Electric BMW Will Be Priced Lower Than Electric Opel

Buying a BMW i3 will be cheaper than buying an Opel Ampera-German car manufacturer BMW has interesting plans for the price setting of its new electric vehicle. The popular car maker intends to start offering its electric BMW i3 model, which will be released on the market in 2013 at a very competitive retail price. This was reported by BMW boss Norbert Reithofer.

So it looks as though the BMW i3, is going to be somewhat cheaper than you would expect from this German car maker. It was in an interview with a German magazine (Handelsblatt) that BMW boss Norbert Reithofer reveiled that the car would be available at less than ? 40,000 on the German market.

This would make it considerably cheaper than the Opel Ampera, a competing electric car that can currently be bought for ? 44,500 on the market. Because the BPM does not have to be paid for this electric vehicle in Holland, the price on the Dutch car market will be very similar to the car price in Germany.

At the moment, however, exact price settings for other European car markets haven't been announced. It will also be a while before prices and/or release details for the American market will be released.

How is car manufacturer BMW able to offer its electric vehicle at such a competitive price?

In Europe, the car brand BMW is known as prestigious and luxurious. It does not make a habit out of competing on pricing. Furthermore, the BMW i3 was expected to be a lot more expensive due to the high amounts of carbon fiber that were processed in the electric vehicle. So, how is the car maker able to offer its electric vehicles at a lower price than the Opel Ampera?

Well, the manufacturer decided to set up a new factory for carbon fiber in the American village Moses Lake to produce the i-models of car manufacturer BMW. Until now, carbon fibers were mainly handmade, which revved up prices significantly. These fibers are made in the US, after which they are further processed in Germany. Finally, the materials are transformed into CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) in the BMW factories.

With the help of the factory in America, the production of carbon fiber costs BMW as much as the production of aluminum does. This is why the car manufacturer is able to launch its electric cars at this very competitive price. But we will have to wait for its release to see how BMW customers will react to the vehicle and the lower price setting.

What Is the BMW i8 Concept?

The BMW i8 concept is the next step in the evolution of the BMW autos. The initial testing of the concept has already been carried out. This is also part of the "Project i" of the BMW, which will release state-of-the-art automobiles for various types of drivers. Unlike the i3, the i8 is for sports car fanatics who want more innovation.

The i3 concept lends its modified electric dive system to the i8 concept, which takes the game further with its engine that presents 220 hp and 300 Nm torque. The powerful engine provides incredible performance for a sports car, but the fuel consumption is similar to that of a smaller vehicle. It has a very fast acceleration, so quick, in fact, that the car's speed can go to 62 mph from 0 in just 5 seconds. The fuel consumption is also at a remarkable rate at with 3 liters consumed for every 100 kilometers. This means that the i8 has a much better efficiency than the cars today with the same performance.

The battery is lithium-ion and can be charged by plugging it to a power supply. This is much like in the i3 concept. Without fuel, the BMW i8 can travel for about 20 miles.

BMW's Project i features the LifeDrive architecture, and in the case of the i8, the LifeDrive design enhances its sports car nature. The result is a superior performance on the road and amazing dynamics. The BMW i8 is powered by the motor in the front axle section and the combustion engine in the rear area. An energy tunnel covers the battery. This energy tunnel also connects the motor and the combustion engine. The arrangement of these parts gives the automobile a low center of gravity, which gives cars a greater stability.

As you can see on the published BMW i8 pictures, the sports car comes with a dynamic design on its exterior. However, its dynamic features are not just external. The interior is said to offer space for four people, including the driver.

BMW says that their new sports car offers an emotional, sustainable, and unique driving experience. People could understand that with the amount of advanced features present, the i8 would definitely be in for the thrill of road racers. But the "emotional" tag inspires curiosity. On the other hand, the eco-friendly features give the car sustainability.

The balance of technology and art gives the car an incredible performance and attractive appearance. The exterior appearance of the car even at rest may attract even people not inclined to sports cars. The transparent roof and doors of the vehicle gives an illusion of lightness, while the short front and rear projections highlight that "sports car impression."

If you look at side view BMW i8 pictures, you will see a streamlined appearance. The side is designed to give a smooth stream flow look that gives an illusion of forward motion even when at rest. The doors are designed to turn upwards. They open out from the sills near the rear. This is part of the modern touch of the i8 concept.

The BMW i3 concept features a purely horizontal configuration, but the i8 concept abandons this arrangement. Instead, the i8 LifeDrive architecture features vertical layering. Keep in mind that the i8 is still a concept until its release in late 2013.

The BMW Project i Design

BMW's i lineup includes the BMW i3 and i8, which are going to be released in 2013. Their lineup also includes the BMW i4 and i5, whose designs are currently being developed. While none of the cars are in circulation today, there are reports already about their supposed designs. Images for the i3 and i8 versions have already been released.

The kind of technology that will be incorporated into the future models is not clear as of today, but the public now knows that the i3 and i8 concepts include lightweight, safety, eco-friendly, and efficiency features. Similar elements may be incorporated in the future models. As you may see in the pictures, the cars do have transparent surfaces and aerodynamic shapes. Despite the new features and its new overall design, you can still see the familiar BMW model.

Design

The exterior of the BMW i cars come with basic architecture. This is called the LifeDrive construction, where the major parts of the cars are divided into the Life module and the Drive module. The Life module is composed of materials made of CFRB. The Life module is where the passenger compartment is. The Drive module is where the operating mechanism of the cars is located. This includes the engine, motor, and battery. The LifeDrive design involves the layering of these two major components.

Streamlined Exterior

The aerodynamic design of the new cars guarantees that they have an efficient driving force and reduced pull. This optimized design allows air steam to move along the surface of the car smoothly, reducing the effects of air friction. This design is particularly important in the i8 concept. 

The vehicles have covered underbodies so that their undersides are smooth. This removes too much air turbulence under the cars while on the road. The vehicle's "air curtains" and "aero flaps" also enhance smooth movement of air along its surface. All these features ensure efficiency whether the cars run on fuel or battery.

Colors

Light silver and glossy black are the most famous external colors of the BMW i vehicles. The color combination gives the cars a technical and modern look, but not too stern. There are no signs that the company will come up with i models that have different color combinations. 

However, the silver-black combo matches the cars' exterior. But the color blue invades some parts of the cars, like the kidney grille or the door sills. Blue also breaks the silver-black monotony, and somehow treats the starkness. The Stream Blue color is also found inside the car, particularly on the logo (though subtly). The seat stitching also has this blue color. However, the interior color is dominated by warm tones, probably to provide a cozy feel. Interior colors include dark brown and porcelain white to give a homely atmosphere.

Eco-friendly Materials

The concept of BMW on its new cars includes the use of renewable and naturally treated materials. This may be evident in the i3 and i8 concept, which indicates the use of sustainable materials. While there is still little information about the possible BMW i4 concept or i5 concept, the future cars may still incorporate the CFRB technology. There is a good chance that these cars will use the same materials as the i3 or i8 does.

Getting a Look at the BMW i3

BMW is now developing the i3, which is one of the car models now being made. This model will not be released until 2013. Part of the "Project i," the BMW i3 concept was first reported in 2011. The plan included the incorporation of the so-called range extender option.

The upcoming model was built based on the 'LifeDrive' concept, which means that the automobile will have sections made of entirely different materials. The 'Drive' section is made up mostly of light aluminum. This section makes up the bottom half of the entire vehicle. The life passenger compartment is made of CFRB or carbon-fiber reinforced plastic. You will find this section sitting atop the 'Drive' section.

The materials used guarantee the lighter weight of the whole car, which is said to just be 2750 pounds. The CFRB, for instance, has half the weight of steel. Another advantage of this material over steel is that it does not rust. The Life sections' shell is made up of CFRB, but the bodywork is made up of replaceable plastic panels. This section is attached to the 'Drive' framework with bolts and tough adhesives.

As you might have heard, the i3 model is powered by an electric motor. This motor was designed to give the card an optimum performance. More than that, it must be noted that the size of the motor is 40% smaller than the ones used in electric cars, better known as the Mini E cars. The i3 motor features a single-speed transmission of 170 hp, which can be found right above the rear axle. This rear-wheel drive auto keeps the front-rear weight balanced.

Underneath the passenger seat's floor compartment is the liquid-cooled Li-ion battery pack that powers the motor. The placement of the battery pack ensures that no intrusion in the cabin will occur and it also fixes the center of gravity of the automobile in a good location to guarantee stability. The storage capacity of the battery is unknown, but a full charge allows the vehicle to travel up to 140 miles.

The BMW i3 promises to reach a speed of 62 miles per hour in just 8 seconds. The top speed is expected to be around 93 miles per hour. This limitation is set to preserve battery life. The vehicle's battery charging time takes about 6 hours.

The i3 is a five-door hatchback model with suicide-style rear doors. The automobile is about 151.4 inches long and approximately 79.2 inches wide. It has two bench seats that can accommodate four passengers and has about 7 feet of cargo space.

The doors are made of transparent glass but have reinforcement bars. The roof is also made of glass armored with small bars. The whole design has been altered from the standard one to become environmental friendly.

People will have to wait until the latter part of 2013 to see the car, which is when it is expected to be released. The company has not shared too much information about their plans. There is already a price forecast; however, the exact price statement from BMW has not yet been released. At the same time, there may be changes to the i3 concept.