The German manufacturer’s new sub-brand, called BMW i, is all about personal mobility, sustainability and future orientation. The first two vehicles developed, and eventually produced, under project i are the i3 Concept and i8 Concept.
Besides the rather unoriginal lowercase ‘i’ name, the new sub-brand’s work looks pretty interesting. Both cars are similar in nature but will appeal to different customers; the i3 Concept is a small city car that will run on electric power alone, while the i8 Concept is a sports car with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Current R&D using the MINI E and the BMW ActiveE provides feedback essential in the development of the new electric powertrain.
BMW i3 Concept
Previously known as the Megacity vehicle, the i3 will be BMW’s first mass-produced all-electric vehicle. Tagged as a light, safe and spacious car, the i3 will be equipped with an electric motor located over the rear axle, which will produce 170 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. It will be connected to a single-speed gearbox.
The concept car is said to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h less than 8 seconds and can reach a top speed of 150 km/h.
Curiously, the i3 will feature a go pedal with an accelerator/decelerator function; the regenerative braking on the car makes such a significant contribution to slowing down that BMW figures 75% of all braking operations around town can be performed without touching the brake pedal.
In addition, if an estimated range of 120 to 150 km isn’t enough, the i3 can be optionally equipped with a small combustion engine to replenish the lithium-ion battery pack and provide the car with extended-range capabilities.
BMW i8 Concept
Pure, emotional and sustainable—that’s what BMW calls its future sports-car concept. The i8 uses a reworked version of the i3’s electric motor, but it’s connected to the front axle. Meanwhile, a turbochaged 1.5-litre 3-cylinder that develops 220 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque takes care of turning the rear wheels; that’s right, the i8 is, arguable, an all-wheel drive car. But you can drive it on electric power alone, if desired.
With both energy sources, the i8 Concept is said to blast from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds while consuming fuel at a rate of between 5 and 7 L/100 km.
The 2+2, four-passenger i8 Concept is based on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car, and has an EV range of 35 kilometres.
