14 DAY TRIAL // The first purely electrically powered production car within the BMW Group, as the company presented it, the BMW i3 has made its official world public debut at the IAA 2011 in Frankfurt these days.
Using a 125 kW electric motor and rear-wheel drive, the BMW i3 concept vehicle has a zero-emission electric drive and a range of approximately 150 km (93 miles).
Other highlights of this vehicle include the innovative LifeDrive architecture featuring a carbon passenger cell, which enables the BMW i3 Concept to reach a weight of 1,250 kg with optimal interior space and, according to the manufacturer, the highest crash safety levels.
But don't let the 'toy' look fool you. This vehicle does the 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint in less than eight seconds, while a high-speed charger achieves an 80% battery charge in just 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, Member of the Board responsible for Development, back in July, when the German automaker officially launched the car.
The application of this new CFRP technology allows a weight reduction, compared to a conventional electric car, of between 250 and 350 kilos (551 and 771 lbs).
The production version of the BMW i3 will reach the roads in 2013, with life cycle emission figures expected to be at least a third lower than for a highly efficient combustion-engine car. Moreover, BMW brags that if the i3 is run on electricity from renewable sources, the figures improve by well over 50%.
Other proofs that the i3 is fully suited for everyday use in the urban environment come in the form of a four-seat layout and a 200-litre luggage compartment.
The BMW i3 posed for autoevolution at the IAA 2011:
