BMW eco brand 2011- BMW opens i to eco brand

BMW eco brand 2011- BMW opens i to eco brand

BMW’s much-trailed eco-friendly sub brand is a reality with the first pictures and details released of two new cars – an all-electric family hatchback and a supercar using hybrid power.

Officially announced as concepts, both will go on sale in 2013 in what many observers believe will be formats little changed from today’s pictures.

Both cars use a new form of construction that BMW has dubbed LifeDrive. The occupants sit in a cabin constructed from CFRP composite, offering the strength of steel for half the weight, while the mechanical parts and battery are contained within an aluminium structure.

The light weight helps greatly with the range of the electric batteries, the i3 all-electric family hatch promising an everyday range of up to 100 miles before requiring a charge of six hours.

Alongside the car’s electric motor of 168bhp, a range-extending petrol engine, which BMW is calling Rex, will be offered as an option.

The four-seater i3 will be capable of a 0-62mph time of under eight seconds while its top speed will be limited to 93mph.

The same electric motor will be used in the i8 2+2 supercar, but in less potent 128bhp form, working with a 217bhp three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine of 1.5 litres and directly driving the rear wheels.

The i8 passes 62mph from rest in 4.6 seconds and goes on to an electronically-limited 155mph, yet will routinely return CO2 emissions of 66g/km and fuel economy of more than 50mpg – up to 104mpg being possible.

No prices have yet been suggested for the two cars but industry observers are predicting the i3 will cost around £28,000 (after the Government’s £5,000 plug-in vehicle grant is taken into account) and the i8 around £150,000.

The sub-brand will also go beyond the cars, BMW saying that various ways for more efficient travel will come under its remit – a recent investment in the ParkAtMyHouse internet parking scheme being an early example.

BMW will officially unveil both cars at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.