BMW i3 Hybrid Range Extended Prototype Spied, with Good Look at Production Interior

Jason · 12-25-2012, 06:05 PM

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW i3 Hybrid Range Extended Prototype Spied, with Good Look at Production Interior

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The BMW i3 prototype has now dropped some camouflage and we've spied it testing in Munich.

This particular prototype is the range-extended hybrid model (as indicated by the sticker affixed to the prototype) instead of the pure electric model. No official specs have been released on the hybrid i3 model, but we've seen speculation ranging from a 0.6 liter 2-cylinder gasoline engine to a 1.5 liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine serving as a range extender motor in charging the batteries for extra mileage.

Like the pure-electric i3, the hybrid i3 should be powered by a 134 horsepower electric motor running on lithium-ion batteries and driving the rear wheels. BMW is aiming to achieve a 160 km (100 mi) range.

Pricing for the i3 has been speculated to start in the 35000-40000 euros range.

Interior:

These photos give us the best look yet at the production interior which looks very similar to the close-to-production interior that was recently revealed on the BMW i3 Coupe Concept.

Follow our BMW i coverage and news @ http://www.bimmerpost.com/bmwi/

BMW i3 Hybrid Prototype

BMW i3 Concepts for comparison:

cjwb1984 · 12-26-2012, 12:05 PM

I hope they use the larger 3 cylinder engine as the I3's extender. Good to see it coming along.

sward · 12-27-2012, 10:05 AM

What's that big thing by the stearing wheel?

HoundForHire · 12-27-2012, 10:12 AM

That's the gear shifter.

You can see a head up display in the first interior shot.

Vector Pilot · 12-27-2012, 10:15 AM

Not feeling it, looks like a design school project.

Wolf · 12-27-2012, 10:19 AM

Why does the interior has to look like it came from outer space?

antzcrashing · 12-27-2012, 11:07 AM

Americans are not going to pay $40K for this. The Chevy Volt is proof

Frosty · 12-27-2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoundForHire

That's the gear shifter.

You can see a head up display in the first interior shot.

I was wondering if that was the HUD... So interested to see this completed!

Zed2004 · 12-27-2012, 11:56 AM

Haha I saw this in Munich last week but wasent able to get a picture of it

cpdp · 12-27-2012, 12:12 PM

wow that thing is ugly

///MZ · 12-27-2012, 12:31 PM

While I see the value in hybrid vehicles, there's no way it's going to sell (well) at that price. Also, why do these hybrid cars have to look like some sort of space craft? Why can't they keep the same general body style as the rest of the lines?

M_Power_Fan · 12-27-2012, 12:47 PM

i like it

albeee · 12-27-2012, 12:52 PM

Why does BMW insist on the iPad-jammed-into-dashboard look? Surely there is a better compromise to ensure visibility while looking good. If I wanted that I would've done it with an actual iPad I can take with me...

misterbeemer · 12-27-2012, 12:53 PM

Oh God! That thing is ugly! :-/

Rob///M5 · 12-27-2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albeee

Why does BMW insist on the iPad-jammed-into-dashboard look? Surely there is a better compromise to ensure visibility while looking good. If I wanted that I would've done it with an actual iPad I can take with me...

+1 the screens in newer cars need to be well integrated into the design. Even the new Tesla Model X has a massive screen just slapped on the dash. No aesthetic skill.

Zebra99 · 12-27-2012, 01:14 PM

I wouldn't pay 3500-4000 euros for this hideous thing let alone 35000-40000.

What a joke...BMW, back to the drawing board.

And as another member said, why the need to be different looking and so much uglier, WTF?!

Dudeonthego · 12-27-2012, 01:44 PM

This thing looks too ugly to be a bmw i think

jameseo · 12-27-2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MZ335

While I see the value in hybrid vehicles, there's no way it's going to sell (well) at that price. Also, why do these hybrid cars have to look like some sort of space craft? Why can't they keep the same general body style as the rest of the lines?

Why can't they just turn the 135 or 3 series into hybrids. Why do they have to build ugly cars for hybrids. Hybrids are never going to sell as good as they need to if car companies keep making them ugly.

wayman519 · 12-27-2012, 02:18 PM

looks like a civic hit a bmw roundel at light speed.

BlackJetE90 · 12-27-2012, 02:57 PM

This is will be one of those eco-status symbols.

Be real...it is ugly and will be over priced for many.

wdeerfield · 12-27-2012, 03:02 PM

they made a mini van without calling it a mini van.. sooo ugly.

GChase · 12-27-2012, 03:14 PM

I still don't understand why someone would pay an upward of $50,000 to save appx. $1,500 a year on gas or so. Also you're giving up the entire driving experience, looks, and your manhood

12-25-2012, 06:05 PM	#1
Jason Administrator 16553 Rep 18,460 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	BMW i3 Hybrid Range Extended Prototype Spied, with Good Look at Production Interior BIMMERPOST NEWS BMW i3 Hybrid Range Extended Prototype Spied, with Good Look at Production Interior 41 COMMENTS Tweet The BMW i3 prototype has now dropped some camouflage and we've spied it testing in Munich. This particular prototype is the range-extended hybrid model (as indicated by the sticker affixed to the prototype) instead of the pure electric model. No official specs have been released on the hybrid i3 model, but we've seen speculation ranging from a 0.6 liter 2-cylinder gasoline engine to a 1.5 liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine serving as a range extender motor in charging the batteries for extra mileage. Like the pure-electric i3, the hybrid i3 should be powered by a 134 horsepower electric motor running on lithium-ion batteries and driving the rear wheels. BMW is aiming to achieve a 160 km (100 mi) range. Pricing for the i3 has been speculated to start in the 35000-40000 euros range. Interior: These photos give us the best look yet at the production interior which looks very similar to the close-to-production interior that was recently revealed on the BMW i3 Coupe Concept. Follow our BMW i coverage and news @ http://www.bimmerpost.com/bmwi/ BMW i3 Hybrid Prototype BMW i3 Concepts for comparison:
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12-26-2012, 12:05 PM	#2
cjwb1984 Private First Class 17 Rep 128 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW Z4 Sdrive35i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	I hope they use the larger 3 cylinder engine as the I3's extender. Good to see it coming along.
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12-27-2012, 10:05 AM	#3
sward Second Lieutenant 47 Rep 248 Posts Drives: X5 M50D F15 and 116d F20 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Stockholm, Sweden iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 X5 M50d [0.00]	What's that big thing by the stearing wheel? __________________ /Fredrik Swärd BMW X5 M50d -17 (F15),BMW 116d -13 (F20) Sold: X5 M50d -14 (F15), X5 3.0D -10 (E70), M3 -10 (E93), 320DX -10 (E91), 320D M -08 (E91), X3 3.0D -07 (E83), 335 -07 (E92), 325 -05 (E90), 320 M -02 (E46), 318 M -00 (E46), 320 CiA -93 (E36), 318 -89 (E30)
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12-27-2012, 10:12 AM	#4
HoundForHire Private 0 Rep 59 Posts Drives: 2011 VW GTI, Waiting for 2er Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	That's the gear shifter. You can see a head up display in the first interior shot.
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12-27-2012, 10:15 AM	#5
Vector Pilot Lieutenant 22 Rep 501 Posts Drives: 2014 Z4 28i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chicago Metro iTrader: (0)	Not feeling it, looks like a design school project.
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12-27-2012, 11:07 AM	#7
antzcrashing Major 91 Rep 1,385 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston MA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [5.00]	Americans are not going to pay $40K for this. The Chevy Volt is proof
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12-27-2012, 11:56 AM	#9
Zed2004 Enlisted Member 0 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 04 Z4 2.5 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Alabama iTrader: (0)	Haha I saw this in Munich last week but wasent able to get a picture of it
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12-27-2012, 12:12 PM	#10
cpdp Private First Class 8 Rep 114 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Austria iTrader: (0)	wow that thing is ugly
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12-27-2012, 12:31 PM	#11
///MZ Private 3 Rep 67 Posts Drives: F22 M240i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The 6 iTrader: (0)	While I see the value in hybrid vehicles, there's no way it's going to sell (well) at that price. Also, why do these hybrid cars have to look like some sort of space craft? Why can't they keep the same general body style as the rest of the lines?
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12-27-2012, 12:47 PM	#12
M_Power_Fan Private First Class 9 Rep 106 Posts Drives: the Ring Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	i like it
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12-27-2012, 12:52 PM	#13
albeee shenanigans 0 Rep 16 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Why does BMW insist on the iPad-jammed-into-dashboard look? Surely there is a better compromise to ensure visibility while looking good. If I wanted that I would've done it with an actual iPad I can take with me...
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12-27-2012, 12:53 PM	#14
misterbeemer First Lieutenant 25 Rep 313 Posts Drives: E92, E46 M3, E39 M5, 750Li Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Oh God! That thing is ugly! :-/
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12-27-2012, 01:14 PM	#16
Zebra99 Colonel 70 Rep 2,862 Posts Drives: 2011 335is E93 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario iTrader: (6) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i E93 [5.00]	I wouldn't pay 3500-4000 euros for this hideous thing let alone 35000-40000. What a joke...BMW, back to the drawing board. And as another member said, why the need to be different looking and so much uglier, WTF?!
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12-27-2012, 01:44 PM	#17
Dudeonthego New Member 0 Rep 23 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 328i - Luxury Line Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	This thing looks too ugly to be a bmw i think
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12-27-2012, 02:18 PM	#19
wayman519 Private First Class 28 Rep 189 Posts Drives: E82 N52 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	looks like a civic hit a bmw roundel at light speed.
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12-27-2012, 02:57 PM	#20
BlackJetE90 Brigadier General 471 Rep 3,860 Posts Drives: E90 no longer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: is everything iTrader: (0)	This is will be one of those eco-status symbols. Be real...it is ugly and will be over priced for many.
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12-27-2012, 03:02 PM	#21
wdeerfield A family of bimmers 620 Rep 5,518 Posts Drives: '13 f30, '11 f10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Clifton Park, NY iTrader: (0)	they made a mini van without calling it a mini van.. sooo ugly. __________________ 2013 EB 335i xdrive \| Msport \| Coral \| DHP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| ZTP \| 400M \| Coded \| MPerformance Bits \| M3 Grills \| Painted Reflectors \| BMS Exhaust Tips \| LED Turn Signals 2011 JB 535i xdrive \| ZPP \| ZSP \| ZCW \| 6FL \| NAV \| 331s Square \| MPerformance Spoiler \| M5 Grills \| Painted Reflectors
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12-27-2012, 03:14 PM	#22
GChase Captain 25 Rep 701 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 328i Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Louisville, KY iTrader: (0)	I still don't understand why someone would pay an upward of $50,000 to save appx. $1,500 a year on gas or so. Also you're giving up the entire driving experience, looks, and your manhood
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