Tag: i-Series

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Cars

BMW i8 from Frankfurt Motor Show

BMW i8 is revealed to public during the Frankfurt Motor Show. BMW i-Series is a new chapter for the BMW family. Instead of revising their existing vehicle range for electric drive, BMW took a more risky path and created a new range of vehicle from a blank sheet of paper. A big gamble for a company but resulted with very innovative products and a new approach to automotive industry.
BMW i8 is a 2+2-seater coupe. 2+2 means, two people at front and two people at the rear and there is no space for the third, unless willing to travel inside the boot. i8 is powered by a 1.5-lt TwinPower Turbo petrol engine with 231 HP for the rear-wheels and for the front, 131 HP electric motors are employed. Thus, BMW i8 is a four-wheel drive plug-in hybrid vehicle with an electric based range of 35 km and the top speed of 120 km/h.
Would I buy one? Definitely yes! 


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BMW
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Cars

BMW i3 is Official Now

Details of BMW i3. i3 was a bit mystery, it was the BMW’s first step to enter to electric world with a brand range of vehicles. BMW named the range with “i”. And i-Series does not share any designed or infrastructure similarity with the existing BMW vehicle range. It is a brand new range with a brand new perspective. 
That’s why everyone was curious about the BMW i-Series, hopefully BMW released the official details of the i3 today. BMW i3 shares the same 50:50 weight distribution like all other BMWs. i3 is made the passenger cell from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). It is powered by a 50-kg, 170 HP / 250 Nm electric motor. Zero to 100 km/h acceleration is only 7.2 seconds and the range of electric driving is around 130-160 KM. BMW i3 also features a tiny on-board generator to avoid running out of charge. 0.65-lt two-cylinder engine is placed at rear axle for better weight distribution and it produces 34 HP to charge the batteries and extend the range up to 300km. 
The interesting feature of BMW i3 is the single-pedal concept. According to press release, there will be only one pedal acts as throttle and brake at the same time. As I understand, when you leave your foot gently, BMW i3 will be coasting. Basically, if you leave your foot from the pedal gently, it will be coasting; if you leave your foot very rapidly it will be braking and someone will crash you from the rear. Because, we always leave the throttle very rapidly. This feature was never used at any type of vehicle and hinders potential accidents! I am definitely sure, BMW will remove the single-pedal drive concept. This system may sound very efficient on paper but when you consider the average drivers, it will be a huge disaster!
Anyway, BMW opened a new chapter in premium electric car market with i-Series!


Photos Credit
BMW
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Cars

Interview with Gavin Ward (BMW UK)

Today I visited the BMW UK Head Office for an interview with the PR Manager, Gavin Ward. Before I started, I want to mention one thing. If you are a real BMW enthusiast, you will love their parking space. There is only one car existing, and it is BMW. I have been to many car companies but I have never seen this type of fleet.
Since now, I did couple of interview and additionally I met with many PR managers from automotive industry. Most of them have similar working experience, the most exceptional ones have an engineering degree and moved to PR business. However, Gavin has an extra ordinary background! He has a journalism background, there is nothing unusual with this. But, he was war correspondent during the Kosovo war. Being a journalist during a war is probably one of the hardest jobs on earth. You need to search for news, then prepare it, send it and at the same time try to save your life. I think he is the calmest PR manager in this business, whatever happen cannot be as tough as those years.
This interview also was an opportunity for me to ask two questions that are inside my mind for last fifteen years! Why BMW never revealed a M7 and what happened to 8-Series. You will find the answers during the interview. Also, we talked about the Brutus. A car powered by an air plane engine. And explained why it was made!
I cannot skip the social media, he emphasised on the critical points of social media. BMW has one of the biggest fan communities in automotive industry and these fans can be their customers. Therefore, it places BMW brand into a different position. Ferrari might have more fans than BMW but, there is a little opportunity for fans to own a Ferrari. That’s the diversifying character of BMW community, a fan can be a customer. Therefore, I was curious how the social media has influence on the sales figures of BMW.
As usual, I asked what car he drives :) And I spotted a Bond car, BMW Z8!
And lastly, if you spot a BMW prototype on British roads don’t be shocked!

For more photos: Cars & Life Facebook Page

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Cars

BMW i-Series: München, we have a problem!

Today BMW announced their brand “i”. i branded vehicles will be devoted to battery power and establish mobility services. These new car will have carbon fibre and light weight concept as we all expect to see. There is nothing very surprising or unexpected.
These new battery powered carbon fibre structured vehicles will be named as similar to your computer’s CPU, i3 and i8! I am not joking BMW introduced a car named as a CPU. Intel already uses i3 for its relatively slow CPU mostly found in low end laptops and PCs.
I think in couple of days, we will see that Intel will be warning BMW to alter its i3 brand name (Intel has i5 and i7 brands as well). Honestly, I could not understand how they missed this point!

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Intel, BMW