BMW i3 release date
BMW releases teaser picture and confirms electric i3 debut on July 29
It's official - the BMW i3 will make its world debut at a speical event on July 29. And to build anticipation BMW has issued this single teaser picture, embedded into a promotional video. The video tells viewers to prepare to learn a new German word, 'vorfreude', which translates as 'anticipation'.
There's little to learn from the teaser image, other than the production car will stick closely to the design of the concept car, with stubby overhangs and an unusual wraparound window graphic, that tapers dramatically at the C-Pillar.
We already know a fair bit about the first member of the electric BMWi family (the second - the plug-in i8 supercar - is expected to debut at the Frankfurt show in September) since it was first unveiled in concept form back in 2011. It will be offered with a choice of two powertrains - a 168bhp all-electric version, with a range of 80-100 miles on a single charge, and a plug-in range-extender (called REx) that uses a small 0.85-litre two-cylinder motorbike to charge the batteries through a generator when they are running low.
An innovative material mix keeps weight as low as possible - to compensate for the weight of the batteries. This includes an aluminium chassis topped with a incredibly stiff carbon-fibre passenger cell. A four-door configuration, with the rear suicide doors will create a pillarless opening for easy access, too.
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