FRANKFURT - German premium carmaker BMW AG unveiled two electric and hybrid concept vehicles under its new i sub-brand at the end of last month in Frankfurt to spearhead its bold future mobility campaign.
The BMW i3 purely electric city car will hit the market in 2013. And the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car will go on sale in 2014, the Munich-headquartered company said.
The two models are "born electric", the company said, stressing that they were designed as alternative fuel cars from the ground up.
"We are marking another milestone in the history of the BMW Group. As chairman of the board and an engineer myself, I am very proud of this project," Chairman and CEO Norbert Reithofer said at the global debut of the two models in Frankfurt.
"As one of the world's leading premium car manufacturers, our aim is to offer customers purpose-built electric-drive cars as well," Reithofer added.
The company plans to offer additional i models following the i3 and i8 to meet stricter fuel economy and emission standards around the world, it said.
The rear-drive i3 Concept, which BMW said was specifically developed for use in an urban environment, is equipped with a zero-emission 125-kW electric motor, which has a range of about 150 km on a full charge.
Thanks to its LifeDrive architecture featuring a carbon fiber passenger cell, the four-seater combines an extremely low weight of 1,250 kg with optimal interior space and the highest crash safety levels. The motor is made of lightweight aluminum.
The i3 can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than eight seconds, while a high-speed charger achieves an 80 percent battery charge in only an hour.
"This vehicle will mark the launch of the first volume-produced car featuring bodywork largely made of carbon. It's a revolution in automotive design," said Klaus Draeger, board member for development.
The i3 has a wheelbase of 2,570 mm, length of 3,845 mm, width of 1,537 mm and height of 2,011 mm.
BMW i8 Concept
The plug-in hybrid sports car twins a modified electric drive system from the i3 Concept that is fitted over the front axle and a three-liter combustion engine.
Its hybrid drive with a system output of 260kW provides a range of up to 35 km in electric mode that is sufficient for most everyday journeys, BMW said.
The i8 accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in less than five seconds and boasts fuel consumption of less than three liters per 100 km.
It has an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h and space for up to four occupants.
The model also uses carbon fiber for the body and aluminum for the understructure to cut weight.
"The BMW i8 Concept is the sports car for a new generation - pure, emotional and sustainable," Draeger said.
The sports car is 4,632 mm long, 1,280 mm wide and 1,955 mm high. It has a wheelbase of 2,800 mm.
Both of the BMW i3 and i8 will be built at the company's Leipzig plant in Germany, it said. Around 400 million euros ($567 million) will be invested in new facilities by 2013.
Vehicle production will be CO2 neutral and will draw on renewable resources, BMW said.
The carmaker said it is providing answers to the mobility challenges of the future while pursuing a "holistic approach".
Besides purpose-built premium cars with electric drive, the company is also offering intelligent mobility services that focus on solutions for improved use of parking space, intelligent navigation systems with location-based information, intermodal route planning and car-sharing schemes.