Concept Official: BMW i3 and i8 Concepts

[donkeykong]

Yup,I can live with the way the red one looks. If the picture is accurate the car would be a success no doubt.

 

[K-A]

Damn, that red one looks pretty good, and I'm not into the gimmicky-futuristic look. People will flock like crazy to make a "fashion statement" in that car.

 

[SKY]

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.

View attachment 8057

The red impression look so much better than the second concept. Is this front representarive of the final one?.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

These are going to be an unbelievable image boost for BMW. MB and AUDI better respond hard and fast.

 

[Centurion]

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

View attachment 8057

Call me a pessimist but I believe it when I see it n

 

[Beemer B773ER]

These are going to be an unbelievable image boost for BMW. MB and AUDI better respond hard and fast.

Wasn't that the job of the SLS and R8 ? ...

 

[Betty Swollocks]

These are going to be an unbelievable image boost for BMW. MB and AUDI better respond hard and fast.

To be honest, despite seriously loving that red i8 in the Autobild photos, technology aside, I don't think Audi have to respond to BMW. This is BMW's answer to the R8. Nice, but about five years too late.

 

[klier]

Lol, BMW answer to the R8, hahahaha!

To the E-tron, at best.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Lol, BMW answer to the R8, hahahaha!

To the E-tron, at best.

Now now Klier, I did say "technology aside".

 

[Giannis]

Lol, BMW answer to the R8, hahahaha!

To the E-tron, at best.

I'd say that Betty is certainly right!

The R8 is Audi's current "hello" model, while the E-tron is just a concept.

As far as the i8 is concerned, it might be a concept for now, but it is scheduled for production soon and BMW has invested quite heavily into its promotion. I think it's quite clear now, that the i8 is not just an electric "sportscar" concept, but also BMW's "halo" car...

 

[klier]

^ I was talking about the tech, but Betty understood me. R8 and i8 are both halo cars, that's so obvious you don't even have to mention it...

Now now Klier, I did say "technology aside".

Then I agree, yes. i8 kind resembles the R8, even...

 

[Beemer B773ER]

To be honest, despite seriously loving that red i8 in the Autobild photos, technology aside, I don't think Audi have to respond to BMW. This is BMW's answer to the R8. Nice, but about five years too late.

Considering that technology is the focal point of the i8's development, selling-point and its existence, I don't think you can simply put it aside when comparing it to current vehicles, ...let alone criticize BMW for being 5 years too late.

You might as well say, heritage aside, the new BMW M5 is a true M car.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

I think it's quite clear now, that the i8 is not just an electric "sportscar" concept, but also BMW's "halo" car...

Just to clarify (and hopefully different the i8 and the R8)... what sort of halo image/message is the i8 trying to convey about the BMW brand compared to the R8 for Audi ?

 

[SCOTT27]

In a sense... Yes the i8 represents a Halo Car for BMW , but it is an entirely new sports car concept for a new era. Although the genetics of BMWi - when they become more cost effective via volume production will filter across to other BMW models and more specifically BMW M. So you are effectively in the pipeline for a BMW M product that uses the genetic make up as BMWi but will follow the BMWi lead by being an individual stand alone product under the BMW M sub-brand.

 

[wookieecrisp]

In a sense... Yes the i8 represents a Halo Car for BMW , but it is an entirely new sports car concept for a new era. Although the genetics of BMWi - when they become more cost effective via volume production will filter across to other BMW models and more specifically BMW M. So you are effectively in the pipeline for a BMW M product that uses the genetic make up as BMWi but will follow the BMWi lead by being an individual stand alone product under the BMW M sub-brand.

Does this mean that we will see an i8M? Will it have petrol-only power?
Petrol i8M would be a very interesting car...

 

[Deckhook]

Was reading up about both the i3 and i8, great the i3 may be but it is let down badly by the present battery technology, to have a range of only 80miles between charges means it will be of little use to 99% of people though its performance is extraordinary for an electric city type car. The i8 seems the more believable of the two, to charge on the move is far more practical and it looks stunning in that multi-colored paint finish, can't wait to see one in a plainer finish.

 

[SCOTT27]

Does this mean that we will see an i8M? Will it have petrol-only power?
Petrol i8M would be a very interesting car...

We have been told there will not be an petrol powered i8M because it defeats the purpose of the i8. BMWi and BMWM are two different sub-brands , they will not cross-over but both will share lightweight CFRP technology.

 

[deity]

Terribly sad that BMW doesn't come up with a true SLS/R8 competitor before heading into a "new era of sportscars"

 

[SCOTT27]

cars.com has spotted the BMW i3 and BMW i8 on the streets of Chicago , filming the promotional material for the IAA , as the previous Vancouver footage had digitally created cars because the car's were not ready in time. Something similar to the footage of the Vision Efficient Dynamics undergoing filming at the BMW Welt back in August 2009.

But given the value of the concepts , the engineering team plus the question everybody PM's me about - Who is he? meaning the driver that is always seen in new BMW's at launch and especially at Autoshows when they are driven onto the stage?

BMW are currently building more i3 and i8 Concepts for use because hollywood has come calling. For their latest sci-fi projects which one is about Cloning and Connectivity - Vision Connected Drive also stars alongside a new BMW debuting in 2012. And the other which reads like "Westworld meets Wall st." - Very interesting projects with originality. Although I cannot remember for which project the i cars were for.


Although after the IAA the car's will head to the LA and Tokyo shows respectively.

The rest of the photos are seen here.
BMW i3, i8 Caught in Chicago - KickingTires

Acknowledgement to cars.com

 

[mini_cooper4]

They both have good presence