BMW i3 2012 Review

BMW Concept i3 is an uncompromising vehicle for sustainable urban areas. Powered solely by electricity and customized to meet the requirements of sustainable mobility without emissions. It is an intelligent form of urban transportation and travel.

BMW i3 is a very versatile concept, in which every detail has been designed and optimized to achieve the ultimate goal. Its innovative architecture makes life drives the BMW Concept I3 light, safe, spacious and dynamic. The innovative use of materials and intelligent light as well, not just the I3 concept to travel long distances on a single charge, and offer safety in crash situations. They also help to give the car an excellent driving dynamics.

The electric motor on the rear axle - that generates an output of 125 kW/170 hp and an impressive torque of 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of a stop - and a small turning radius combine to offer driving characteristics nice agile. I3 The BMW Concept accelerates from 0 to 60 km / h (37 mph) in under four seconds and the rest to 100 km / h (62 mph) in less than eight seconds.

BMW i3 2012
BMW i3 2012
The module called life evokes a feeling of space inside the car even more generous than the last conversion of vehicles to offer. Select the material to give the cabin a spacious and open character resembles a living room. The use of renewable raw materials is another feature of the interior, offering passengers an additional means to "live" the sustainability of the vehicle. Parts of the dashboard and door panels are visible from natural fibers, while the natural tan leather seats create a lounge atmosphere. With four seats, wide-mouthed opponent "coach" doors, with an initial capacity of 200 liters and an additional compartment in the front functional, the BMW Concept i3 is fully equipped to meet the demands of daily use.

Innovative features connectivity to create a seamless connection between the BMW Concept i3 and the lives of its customers outside the car. Remote access via a smart phone allows owners to find their cars to the flag about charging stations, battery charging and allows pre-conditioning at the touch of a button, and provide information on the state current vehicle. Meanwhile, BMW ConnectedDrive intelligent assistance to reduce stress on drivers to handle situations monotonous city and can reach their destinations more safely and in a more relaxed state of mind.

BMW i3 2012 images
BMW i3 2012

Compact, agile and robust.

The design of BMW Concept i3 reveals the qualities of the car when you laid eyes on her. BMW Concept I3 represent the dynamic interpretation of a vehicle impressive practice.

Dynamic proportions and compact showcase of the concept of agility BMW i3 and electric powertrain. From the side view, combining graphics and window sill to create a dynamic wedge-shaped, which gives the car a sense of pushing forward, even before he became a wheel. From the outside, a fluid silhouette and long wheelbase hint at extraordinarily generous space on offer from the inside, while the short front and rear overhangs make parking in tight spaces much easy. Practice gets another boost from the "coach doors" if opposing the construction create a new way to access the wide open spaces of the interior.

Large areas of glass and elements such as the black window surrounds and door sills give the vehicle a sense of lightness and, together with the carbon structures exposed to call attention to its low weight. Grand narrow 19-inch wheels add more side effects in the dynamic profile.

BMW i3 2012 interior
BMW i3 2012

Hits the front.

The front of the BMW Concept i3 has a very clear and neat. The key element is the grille attention that has shaped blue i BMW - with the transmission system electric vehicle - it is completely blocked. Beneath the grille silver layer front skirt gives it its sculptural form. Black surfaces to identify the functional areas of the front, as the cargo compartment under the hood and air intakes.

AirCurtains also give clear and visible expression to improve the aerodynamics of the BMW model i. The bright LED lights Usher in a new look at the lighting design of BMW. Formed with the grill is not surprising that the LED backlight U-shaped, lines are an important part of the new BMW let me against.

Functional rear.

Large, retractable rear window provides excellent access to the boot and the roof pillars to get up to create as much space as possible in interior design. The rear window also houses the rear lights, which are U-shaped (like headlights), and seem to float glass. Behind him is a very large boot, the capacity can be further increased by folding the rear seats.

The large rear diffuser silver marks the lower edge of the body and allows the driver to experience efficient aerodynamics of the car. Surrounded by a diffuser layer tapers sharply towards the blue route and is expected to continue under the car. Shape of the diffuser emphasizes strong position of the car. A sporty version can be found on the BMW Concept i8, forging a link between the two models.

Self-supporting and lightweight - inside.

Drive-life version of the architecture behind the BMW Concept I3 opens completely new possibilities for the interior. It is not the center of the tunnel bisecting the interior of the cabin, and thus creates a very free, open and airy feel.

Passengers seated in a raised "semi-command" position, which gives a good view of the hustle and bustle of city traffic and at the same time, access to places easier.

The total width front and rear seats to create a new sense of connection and space for passengers in the light. This provision also allows them to pass from one car to another and, if necessary, all the car comfortably on the same side. This represents a major boost to the comfort in tight parking spaces and when access to the side of the parked car is difficult.

A distinctive part of the interior of the cabinet lighting is a steering wheel. All guides oriented control - as the instrument panel, start / stop button, and the march - can be found here, making it useless to the center console. Behind the steering column is extremely complex also extends to a broad gauge inside. It starts with the vents next to the steering wheel, the solid line around the steering column, radio and individually controlled air conditioning, and then moves to the front passenger. Just before the front door after cutting his head toward the center and the interior is at the end of his trip to the central display (CID) to monitor the control panel above the radio and heating system.

Around the poster, however, the panel generates a surface design in which almost calligraphic scans showed a large area, great in a couple more and more delicate, before culminating in another section width. The control unit and therefore has a CID attractive contrast to the obvious, the precise boundaries of the dashboard.

The area around the dashboard, doors and surface of the BMW Concept i3 also offers a contrast material. The natural charcoal of high strength black humus base material and coatings are clear and present light elements, high quality and beautifully crafted from the inside for maximum effect.

Interface design.

Connectivity - integration of driver and passengers with the outside world and the information superhighway - has an important role in the BMW Concept I3. Three large screens work interfaces with the vehicle and the outside world. Instrumentation on the steering wheel comes directly in front of the driver. The independent design produces a very free and open to feel around and above the driver's head. At the same time, the central display (CID) curves out of the black and the technical layer of the upper dash to the passengers.

At another level, pay the very technical aspect of graphics display panel and CID visual form for i3 BMW Concept is electrically philosophy. All information displayed in high quality and visually appealing way that you expect from BMW.

The architecture of the BMW Concept i3 LifeDrive.

Both BMW Concept and function LifeDrive BMW Concept i8 i3 architecture, but the application of different geometric concept of the two concepts have been adapted to meet their various uses.

BMW Concept i3 has a horizontal split-variant of the concept of life. Here, the drive module provides a solid foundation for the life of cells, which is installed only. The reason for the functional architecture of the donation drive in life is a large battery. To ensure the electric heater, battery BMW Concept I3 is equally great. The battery storage space more efficiently was the way the car section of the floor where they occupy the entire central part of the module, in which case the car for optimum weight distribution and low center of gravity. The battery must be written the year of aluminum profiles, which offer protection from external influences. Crash-active structures in the front and rear provide the necessary energy absorption, if the front or rear-end collision.

The electric drive system as a whole, much more compact than a comparable internal combustion engine, ably accommodate the electric motor, the drive gear and electronics - in the space economy mode - in a small area in the rear engine.

The integration of all components to run the drive module eliminates the need for interior bisecting the center of the tunnel, through which power would pass were transferred to the rear wheels. I3 BMW Concept offers significantly more interior space and then other vehicles with the same pitch and - solutions, as the entire width of the seat - allows the interior to adapt effectively to the needs of urban transport. BMW Concept i3 offers comfortable accommodation for four passengers and about 200 liters of boot space, space for luggage as well.

The chassis of the BMW Concept i3 is also ideal for city driving. Its small turning circle and an enviable direct leadership is a recipe for great agility, particularly at low speeds.

All Electric - BMW Concept i3.

The electric motor in the BMW Concept I3 is designed to be used mainly in urban areas, developing 125 kW/170 hp and maximum torque of 250 Nm (184 Nm). Typically, an electric motor, maximum torque is developed at a dead end, unlike the internal combustion engine, where the torque increases the motor speed.

This makes the BMW Concept i3 very agile and offers impressive acceleration. BMW Concept i3 doing 00-60 km / h (37 mph) in under four seconds and 0-100 km / h (62 mph) in less than eight seconds.

At the same time, plenty of torque is delivered in a very large speed range as a result of the power delivery very smooth. The only gearbox ensures optimum transmission of power to the rear wheels and accelerates the BMW Concept i3-mail to a regulated market 150 kmh (93 mph) without power loss. The electric motor also allows the slowdown through the accelerator pedal. After the driver releases the accelerator to the electric motor acts as a generator, converting kinetic energy into electricity that is fed to the battery. Energy recovery generates a braking effect that makes a significant contribution to the deceleration of the vehicle.

Freewheel mode makes this unique "one foot control" acceleration and braking using only the accelerator even easier to use. When the driver off the pedal, the electric motor is zero torque control keeps the drive train is interrupted as long as the pedal is in this position. The coasts of the vehicle now without consuming energy, driven by its own kinetic energy.

Compact and powerful - the electric motor.

The electric motor in the BMW Concept i3 offers not only attractive driving characteristics, innovation is particularly evident in the favorable power-to-size. As a result of continuous development and refinement, the space needs of the electric motor used in the BMW Concept i3 is reduced by 40 percent compared to the engine used in the E. The new MINI e-motor is used today in the BMW Active E (Link). This compact unit is mounted above the rear axle, with power electronics, transmission and differential, and not to enter the cabin. The power required to drive the car and operate any other vehicle functions are provided by specially developed cells in lithium-ion batteries. BMW Concept i3 battery system has been detailed optimization that reduces the extent to which external factors can affect the power of your car.

The battery can be recharged in six hours in a standard wall outlet. If a high-speed charger is used a charge of 80 percent can be achieved in just one hour.

Range Extender increases the driving range.

While the MINI and field trials showed that 90 percent of the mobility needs of the pilot users can respond to the selection of the MINI E. However, some customers want more driving range, or you want a vehicle as flexible as possible. BMW Concept i3 offers therefore optional Extender, Rex, which allows the driving range has increased. Rex, a small gasoline engine, very smooth and quiet to drive the generator, which keeps the battery charge level, so the vehicle can continue to run on electricity.

In addition, an intelligent system heating / cooling keeps the battery at its optimum operating temperature at all times to contribute to a significant improvement in performance and longevity of cells.