BMW i3 Concept – Full Details [video]

The long-awaited BMW i3 Concept, previously known as Megacity Vehicle, has been officially revealed today ahead of its official world debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show in September.

Set for launch in 2013, the BMW i3 will be offered with standard electric or optional range extended electric-drive powertrains.

With its zero-emission electric drive and a range of approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles), the BMW i3 Concept has been specifically developed for use in an urban environment. The flat lithium-ion battery pack is built into the car’s floor, and it powers a 125-kilowatt (170-horsepower) electric motor located between the rear wheels.

Thanks to its innovative LifeDrive architecture featuring a carbon passenger cell, the BMW i3 Concept combines an extremely low weight of 1,250 kilograms with optimal interior space and the highest crash safety levels.

“This vehicle will mark the launch of the first volume-produced car featuring bodywork largely made of carbon. It’s a revolution in automotive design,” stressed Klaus Draeger, Member of the Board responsible for Development.With four seats and a 200-liter luggage compartment, this vehicle is fully suited for everyday use.

The application of this new CFRP technology allows a weight reduction, compared to a conventional electric car, of between 250 and 350 kilos, and that means more dynamic handling coupled with a greater range.

The BMW i3 does the 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint in less than eight seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 150km/h (93 miles per hour).

BMW claims that you can charge the battery back to full in six hours using a standard power socket and the i3's batteries can get to 80 percent in one hour using an unspecified quick-charge system.

Thanks to the emission-free drivetrain and a value added chain designed to be sustainable all along the line, life cycle emission figures for the BMW i3 are at least a third lower than for a highly efficient combustion-engine car. If the BMW i3 is run on electricity from renewable sources, the figures improve by well over 50%.

BMW has also revealed that it plans to offer the i3 with an optional range extender, to be called REx by BMW, in the form of a gasoline engine that is planned to be packaged alongside the electric motor within the rear-axle assembly.