BMW i3 and i8

The stars of BMW’s future have finally arrived. These are the first official pictures of the founding members of the eco-friendly ‘i’ sub-brand – the family hatch all-electric i3 and the hybrid supercar i8. 



Both models are built using BMW's LifeDrive construction. This essentially splits the car into two separate parts – an aluminium Drive section which houses the battery, suspension, and crash structures and a Life passenger section made from CFRP – a material at least as strong as steel but 50 per cent lighter. 

By using LifeDrive BMW claims to have cancelled out the weight penalty associated with the heavy battery packs electric cars must carry and the evidence suggests they're right. The i3 is taller and wider than a VW Golf, albeit around 30cm shorter, but it weighs just 1250kgs – that’s around 50kgs less than the lightest Golf. 

The ‘i’ cars come with a few subtle styling updates to mark them out as eco-specials. 

A blue ring now circles the badge, and the kidney grilles now have a matching blue background. BMW’s double circle headlights are replaced by U-shaped LEDs and both models take on a more curvaceous design than the firm's conventionally powered models.

The tall hatchback i3 gets a 168bhp electric motor mounted above the rear axle and delivers power to the rear wheels. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 7.9 seconds and the i3 is electronically limited to 93mph. 

Power is drawn from a lithium-ion battery mounted underneath the floor which is fitted with an integrated liquid cooling system to keep the battery at the optimal temperature. In winter, the battery can also be heated by the same method. A full recharge from a standard socket takes six hours, and a quick charge can fill the battery to 80 per cent in just one hour. 

On a full battery the i3 manages a 140-mile range according to the US economy drive-cycle and BMW claims that translates to an everyday range of 80-100 miles. Customers who are looking for more flexibility can specify an optional range-extending engine called REx that will be mounted alongside the electric motor over the rear axle. 

Unlike this system – which is only ever used to top up the batteries – the engine in the i8 actually provides drive to the rear wheels directly. In the case of the hybrid supercar it’s a 3-cylinder 1.5-litre turbocharged unit with 217bhp which works in tandem with the same electric motor from the i3 to power the rears – though in this instance it produces just 128bhp for a total of 345bhp. 

With both units working together, the i8 can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. Alternatively, the i8 can run on electric power alone for up to 20 miles. Official fuel consumption stands at around 104mpg and CO2 emissions are just 66g/km. BMW admits that an everyday figure of around 50mpg is more likely though. 

BMW is still referring to both these cars as concepts but what you see here is essentially what you get when they arrive on the roads in 2013.

BMW 328 Hommage

BMW has unveiled an all-new concept car at the Villa d’Este Concours in Italy. Called the 328 Hommage, the two-seater sports car is designed to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the BMW 328 racecar.

"With the BMW 328 Hommage, we wish to pay homage to the passion and inventiveness of the fathers of the BMW 328", explains Karl Bäumer, CEO of BMW Group Classic. "They created an icon, which is considered a milestone in the history of the automobile."

The roadster features trademark BMW styling cues and gets retro-inspired design touches like the asymmetric windscreen and bonnet mounted leather straps.

The lightweight 328 original weighed just 780kgs and BMW has concentrated on keeping weight down in the Hommage. 

The body is made from carbon-reinforced plastic – the same material used in the i3 electric car – and the stripped out cabin is simple and driver-focused.

Underneath the bonnet, is a 3.0-litre straight-six engine but BMW hasn’t revealed any official statistics or performance figures.

The 328 Hommage is unlikely to make production, but expect to see BMW’s future models – including the i8 hybrid supercar – getting a look inspired by the newcomer.

2012 BMW 4 series

It's an all-new name for an all-new car – meet the BMW 4-Series! That’s the fresh badge which will adorn a stunning new five-door hatch.

Based on the next-generation 3-Series, due in 2012 in saloon and Touring form, spies have already snapped the new car out testing. That’s let us produce these illustrations, which show how the production model will look. 

But instead of carrying the 3-Series GT badge as was initially thought, BMW will sit the model further apart, pitching it between the new 3-Series and the 5-Series.

While it gets a new name, it will follow the formula set down by its bigger brother, the 5-Series GT, with a more premium experience than the car on which it’s based. There will be a raised seating position for those in the rear, plus the option of two or three seats in the back. It will also get a two-stage tailgate that can be hinged either at the bootlid or opened like a hatchback. 

The model will complement the 3-Series range, which is set to include a saloon, coupé, estate and cabriolet, and take the fight directly to Audi’s A5 Sportback. 

From the front, the 4-Series will borrow heavily from the 5-Series with its wide kidney grille and slim headlights. Towards the back, the swooping roofline will provide ample headroom, but also a sporty profile – a look helped by the short overhangs.  

As with the 3-Series Touring, the 4-Series will be based on a stretched version of BMW’s new rear-wheel-drive platform to maximise interior space. MacPherson front suspension and a multi-link rear layout, as well as the latest generation electric power-steering system, will maintain the level of driver involvement BMW customers expect, but with the emphasis more on comfort than the 3-Series. 

All-wheel-drive xDrive versions will be available too, while the engine choice will feature the latest four and six-cylinder petrol and diesel units, including the new 245bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol introduced on the X1. 

BMW is developing a three-cylinder petrol engine, too, capable of 75mpg and producing less than 100g/km of CO2. But the firm is still deliberating whether to fit it to the new 3 and 4-Series.

BMW M3 pick-up

Would you believe it! BMW has revealed this pick-up truck version of the V8-powered M3.

It uses the same 4.0-litre engine as the standard machine, sending 414bhp and 400Nm of torque straight to the rear-wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. Final performance stats haven’t yet been released, but BMW claims that despite the new bodystyle the newcomer has reached 186mph in testing.

There are performance advantages too, as the M3 pick-up has shed 50kg from its kerbweight – particularly over the rear axle, making for a more lively handling experience. The large loading bay doesn’t increase aerodynamic drag either.

Despite its utilitarian appearance, the cabin is similarly well appointed to that of the standard M3, featuring M-badged leather bucket seats, steering wheel and gearlever. It also comes with a removable targa roof that cuts an extra 20kg and lowers the centre of gravity when it is removed.

It’s more practical than the standard saloon too, and although the low suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels mean it won’t quite be at home on the farm, the M3 pick-up’s load capacity has been raised to 450kg and a trailer tow hitch – for caravans, boats, or other trailers – is an M3 first. It’s lined with lightweight aluminium, and BMW claim there’s enough space for 20 full-sized golf bags.

BMW has gone through all the necessary requirements to make the pick-up road legal, but there’s still no word yet of when a full production version will join the rest of the M3 range, although it’s unlikely to be before April 1st 2012 to move upmarket.

2011 BMW 6-Series Coupe

When the Coupe arrives, buyers will have the choice of two engines. The 640i is powered by a straight-six petrol engine that develops 316bhp, and sprints the car from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds.

The range-topping 650i gets a 401bhp 4.4-litre V8 which completes the benchmark sprint in 4.9 seconds. Both models have a limited top speed of 155mph and come with BMW’s slick eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

The smaller engine features stop-start to save fuel, allowing it to return 36.7mpg and 179g/km, while the larger car manages 27.2mpg and 243g/km.

Spec highlights include adaptive LED highlights, the latest generation of BMW’s head-up display, a rear-view camera and night vision. Options will include active seats, Nappa leather and a newly-developed Bang&Olufsen stereo.

The 6-Series Coupe is 75mm longer in the wheelbase than its predecessor, for extra cabin space, while the new car is now 39mm wider but five mm lower, to make it look sportier. 

The new Coupe will make its debut in April, and the 640i and 650i arrive in late summer. A higher performance model comes in 2012, powered by an uprated version of the 4.4-litre V8 that will also be used. 

MINI Rocketman Revealed

At 3,419mm long and 1,907mm wide, the baby MINI is about 40cm longer and 50cm wider than the original.

The Rocketman borrows 
technology from owner BMW’s forthcoming Megacity electric 
car, which uses 
a carbon fibre spaceframe to reduce weight – and rather than hide it, MINI has left it exposed around the grille and front apron.

At the rear, the hexagonal 
lines mirror the nose, and MINI’s famous ‘Coke-can’ exhaust pipe
 gets a central position in the bumper. The quirky, handle-
style tail-lights project on to 
the bodywork, rather than face straight out, and incorporate 
the brake and indicator lamps.

The trademark Union Jack 
roof makes a return as a full-length glass panel, using the car’s structural beams to create the diagonal and horizontal lines.

Getting in to the Rocketman isn’t as difficult as you might 
think thanks to the double-hinged doors which allow for a wide opening.

Despite the cabin’s small dimensions, MINI claims it is spacious enough for four adults, and the seats can be arranged into three different layouts. As 
a two-seater, the front chairs move as far back as needed, while the instrument cluster 
can also be moved.

Then there's a fourth chair in the rear, which is a temporary device that folds down out of 
a backpack attached 
to the rear seat.

There's a 
clever boot too. It consists of two parts, with the upper section 
a traditional roof-hinged hatch and the bottom part a drawer.

There’s no official word 
on what sits under the bonnet 
of the newcomer, but it’s likely that any production model 


will be powered by BMW’s 
forthcoming three-cylinder 
petrol and diesel engines. All MINI has said is that the Rocketman will be capable of 94mpg.

BMW roadster concept revealed

It's open season for concept cars! This is BMW's Geneva show car - a two-seater roadster called the Vision ConnectedDrive. Its purpose is to present the latest evolution of design director Adrian van Hooydonk's layered styling language, and showcase a raft of cutting-edge technology that could debut on the forthcoming EfficientDynamics supercar and MegaCity electric city car.

The overall dimensions are typical for a BMW Roadster with a stretched bonnet, long wheelbase and seats set well back towards the rear axle, but the front and rear treatment and body surfacing is entirely new. The round headlights sit more upright than usual, while the L-shaped rear lights preview a more sculptured look that will appear on production model in the near future.

The surface treatment will be recogniseable from the Vision EfficientDynamics concept, which used a similar 'layering' principle. According to BMW: "The term “layering” describes a new approach to the BMW Group’s design language, redefining the way surfaces, interfaces and materials have been treated in the past."

In a nod to the past, the ConnectedDrive uses electric sliding doors inspired by those seen on the Z1 roadster built between 1989 and 1991. The double-layer doors open by the outer shell sliding forward into the bodywork and the rear shell retracting backwards, allowing the passengers to enter over a wide sill.

But it's technology that's key with this car. Numerous sensors, mounted in the front and rear light clusters, monitor the environment in front, behind and on both sides of the vehicle. These are capable of recognising people and other vehicles and pass relevant information to the driver.

Multi-coloured fibre-optic strands running around the cabin represnt the flow of information, and are activated when a certain funtion is switched on - one of the reasons why a roadster bodyshape was chosen, to best show off the cabin.

A new head-up display aims to represent information in an entirely new way. It projects a 3-D picture onto the windscreen with layers on information, one behind the other - offering the most amount of data to the driver in the most efficient way possible. For example the most important function will sit in the foreground, with other less-relevant stats ghosted into the background.

BMW Gran Coupe

The wraps are off BMW’s sensational Gran Coupe. The stunning concept was unveiled at an exclusive Design Night event in Beijing, and is intended to show the future design direction of BMW’s styling boss Adrian Van Hooydonk.

And while previous design chief Chris Bangle shocked the BMW faithful with his controversial flame surfacing design language, the new man’s style is more restrained, using the firm’s trademark design cues for a more conservative elegant look.

At the front, the kidney grille features razor-like vertical strakes, and sits proud of the headlights, just like the new 5 Series. But unlike the exec saloon, the Gran Coupe’s full LED headlights are much more aggressively raked, while the bumper features gaping air intakes with integrated daytime running lights.

In profile, again all the BMW hallmarks are present and correct – there are short overhangs front and rear, a long wheelbase and a coupe-like roofline which is a full 10cm lower than a 7 Series. The C-pillar features a new interpretation of the Hofmeister kink, which is outlined in chrome.

At the rear, the L-shaped LED lights, angular tailpipes and concave bootlid add style, while the third brake light runs across the full length of the top of the rear windscreen just as on a Bentley Continental GT.

A spokesman for BMW confirmed that while the concept’s elaborately creased nose and tail may not make production, the four-door layout is production ready. This means that just as the 5 Series range has been swollen by the arrival of the 5 Gran Turismo, the 6 Series range will gain a Mercedes CLS-rivalling four-door, as well as new versions of the two-door coupe and convertible.

The 5- 6- and 7-Series share modified versions of the same underpinnings, so when the 6 Series Gran Coupe enters production, it will use BMW’s latest direct injection 3.0-litre turbo petrol and diesel engines, as well as a flagship V8 petrol. The hybrid system which debuted in the 5 Series hybrid concept at Geneva is also likely to be offered.

2011 BMW 3 Series

Take a look at the BMW that’s really going to put the ‘three’ into 3-Series. These exclusive images show you just how the firm’s new compact executive is going to look – and under its striking body lies a fresh range of engines, including a line-up of super-efficient three-cylinder units.

Together with improved aerodynamics, a hi-tech transmission system and integrated cabin wi-fi, it’s all part of BMW’s plan to offer the most advanced 3-Series ever.

As you can see from these images, good looks are matched to the clever kit. Mixing influences from the original Concept CS – first revealed at the 2007 Shanghai Motor Show – with those of the latest 5-Series Granturismo, the new 3-Series’ front end is sleek and sharp.

Lines from the wide kidney grilles to the windscreen really emphasise the strength of the design around the nose, while in profile, the sculpted sides and kinked C-pillar are teamed with a chunky swage line that cuts through the door handles.

While the 3-Series will keep its famous front-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout, hardly anything else will be traditional. Essentially one half of the firm’s new 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, a new 1.5-litre three-

cylinder unit will be available in petrol and diesel form.

Boosted by turbochargers, both will produce around 150bhp and thanks to their compact size, will offer real advantages in terms of packaging and weight distribution.

Fitted with all the usual EfficientDynamics gizmos – including stop-start and energy recuperation – the new units will make BMW’s current four-cylinder line-up redundant. The diesel is set to return 75mpg and emit less than 100g/km of CO2, for example.

Further up the range, a new 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo unit will offer the performance and soundtrack that BMW buyers have become accustomed too. However, to improve efficiency it will be available with an all-

new eight-speed automatic transmission and stop-start.

The aerodynamics will be improved by enclosing as much of the chassis as possible, managing the flow of air around the wheels and also the cooling air that enters the engine bay. By doing so, the drag coefficient will be reduced to around 0.28.

Inside, the cabin will follow themes from the latest 5-Series, but it will take a huge leap forward with wi-fi. This will allow the 3-Series owners to get up-to-the-minute traffic information from the Internet.

We’ve seen plenty of spy shots of the new generation model in near production-ready form, indicating that a launch isn’t very far away. The new car is set to be revealed in the coming months, with sales starting in early 2011.

Mini Coupé Roadster

2011 MINIs to go with show

Leaked patent office pictures show final cars will closely resemble Frankfurt stand stars, two-door could revive legendary Broadspeed name.

From concept to reality – it turns out the coupé and roadster versions of the MINI will look virtually the same as the cars revealed at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show!

Bosses have confirmed that unearthed patent drawings show the production cars – so the two-door retains the concept’s dramatic cutaway roof and Le Mans stripes.

But we has discovered that BMW is in secret negotiations with the owners of the Broadspeed trademark with a view to using the famous race team’s name – inextricably linked to Mini – on the 200bhp-plus coupé.

The patent drawings reveal subtle differences between the two concepts and production cars. Most noticeable is that the retro chrome petrol cap has been ditched in favour of a more conventional cap and flush-fit flap. And where the radiator grille was barred, it now uses the same honeycomb design as the Cooper S.

Also, differences between the coupé and roadster – which could be called the Speedster – show both will be offered in Cooper S and John Cooper Works specs. The two-door is pictured with the hot Works’ black foglight surrounds; the soft-top is dressed from the grille down in Cooper S spec.

Works cars will feature an uprated version of the hatch’s 211bhp 1.6-litre turbo, while the Cooper S won’t trail by much, with the three-door’s 175bhp unit being tweaked. Prices are likely to start from close to £20,000 at launch in the second half of 2011.

The Broadspeed name would link the coupé to a Mini fastback produced by Ralph Broad in 1965. The Birmingham-based touring car engineer raced Minis in the Sixties, regularly beating the works Cooper cars.