the windows are closed and the battery charge level.

Furthermore, you can actually schedule your car to charge at various intervals of time so you can be sure everything is set when you leave home. In this regard, you can also pre-heat it or cool it down if it’s been parked in the sun for longer periods of time.

Other functions include detecting the nearest charge stations and their status (if they’re occupied or not) and then sending the coordinates to your car’s navigation system. You can flash the lights, lock and unlock your car or even honk, to find it in a parking lot.

You have been able to do most of this stuff with BMWs for years, and if it's anything like my M135i it will just leave you frustrated as after a few minutes the instruction will not have been sent and you'll just get a message on your phone saying "unable to connect with car".

The only functionality I've been able to get to work with any reliability is the "send to car" navigation instructions via Google Maps.