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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 I don’t know on how the BMW manage to make a continuous production of car. And I think they have a lot of car that is line up for future production.
I really don’t like on how this car look. I don’t know if its design will sell like Smart car though its smaller version. And heck! This car is electric we all know that its unreliable.
 As expected from the BMW they offer the only best and high performing vehicle! I’m also impressed on how they make their car to perform quite impressive!
 I really don’t want to see myself driving this car since it uses a electric engine! This version is not reliable. And Just like what the Top Gear have the said..WHERE TO CHARGE?
 Yay! Im not interested on this car! This is worst than the collaboration of the Abarth and rally cars. Heck! I don’t want an electric car for they are quite unreliable and still need a further research.
 Well, I really don’t like electric car model for I though they are the lamest production ever made! I think it would be better if they have built a coupe or something.
 BMW i3 cant figure out whats the good news for this car, It needs some development of sort updated version and has a lot thing to do better. I don’t see myself contentment for this type of hybrid.
 Wow, this is quite a surprise. I never thought that the actual car would look way better than the drawings. This one is really starting to look very good.
 It seems that BMW never understand the statement of the Top Gear Show! IMO, electric cars are the lamest production ever!
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Posted on
07.7.2011 @ 00:52