LA MOTOR SHOW: BMW electric i car concept
A brand-new BMW electric concept car, rumoured to be the i4, will make its global debut at the LA motor showBMW has confirmed it will unveil a brand new electric car concept at the Los Angeles International Auto Show on November 28, as part of its growing 'i' Series electric range.
Before BMW has even offered the i3 city car or i8 sports car for sale, the company's newest i concept car will make its global debut in LA, signaling the confidence the Bavarian car maker has in its new electric car sub-brand. The German luxury car maker has not revealed any details or images of the new concept car, except that it will make use of lightweight, exotic materials.
According to BMW's official press statement, the new i concept "will join BMW i's growing line-up of visionary concept vehicles which are purpose-built from the ground up as electric and hybrid electric and constructed primarily from lightweight carbon-fibre".
There is speculation that the top secret i concept car will be based on the small-sized i3 but will forgo utility for performance, and could be badged as the i4. It remains to be seen whether the car will be a hot-hatch version of the i3 with a similar body shape, or a two-door, two-seat proposal with a much more aggressive character.
The BMW i3 will be offered with all-electric or hybrid range-extending powertrains, the latter expected for the Australian market when it arrives here in early 2014. The rear-wheel drive i3 should be good for about 160km of driving on a full battery charge before the three-cylinder petrol engine kicks in, adding an extra 400km to the car's range. BMW says the 125kW/250Nm i3 can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds, and is expected to be priced at around $50,000 in Australia, roughly the same price as the Nissan LEAF electric car.
BMW will also show the i8 Concept Roadster at the LA motor show, based on the i8 coupe which is also earmarked for Australia, and expected to fetch around $300,000. The i8 Concept Roadster is a serious performance machine, accelerating from 0-100km/h in 5.0 seconds, with a maximum velocity of 250km/h.
Stay tuned to motoring.com.au for all the details on the new BMW i concept car and many others from the Los Angeles International Motor Show.
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