Which car are you most excited about for 2013?
If the BMW i3 electric car isn't near the top of the list, we'd be surprised. Its bare figures may not be headline-grabbing, but on design alone it makes even BMW's current production cars look a bit half-hearted.
You can see this better than ever before in BMW's latest video, which shows the i3 Concept Coupe in motion and looks at the car's exterior, interior and sustainable materials in detail.
While the overall shape might not be to all tastes--it's certainly more daring than BMW's previous compact car offerings--it's hard to argue with the execution, at least on this pre-production concept.
Large glass areas and light-colored cabin materials instantly catapult it several years further into the future from most of today's electric cars. Promisingly, BMW says the production version won't be dissimilar from this latest concept.
BMW reiterates some of the statistics we already knew about the i3. Its lithium-ion battery has a 6-hour charging time on 240V, or an 80 percent quick charge function which takes under 30 minutes.
The ConnectedDrive infotainment system gives details on the most efficient route and nearby charging stations, and an Eco Pro or Eco Pro Plus mode helps increase range by altering the car's responses and energy settings.
The body cell is made of carbon, and seats four passengers. Interior volume is further gained by a steering column-mounted drive control stalk, rather than requiring a center tunnel.
The interior also features renewable wood on the dashboard, local, naturally-tanned leather, and much of the dashboard is covered in a material made from plant fibers.
Check out the video, and leave us your thoughts below--if you weren't excited by the i3 before, you probably will be now...
+++++++++++
