Another stand that is catching our eye today at the opening day of the Frankfurt Motor Show is BMW-which is to to make its world debut of the i3 and i8 electric cars.
The first cars planned for release under the car maker’s new electric i brand appear at the show in near production ready form. Featuring a carbon fibre body and 168bhp electric motor, delivering 185lb ft of torque, the supermini sized i3 is expected to have a range of around 100 miles. In keeping with the ethos of the brand, the car is expected to offer perky performance too, with a 0-37mph time of less than four seconds!
The platform which underpins it has been designed to house a range-extender powertrain, too. That would allow the car to generate its own electricity on the move, extending how far it can go without needing to be recharged.
The larger i model is the i8, a hybrid, with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine developing 223bhp coupled with a modified version of the i3′s electric drive system. The motor would drive the front wheels while the petrol engine powers the rear, giving the car four-wheel drive capability. BMW estimates that the i8 will be good for a limited top speed of 155mph, with fuel economy of nearly 95mpg.
The UK will be among the first countries to get both, and already there are customers trying to place orders. ‘They won’t go into every dealership – mainly those in metropolitan areas,’ BMW GB informs us.
There is no indication yet of how many cars the UK will get, but it already seems that demand will far outstrip supply. BMW is currently deciding whether to sell the i models or offer them on a leasing scheme which would remove customers’ fears about battery life and costs.
The range will grow in future years, but the i sub-brand is about far more than just another model portfolio. It will eventually become what BMW calls a ‘mobility provider’, offering everything from parking services and traffic avoidance schemes to vehicle sharing and even bicycles and scooters.
Also appearing on the BMW stand will be a second generation of the hugely popular 1 Series offering increased legroom and ‘significantly optimised driving comfort’. The rear-wheel drive car will be available with a wide choice of ConnectedDrive systems, including new information systems such as the Speed Limit Information System with No-Passing Info and the Lane Departure Warning System with Collision Warning-now available for the BMW 1 Series for the first time.
A BMW X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics Edition also makes its world debut in Frankfurt today, setting a new standard in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Powered by a 120 kW/163 hp diesel engine, this model now has an average fuel consumption of 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the EU test cycle and CO2 emissions of 119 grams per kilometre.
