[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW i3 Wins Golden Steering Wheel Award

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November 9, 2016

Munich. This is what sustainable success looks like. The BMW i3 has won the 2016 “Golden Steering Wheel”, making it the first model taking part in the competition organised jointly by “Auto Bild” and “Bild am Sonntag” to have received the award for the second time in recognition of its groundbreaking lifecycle assessment. The world’s first ever premium automobile to be conceived from scratch for purely electrically powered mobility, the BMW i3 first received the “Green Steering Wheel” for being the “best new environment-friendly car” in 2013, even before its market launch. In the meantime, the BMW i3 (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) has taken to the road to demonstrate its qualities. With locally emissions-free driving pleasure and highly efficient power consumption, a pioneering design and intelligent connectivity, it impressed the jury of experts in a series of intensive practical tests. They selected the BMW i3 as the winner of the 2016 “Golden Steering Wheel” in the “Alternative Drives” category, with the award presented yesterday at a festive gala held at the Axel Springer publishing house in Berlin.

First awarded in 1976, the “Golden Steering Wheel” is one of the most prestigious awards in the European automotive sector. Now in its 41st year, the competition initially involved 36 current models being voted on by magazine readers in Germany and 20 other European countries. The BMW i3 finished first in its category in all 21 countries. The 21 reader favourites were then put to the acid test by a jury of specialists that included racing drivers, designers, technicians, digital experts, editors-in-chief and readers. Based on extensive test drives and detailed comparisons, the 57-strong international panel then went on to select award winners in each of the six categories, with “Alternative Drives” being introduced as a category for the first time this year. Here again, the BMW i3 was the clear winner, receiving the highest score from five out of the seven groups of experts.

Having now been on public roads all over the world for three years, the BMW i3 demonstrates how purely electrically powered and therefore locally emissions-free mobility can be combined with hallmark brand driving pleasure. Ever since its market launch, the BMW i3 has been the world’s most successful electric vehicle in the premium compact segment. In Norway, for example, the BMW i3 has been the top-selling vehicle of the entire BMW model range since 2015. In Germany its market share for this year to date is 20.2 per cent. Globally, almost 85% of BMW i3 customers are new to BMW.

In combination with resource-friendly materials and production techniques, the car’s model-specific features make for a holistic sustainability concept that won the “Green Steering Wheel” early on, along with numerous other awards, and the model still remains unique in the automotive sector to this day. At its market launch, the BMW i3 was the first vehicle with a TÜV-certified lifecycle assessment that is at least one third better than that of automobiles powered and produced in the conventional manner.

The expertise gained in the development of BMW i automobiles is now used for technology transfer to the core BMW Group brands. In addition to the use of CFRP in the body structure of the new BMW 7 Series, this is particularly reflected in the integration of eDrive technology in the BMW iPerformance models with plug-in hybrid drive. After the BMW iPerformance models of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, the BMW 3 Series Sedan, the BMW X5, the BMW 7 Series and the BMW X1 xDrive25Le iPerformance developed exclusively for the Chinese automotive market, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan with plug-in hybrid drive will also be launched in the spring of 2017. The first plug-in hybrid model of the MINI brand is due to follow in 2017.

Consistent progress in the area of eDrive technology further increases the appeal of the BMW i3. The BMW i3 (94 Ah) with extended battery capacity (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 12.6 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) achieves a range of up to 200 kilometres in everyday conditions and a range of up to 300 kilometres in the standard cycle. This surpasses the BMW i3 (60 Ah) – which is still available - by more than 50 per cent.

[-c-]

Great info their jason ! Thanks for sharing!

[M3ZING]

For its ugliness.

[-c-]

Originally Posted by M3ZING

For its ugliness.

You know I'm curious enough to ask why you think it's ugly ?

Since car design in itself is subjective I never really understand why people feel the need to tell someone with certainty that a certain car is ugly or cool or beautiful, same with why some women or men find other people beautiful or ugly,

Just like the latest SNL skit where one of the guys asked the women why they think Benedict Cumberbatch is hot and they didn't or couldn't explain why but some do and some don't.

Whether you like it or not theirs still a lot on the car that should have a nod of the hat for out of the norm thinking and the way it was engineered and its use of materials.

[raysspl]

Fairly awesome technolgy, but really ugly styling, no matter how you slice it

[ron_jeremy]

I´ve driven lots of cars, but the i3 really caught me by surprise. having been intrigued by it´s design a couple of years, i finally tested one. And it doesn´t drive as it looks, it´s actually pretty spacious and is very comfy for it´s size. Long story short, i bought one, and i´ll receive it this coming Monday. I have a F25 also, but i think i´ll choose the i3 for everyday driving, it´s that fun.

[JasH]

I own one, and agree that the frontal aspect is ugly. But I acknowledge that not everyone sees it the same way.

I think it looks nice from the sides and rear though.

Drives great though, so I can live with it being ugly.

[HellRaizzer]

An electric car with a gasoline motor-WTF?
Winning an award for a half assed job!
BMW needs to stop faffing around and get their finger out..!
Build a full electric zero emissions vehicle NOW...no excuses!!!
TESLA rocks....

[Yeineken]

Yea not sure why the i3 gets so much hate. If it wasn't for the poor range I would love to own one.

[-c-]

Originally Posted by dong

An electric car with a gasoline motor-WTF?
Winning an award for a half assed job!
BMW needs to stop faffing around and get their finger out..!
Build a full electric zero emissions vehicle NOW...no excuses!!!
TESLA rocks....

You do realize it comes without the gas engine if you want right?

[ORIGIN M.]

Yes but unlike many, he understand BMW-i was not truly "Born Electric"

With a slogan so bold BMW i appears they're only partly committed.

Originally Posted by -c-

You do realize it comes without the gas engine if you want right?

[-c-]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Yes but unlike many, he understand BMW-i was not truly "Born Electric"

With a slogan so bold BMW i appears they're only partly committed.

True . The way he phrased it sounded like he didn't.

I think if they gave it 200 mile range right from the start the whole engine thing could have just died on paper.

I understand why they went with the 80m range but for mass appeal it really needed 3 figure range.

80 mile range which gets cut to 50 mile range in extreme cold, yea just the standard range on the car wouldn't cut it for the mass majority here in the USA.

Good to see it doing well in other parts of the world though.

[JasH]

Range is perfect for here in England. I would not want it to be heavier.

The best solution is probably to do as Tesla does, and have multiple battery capacity options.

[MalibuBimmer]

"The world’s first ever premium automobile to be conceived from scratch for purely electrically powered mobility . . ."

Wouldn't that be the Tesla?

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

"The world’s first ever premium automobile to be conceived from scratch for purely electrically powered mobility . . ."

Wouldn't that be the Tesla?

For everywhere in the world - absolutely.

For Germans, evidently not

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[DeeKay]

The whole concept and the car itself is pretty great. Would love one as a second car...... if it weren't for the looks. Simple just dislike everything about it. The micro-van-old-Merc-A-Class-Audi-A2 design just doesn't do it a single favour at all

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by DeeKay

The whole concept and the car itself is pretty great. Would love one as a second car......

... but you can't, 'cause you live in Denmark, and your 2nd car is legally required to be a bicycle.
Else, they will deport you to Sweden...

Originally Posted by DeeKay

if it weren't for the looks. Simple just dislike everything about it. The micro-van-old-Merc-A-Class-Audi-A2 design just doesn't do it a single favour at all

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Obviously, people on this list have self-selected into i3 ownership, either despite or thanks to the i3 design.

Crapping on i3 looks is not going to win you a lot of love on this forum!


a

[-c-]

Originally Posted by afadeev

For everywhere in the world - absolutely.

For Germans, evidently not

a

Yea they call it a premium compact now so I guess marketing could technically get by that one.


But what I don't know is do they think because they started it long ago before tesla came to be does that make them think they can still say their the first? Even though they came to market long after the tesla.......

[winnerwinnerckndinner]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

"The world’s first ever premium automobile to be conceived from scratch for purely electrically powered mobility . . ."

Wouldn't that be the Tesla?

If you consider the Tesla Roadster as a modified Lotus Elise, then no. Tesla simply is a standard car platform with a buttload of modified Panasonic 18650 cells on an aluminum unibody frame.

BMW i3 has been completely created from the ground up as a CFRP lifecycle module on an aluminum chassis aka body on frame (i8 is the same module as i3). In terms of battery technology BMW uses an array of 8 NCM battery modules that can sustain decades of charging cycles with minimal degradation. Most of all, all inputs into the i3 (and i8) are made from renewable energy. The carbon fiber is made from hydroelectric energy and the i3 plant is wind powered.

The list goes on:
- Finding out a process to mould the CFRP (no welding)
- Using water instead of drills
- Developing adhesives for CFRP
- Creating channels for wiring throughout the frame to reduce clips and screws
- Making the roof (class A surface) from scraps of CFRP
- Suspension and motor bushings incorporated into the CFRP frame
- Meeting crash safety ratings (small car vs building a big reinforced boat)
- Modular battery (each of the 8 modules can be replaced)
- R134a refrigerant for batteries (ozone friendly)
- Floating nuts for door hinges

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by winnerwinnerckndinner

If you consider the Tesla Roadster as a modified Lotus Elise, then no. Tesla simply is a standard car platform with a buttload of modified Panasonic 18650 cells on an aluminum unibody frame.

If you consider whether Model S was "conceived from scratch for purely electrically powered mobility" - duah, YES.
And that happened way before i3 entered design lab, though Zeeee Germans are evidently in an ongoing denial about Tesla, and it's impact on the car market.

There is nothing "standard" about Model S chassis layout, packaging, or design:

Originally Posted by winnerwinnerckndinner

BMW i3 has been completely created from the ground up as a CFRP lifecycle module on an aluminum chassis aka body on frame (i8 is the same module as i3).

Body composition is immaterial.
Body on frame is actually inferior to unibody design from chassis rigidity and production scaling perspective.
I3's body panels are plastic fantastic, not CFRP, but who cares.

a