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BMW i - BORN ELECTRIC - BMW announces BMW i3 (MCV) and BMW i8 (VED)

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BMW just announced its new sub-brand:

BMW i - Born Electric

First two cars of the new brand will be the BMW i3 and the BMW i8. The i3 is the production version of the Mega City Vehicle, the i8 the production version of the Vision Efficient Dynamics. Both cars will be built at the Leipzig Plant. The i3 launches in 2013, the i8 shortly after.

Check out BMW's newly launched BMW-i page: http://www.bmw-i.com/en_ww/

BMW i cars will have some unique styling features which make them instantly recognizable. Two of the design signatures will be - the grille surrounds of all BMW i cars will appear in blue, and the rear lights follow BMW's typical L-style, yet in a new interpretation.






Here is the new sub-brand's emblem - a slightly modified BMW roundel. Stay tuned for more information from the press event!

BMW i Introduction and Launch Video

BMW i Press Release

New BMW sub-brand: BMW i

* 21.02.2011
* Press Release
* UPDATE

Munich. The new BMW sub-brand focused on developing sustainable mobility solutions has been launched. “BMW i represents a new movement in premium mobility. With the introduction of this new sub-brand, the BMW Group reaffirms its leadership as the most innovative and sustainable premium car company. The products and services have been conceived around a revolutionary approach: purpose designed and purpose built for sustainable, premium mobility. It’s a new day in our industry; a new era for individual mobility. This is BMW i – Born Electric.” said Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales and Marketing, in Munich on Monday.

In a first move, two models will be launched under the new sub-brand from 2013 – the BMW i3 and BMW i8. The BMW Group will also significantly expand its range of mobility services over the years ahead. To achieve this, a Venture Capital company was founded in New York City, BMW i Ventures, with an investment totalling up to 100 million US dollars.

“BMW i offers visionary cars and services, inspiring design, and an entirely new concept of premium mobility – all with a focus on sustainability”, explained Robertson. The BMW i brand comprises vehicles and services developed since 2007 as part of project i, a BMW Group think tank exploring sustainable mobility solutions. It is the BMW Group’s response to changing customer needs, including increasing demand for alternative drive trains, such as electric drive systems and hybrids. There is a widespread desire in megacities for solutions which intelligently combine the benefits of various mobility concepts in a single package.


Revolutionary vehicle concepts

“With BMW i, we are building on the success and strength of our core brand,” emphasised Robertson. The BMW i3– previously known as the Megacity Vehicle – will be the BMW Group’s first series-produced car for urban areas to be driven by electric power alone. The BMW i8, meanwhile, is based on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept study. Its plug-in hybrid drive blends the sporting ability of a high-performance machine with the fuel consumption and emissions of a small car.

Both models are based on a revolutionary construction concept known as LifeDrive architecture. An aluminium chassis houses the powertrain, and the passenger cell consists of high-strength but extremely lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). “Both cars have been designed specifically for their respective alternative drive systems. We used the innovative architecture and CFRP to cancel out practically all of the extra weight added by the batteries. For our customers this means superior driving dynamics combined with significantly increased range using electric power,” explains Klaus Draeger, BMW Board member responsible for development.


BMW i8 to be built in Leipzig

Like the BMW i3, the BMW i8 will also be manufactured at BMW’s Leipzig plant. Around 400 million euros will be invested in new plant facilities and some 800 jobs will be created up to 2013. Development and production synergies will be achieved through both vehicles using the same component sets for the electric motors, power electronics, and high-voltage lithium-ion batteries.


A range of vehicle-independent services

An additional range of mobility services – which can also be used independently of the cars – will be an integral component of BMW i. This will allow the creation of a new, profitable area of business over the long term and attract new customers to the company’s brands.

“Mobility requirements are changing in rapidly expanding megacities” adds Ian Robertson. “Our commitment to car-enabled mobility services, like BMW ConnectedDrive, will be significantly expanded under BMW i. We’ll also grow our car-related premium mobility services. What’s truly groundbreaking is that we’ll begin offering car-independent premium mobility services. BMW i aims to provide customized mobility solutions across a seamless network of premium products and premium services.” The focus is on solutions which will improve usage of existing parking spaces, as well as intelligent navigation systems with local information, intermodal route planning, and premium car-sharing.

In addition to services developed in-house, the BMW Group is pursuing collaborations with partner companies and exploring strategic capital investments in providers of mobility services. To this end, the venture capital company BMW i Ventures has the goal to expand the range of products and services offered by BMW i in the long term by taking stakes in highly innovative service providers.

New York-based My City Way is the first company in which BMW i Ventures has taken a stake. Of the partnership, Ian Robertson said, “I am thrilled to announce that we have just signed our first strategic partnership with My City Way. As a mobile app, My City Way provides users with information on public transportation, parking availability, and local entertainment for over 40 cities in the US. Another 40 cities will be part of the global rollout, including Munich, of course.”

[ChrisK]

Nice South!

[BMWRL]

Finally, cars that look like what we dreamed of driving as kids...

[antzcrashing]

so absurdly sick


that roundel better have LED backlighting

[Diver]

Let's see what BMW does with this. Hybrids don't have to suck, even if they have so far.

[Stratos]

I think this is an important opportunity for BMW.

As the base BMW customers are a conservative bunch, they cannot make changes too fast or take on too much risk by deviating from the original BMWs.

This sub-brand allows them to experiment with new ways of thinking, which i think will create some synergies and lots of

[Stratos]

By the way:
I see your i8 and raise to i10!


Or maybe even.. Oh, behold. The i20!

[lasovan]

Originally Posted by RL530xit

Finally, cars that look like what we dreamed of driving as kids...

+1 absolutely!

[Alchem]

Originally Posted by RL530xit

Finally, cars that look like what we dreamed of driving as kids...

So true!

[GTFan712]

BMW i. The most efficient letter in the world.

[eisenb11]

Originally Posted by Diver

Let's see what BMW does with this. Hybrids don't have to suck, even if they have so far.

I'd like to see hybrids not suck *and* be priced affordably. No idea much the i3 is supposed to cost, but at an estimated starting price of $200k, the i8 is encroaching super car territory.

[EnjoixE92]

I'm getting that Vision I8 when it comes out! :O

[Zunkung]

[BimmersMania]

Glad the VED will come to life.

[Frosty]

...Awesome, i was however really hoping there would be an Isetta sub brand for the Mega City...

~Frost

[littleyellowm3]

Originally Posted by EnjoixE92

I'm getting that Vision I8 when it comes out! :O

Hey! My avatar!

[yakev724]

Originally Posted by RL530xit

Finally, cars that look like what we dreamed of driving as kids...

+1, though some of us still are kids

As much as I think I'd like one when released, it'll be a while before they become affordable compared to their petrol counterparts. Unless we get a nice fat tax credit...

[MeanMangoMan]

Awesome! That i3 could be the perfect daily driver, 335i weekend warrior!

[Greenkirby21]

so where r the images of the actual vehicle?

[Richspeeds]

This is great, glad to see BMW heading towards the right direction.

[Diver]

Originally Posted by eisenb11

I'd like to see hybrids not suck *and* be priced affordably. No idea much the i3 is supposed to cost, but at an estimated starting price of $200k, the i8 is encroaching super car territory.

At $200k, I won't be on the waiting list.

[cmk227]

Originally Posted by Diver

At $200k, I won't be on the waiting list.

For $200k, I will purchase the new M5 and next generation M3 and save the difference for gas.