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

Jason · 12-25-2012, 05:05 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:

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cjwb1984 · 12-26-2012, 11:05 AM

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

sward · 12-27-2012, 09:05 AM

What's that big thing by the stearing wheel?

HoundForHire · 12-27-2012, 09:12 AM

That's the gear shifter.

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

Vector Pilot · 12-27-2012, 09:15 AM

Not feeling it, looks like a design school project.

Wolf · 12-27-2012, 09:19 AM

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

antzcrashing · 12-27-2012, 10:07 AM

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

Frosty · 12-27-2012, 10:41 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, 10:56 AM

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

cpdp · 12-27-2012, 11:12 AM

wow that thing is ugly

MZ335 · 12-27-2012, 11:31 AM

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, 11:47 AM

i like it

albeee · 12-27-2012, 11:52 AM

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, 11:53 AM

Oh God! That thing is ugly! :-/

Rob///M5 · 12-27-2012, 11:57 AM

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, 12:14 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, 12:44 PM

This thing looks too ugly to be a bmw i think

jameseo · 12-27-2012, 01:06 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, 01:18 PM

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

BlackJetE90 · 12-27-2012, 01:57 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, 02:02 PM

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

GChase · 12-27-2012, 02:14 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, 05:05 PM	#1
Jason Administrator Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Posts: 15,966 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: OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE BMW 4 Series and BMW i3 Make Final Three for 2014 World Car of the Year Awards Registration Open for BMW i3 Test Drive Events Across the U.S. BMW Plans Rollout of Carbon Fiber Wheels and More CFRP Components
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12-27-2012, 09:05 AM	#3
sward Private First Class Drives: E93 M3 and E70 X5 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 109 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 BMW X5 3.0D [5.00] 2010 BMW M3 E93 [5.00]	What's that big thing by the stearing wheel? __________________ _________________ /Fredrik Swärd BMW X5 3.0D -10 (E70), BMW 116d -13 (F20) Sold: BMW 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, 10:07 AM	#7
antzcrashing ... can I get a 1M Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Miami FL Posts: 977 iTrader: (0) 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, 02:02 PM	#21
wdeerfield A family of bimmers Drives: 2009 e90 2011 f10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 2,540 iTrader: (0)	they made a mini van without calling it a mini van.. sooo ugly. __________________ 2009 MBM 328\| ZPP \| ZSP \| ZCW \| CA \| 6FL \| NAV \| XENONS \| 18x8.5 VB3s ET30/25 2011 Jet Black 535i xdrive \| ZPP \| ZSP \| ZCW \| 6FL \| NAV \| 331s Square
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12-26-2012, 11:05 AM	#2
cjwb1984 Private First Class Drives: 2012 BMW Z4 Sdrive35i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: New York Posts: 124 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, 09:12 AM	#4
HoundForHire Private Drives: 2011 VW GTI, Waiting for 2er Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 59 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, 09:15 AM	#5
Vector Pilot First Lieutenant Drives: 2014 Z4 28i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chicago Metro Posts: 394 iTrader: (0)	Not feeling it, looks like a design school project.
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12-27-2012, 10:56 AM	#9
Zed2004 New Member Drives: 04 Z4 2.5 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Alabama Posts: 29 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, 11:12 AM	#10
cpdp Private First Class Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Austria Posts: 114 iTrader: (0)	wow that thing is ugly
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12-27-2012, 11:31 AM	#11
MZ335 New Member Drives: '13 335i m-sport, '13 s4 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 23 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?
	0

12-27-2012, 11:47 AM	#12
M_Power_Fan Private First Class Drives: the Ring Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 104 iTrader: (0)	i like it
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12-27-2012, 11:52 AM	#13
albeee shenanigans Drives: 2003 Z4 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 15 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...
	0

12-27-2012, 11:53 AM	#14
misterbeemer Second Lieutenant Drives: E92, E46 M3, E39 M5, 760Li Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: USA Posts: 239 iTrader: (0)	Oh God! That thing is ugly! :-/
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12-27-2012, 12:14 PM	#16
Zebra99 Colonel Drives: 2011 335is E93 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario Posts: 2,150 iTrader: (4) 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, 12:44 PM	#17
Dudeonthego New Member Drives: 2012 BMW 328i - Luxury Line Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Vancouver Posts: 23 iTrader: (0)	This thing looks too ugly to be a bmw i think
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12-27-2012, 01:18 PM	#19
wayman519 Private First Class Drives: F30 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 183 iTrader: (0)	looks like a civic hit a bmw roundel at light speed.
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12-27-2012, 01:57 PM	#20
BlackJetE90 Colonel Drives: E90 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: e90 Posts: 2,068 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, 02:14 PM	#22
GChase Captain Drives: 2009 E90 328i Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 700 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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