BMW imagines a new Coupe Concept version of the i3 battery car for the LA Auto Show.
BMW’s new battery-car brand has yet to sell a single car but if the i3 Coupe Concept at the LA Auto Show is any indication, the new line will be getting bigger in a hurry.
Officially designated a “study,” the i3 Coupe has a lot in common with the rest of what BMW hopes will become an entirely new line-up of environmentally friendly models, starting with the upcoming launch of the bigger i8 plug-in.
One thing all of the new BMW “i” models will share is the use of lightweight carbon fiber bodies designed to maximize range, as well as performance. With the i3 Coupe Concept, the maker has adopted what it bills as a new “stream flow” design concept that is meant to convey “an instant impression of lightness, transparency and streamlined aerodynamic qualities.”
It may be a "city car," but a creative layout yields a surprisingly roomy interior.
The i3 Coupe Concept rides on the same platform as the original i3 city car, though it is both lower and wider and sports a more steeply raked windshield, along with a sloping rear deck.
The surprisingly roomy interior features a lounge-like feel, with two individual rear seats. The cabin makes extensive use of sustainable materials such as leather, eucalyptus wood and wool.
The freestanding steering column features both an electronic gearshift lever and the Start/Stop system controls. The wheel is surrounded by controls bordered by brushed aluminum accent strips. The bottom of the dash angles out towards the driver to place essential controls and iDrive system within easy reach.
The new i3 show car, meanwhile, lays claim to being the world’s first fully networked vehicle, or so BMW claims, which allows the Coupe Concept to link its navigation and safety systems to the outside world – including both a smart infrastructure and similarly equipped connected vehicles. The idea is to make it possible for a motorist to “see” what is happening beyond the normal line of sight. That might mean getting word of an accident ahead, or perhaps ice on the roadway. The system would also allow the driver to see where parking spots are available and even book one in advance.
The basic goal of the new BMW “I” brand is to focus on advanced propulsion technologies and the i3 Coupe Concept – like the basic i3 – will use a battery-only drivetrain primarily designed for the urban environment. But as with any BMW, don’t expect this to be an electric stone pony. The show car pumps 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque through a single-speed gearbox linked to the rear wheels.
The basic layout of the concept, which BMW calls LifeDrive, is split into two modules, appropriately the carbon fiber reinforced plastic, or CFRP, Life module housing the passenger compartment, the aluminum-intensive Drive module consisting of the drive system, chassis and energy storage unit.
Energy is stored in a lithium-ion battery pack mounted under the floor of the vehicle – somewhat reminiscent of the approach taken by Tesla with the new Model S – that not only minimized intrusion into the passenger compartment but also maintains a sporty low center of gravity.
BMW plans to roll out the new “green” brand in little more than a year with the launch of the i8 and then follow with the i3. Company officials have hinted that other models will follow, though they’re not yet saying whether a production version of the i3 Coupe Concept is in the works.