If the picture above makes it seem like both vehicles are still in ‘concept’ mode, well you’re right. Sort of. Just like how BMW introduced the M5 ‘concept’ and Gran Coupe ‘concept’ there will be only minor tweaks to the production verisons of both models. Still, BMW has spilled the beans on the specs.
Hit the jump to find out more.
The i3, formally known as the MegaCity, is going to be the first to be produced under the ‘i’ brand. Available next year, the i3 is largely composed of aluminum and carbon-fiber plastics making it very light weight. Classified as an EV (electric vehicle) the i3 will be the only rear wheel drive electric hatchback available on the market. It gets charged by a lithium-ion battery pack which spans the undercarriage of the vehicle. Being an EV, there is but one speed in the gearbox. Power output is rated at 170 horsepower and 184 pound feet of torque. It is limited to 150 km/h and can make the 0-100 run in under eight seconds.
There will also be a pro eco mode which tweaks the throttle for efficiency in mind. But, how much does charging take? Well, according to BMW, if you were to plug your i3 into a regular socket it would take about six hours to get fully charged. If you use a high speed charger, you get get the battery to an 80% charge in an hour. The expected range is between 130 and 160 kms. So, the i3 is going to be largely a city dweller. BMW is expected to add an internal combustion engine a la Chevy Volt further down the road for those who really can’t deal with range anxiety.
The i8, on the other hand, is promised to be more of a sporting nature as its exterior suggests. It will be a plug-in hybrid using a turbocharged 1.5 litre three cylinder unit. It produces 220 horsepower and 221 pound feet of torque. No numbers yet on the electric motor, but when it’s combined with it, the i8 can make the 0-100 sprint in under 5 seconds all while returning a super impressive 3 L/100 kms. If, however, you drive it like you stole it (aka like a BMW) you’ll be returning 7 L/100 kms. Still, not bad at all. And if that wasn’t enough, BMW is claiming that the i8 gets a perfect 50/50 weight distribution.
Expect more details to come on both the i3 and the i8 in the coming days.
[BMW]
