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BMW has made good on their plans for developing an urban vehicle for the metropolitan areas. They’ve unveiled the first sketches and official details on the future Megacity Vehicle due to come to the market in 2013. According to BMW, it will be the world’s first volume-produced vehicle with a passenger cell made from carbon. The Megacity Vehicle will be built on a new LifeDrive architecture that will help reduce the car’s weight by 250 to 300 kilos. The LifeDrive concept consists of two horizontally separated, independent modules. The Drive module integrates the battery, drive system, and structural and crash functions into a single construction within the chassis. Working in conjunction with the Drive module is the Life module which consists primarily of a high-strength and extremely lightweight passenger cell made from CFRP. These aspects of car building will lead the way to a whole new process for building cars. A process that will be simpler, more flexible, and use less energy. "The drive system remains the heartbeat of a car, and that also applies to electric vehicles. Powertrains also remain a core area of expertise of Bayerische Motoren Werke. Electromobility and the hallmark BMW driving pleasure make an excellent match, if you go about things the right way. For this reason we are developing the powertrain for the Megacity Vehicle in-house – that includes the electric motor, the power electronics and the battery system." In an interview with Automotive News, BMW revealed plans on selling 30,000 units of the i3, which they say is "comparable to one of the lower-volume Mini derivatives." BMW also revealed that when it does go on sale in 2013, the i3 will be priced at about 40,000 euro in Europe, or about $55,000 at the current exchange rates. UPDATE 05/16/2011: New details on the BMW i3 have been revealed thanks to CarAndDriver. According to them, the i3 will be priced at about $35,000 and will be powered by an 150 HP electric engine. It will be capable of hitting a top speed of 100 mph, while delivering an average autonomy of 160 miles. UPDATE 08/15/2011: The BMW i3 was recently spotted on Wacker Drive in Chicago, presumably while filming a commercial. Hit the jump to see the i3 live and in color! UPDATE 11/21/2011: After a very long time the upcoming BMW i3 has been caught on the back of a truck in the south of Germany. This latest prototypes gets the headlights in the correct position, while the roof line and that the window in the C-pillar are similar to the i3 Concept. The doors will be opened the same way as on the Mini Clubman - meaning the i3 will also get suicide doors. The car will use a powerful 170 HP electric engine that will sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in under 8 seconds and up to a top speed of 93 mph. UPDATE 02/01/2012: The upcoming BMW i3 has been caught testing again, during winter conditions in Nothern Sweden. UPDATE 08/01/2012: Our spy photographers have caught the next BMW i3 testing during hot weather conditions somewhere in Southern Europe. Press release after the jump. BMW i3, Presumably During Commercial Filming Cold Weather Testing in Sweden Press release The BMW Group is once again breaking new ground with the Megacity Vehicle (MCV), due to come onto the market in 2013: “The Megacity Vehicle is a revolutionary automobile. It will be the world’s first volume-produced vehicle with a passenger cell made from carbon. Our LifeDrive architecture is helping us to open a new chapter in automotive lightweight design. Indeed, this concept allows us to practically offset the extra 250 to 350 kilograms of weight typically found in electrically powered vehicles.” says Klaus Draeger, Member of the Board of Management for Development. 45 comments: BMW i3 Although it will be made from carbon, but still, I don’t like the looks of this car. It’s not an ideal car for me. However, when I see its side view, I found it some kinda unique among the others.
 The design of this BMW i3 is so impressive, I love the body construction and how the automaker emphasize the uniqueness of this car. I also want to spot this on the road.
 It will still be a long drive before putting it up for real. Those questions you were talking about will be quite answered if it will be debuted right away. It is the MegaCity of BMW. Well, as you notice it is an urban car which most automakers now have.
 hmm. I still don’t think that the glass door of the car is safe aside from the privacy. I need to know on what’s the figure performance of the car and what technology that it used to make the vehicle reliable.
 Wow! The car doesn’t looks bad in that presumably commercial unlike on the sketch. Well, I hope that BMW will make a serious production for the i-series. With the futuristic design of the car, I bet it would sell like hotcakes in the market.
 I really love the styling of this car! The features have an impressive technology and great autonomy. And i would say that it was better than the i8. BTW,i still questioned the privacy of its glass door.
 BMW have announced the enhance version of the car. The styling of the concept car is great and it really looks more futuristic. I love the modification made on its exterior. However, too bad that it was a electric powered vehicle.
 hmm. Just looking at the engine used in this car I have a feeling that it will not sell well. This type of vehicle is unreliable and heck its top speed is limited!
 I really don’t like on how this car was design. Well, I have to admit that it will be an fuel economy car but I bet this one will remain as a concept and will serve as a basis for future production.
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Posted on
09.7.2011 @ 05:28