The BMW i3 Coupe Concept has just been unveiled, ahead of its world debut that's going to take place at the 2012 Los Angeles auto show, as the end of this month. The BMW i3 Coupe measures 3,964 mm in length, 1,768 mm width and 1,555 mm in height and it's basically a three door version of the i3 concept unveiled back in July 2011. BMW's coupe i3 comes with a carbon fiber body and it represents the world's first fully networked electric vehicle. It has four seats and it's powered by an electric motor with an output of 125 kW/170 hp and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque. The power is sent to the coupe i3's rear wheels via a single-speed transmission. The electric motor of the BMW i3 Coupe is "juiced" by lithium-ion storage cells located in the floor of the concept.
The passengers of BMW's i3 Coupe seat in a "Life module" (safety cell), which is made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). The i3's drive system, chassis, energy storage unit, and the structural and crash functions are located in the "Drive module", which is made of aluminum.
Apart from the zero-emissions efficient powertrain, the aerodynamics of the BMW i3 Coupe have also been designed for maximum efficiency and performance. The concept sits on 20-inch alloys with 155/60 R20 tires at the front and 175/55 R20 tires at the rear.
For the interior of the i3 coupe, BMW used various renewable raw materials such as leather, wood, and wool. The coupe i3 concept's instrument cluster is a 6.5 inch (16.5 centimeter) screen located on the steering column. There's also a second 8.8 inches (22.4 centimeters) display located in the center of the dashboard that's used for showing navigation and other information to the driver.
The BMW i3 Coupe offers three driving modes COMFORT, ECO PRO and ECO PRO+, the last one being the most efficient one. In the ECO PRO+ mode the top speed of the i3 Coupe is limited to 90 km/h (56 mph). BMW says that the new concept has a maximum range of 160 kilometers (100 miles).
BMW i3 Coupe Concept video:
