BMW Creates New i3 Concept Coupe EV with 168hp for the LA Auto Show

These are the first pictures of BMW's new i3 Concept Coupe, which is a slightly sportier looking but less practical, three-door version of the carmaker's carbon-fiber i3 hatchback that will enter production next year.

The i3 Concept Coupe will make its world premiere at this week's Los Angeles Auto Show, with the Bavarian automaker stating that it "demonstrates the potential for conceivably extending the model range", which in other words, means, expect a similar model to be added to the i3's range in the very near future.

While keeping the 5d model's lightweight structure and 2,570mm (101.2 inches) long wheelbase, BMW says that the Coupe has a "has a broader, lower-slung look". The designers also eliminated the see-through panels on the doors and the lower section of the rear tailgate.

The i3 Coupe study measures 3,964mm (156.1 inches) in length, 1,768mm (69.6 inches) wide and 1,555mm (61.2 inches) tall, making it roughly the same size as a Ford Fiesta hatchback.

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BMW Already Testing 1-Series Compact Models with its New Three-cylinder 1.5-liter Engines

As we were looking for pictures the other day for our story on the availability of the BMW Group's new 1.5-liter TwinPower Turbo engines in the United States and Canada, we discovered images of a prototype of the 1-Series five-door hatchback fitted with this powerplant on the company's website.

To date, while BMW has set the market introduction of the 1.5-liter TwinPower Turbo engine in diesel and petrol forms for 2013, it has only confirmed the i8 sports coupe and the i3 supermini gasoline-electric hybrids as the recipients of the three-cylinder units.

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BMW Announces New 1.5-Liter Turbo'd 3-Cylinder Petrol and Diesel Engines with up to 222HP

In 2007, BMW introduced the Efficient Dynamics strategy to its new vehicles, which encompasses fuel efficient petrol and diesel engines, highly efficient transmissions, “intelligent” management of ancillary systems and advanced aerodynamics.

Despite investing heavily on hybrid and EV technology, as is evident with the ActiveHybrid models and the new “i” sub-brand, BMW also believes that the internal combustion engine has potential for improvement and will continue to power the bulk of its existing and future models.

To that end, it is introducing a new lineup of TwinPower turbocharged engines in both gasoline and diesel forms, starting with the 1.5-liter three-cylinder units.

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BMW Presents New C Evolution Electric Scooter Prototype at London Olympics [w/Video]

Not to be outshone by the BMW car brand and its upcoming "i" series of pure-electric models, BMW Motorrad, which is the German company's motorcycle division, is also gearing up for the presentation of its first zero emissions model.

Following the original E-Scooter concept at the BMW Motorrad Innovation Day 2011 and the Concept e at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW has now introduced a near-production prototype of the electric scooter named the C Evolution.

The electric-powered scooter was presented in the U.K. capital today with BMW to allow selected London Olympics visitors to drive the prototypes during the games.

The C Evolution features a hybrid composite structure upon which it fits an electric motor producing a continuous output of 11kW (15hp) and a peak output of 35kW (47hp) allowing for an electronically limited top speed of 120km/h (75mph).

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BMW Says i8 Plug-in Hybrid Coupe to Cost 'More than €100,000'

We're still a good two years away from the market launch of the most anticipated model of BMW's new i sub-brand, the i8 Coupe, but the Bavarian automaker has already outlined a pricing strategy for the plug-in hybrid.

Speaking to reporters at the grand opening of the i sub-brand’s first sales outlet worldwide on London’s Park Lane, BMW global sales chief Ian Robertson said that the hybrid sports car will sell for "more than €100,000 (about US$125,400 or £80,600)" - apparently in Europe, according to a report from Bloomberg News.

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BMW i Pedelec is a Foldable Electric Bicycle for the i3

There were plenty of things to see at the grand opening of the first dealership dedicated to the BMW i sub-brand on London’s Park Lane today including a new foldable electric bicycle named the i Pedelec (from the words Pedal Electric Cycle).

The compact bicycle with the lightweight frame made from aluminium and carbon fibre was designed to complement the upcoming i3 hatchback with BMW claiming that once folded, two of them can fit in the boot of the electric supermini.

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BMW Shows i3 Concept with Recolored Interior

The opening of BMW's first dedicated i Store in London was accompanied by the presentation of an updated version of the i3 Concept.

While some have been spreading the word that this particular i3 Concept features a newer interior that is closer to the production model, this is not true.

What BMW's designers did is simply change the colors of the cabin and add different materials on the seating surfaces and eucalyptus wood trim on the dashboard, nothing more, nothing less.

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BMW Opens its First Dedicated i Store Worldwide in London

The introduction of the new "i" sub-brand for BMW's upcoming pure electric, plug-in hybrid and other alternative fuel vehicles was only the beginning as the Bavarian carmaker is taking the project to a whole new level with the opening of the first dedicated i Store worldwide in London's Park Lane. Read more »

Life-Size Replica of the BMW i8 Concept Made out of Lego Blocks

The BMW Group and LEGO, the famous interlocking brick brand from Denmark, are no strangers as the two companies have cooperated many times in the past.

Once again, BMW was one of the main sponsors of this year's LEGO Kids Fest that took place at the automaker's home town of Munich from April 12 to 15.

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BMW i-FD is a Concept Study for a Green Sports Sedan

While BMW is officially keeping quiet about the matter, understandably, it’s not a question if the Bavarian automaker will introduce a four-door model into the range of it's newly launched i-sub brand, but when.

Currently, we're looking forward to the presentation of the production versions of the i3 hatchback and the i8 sports coupe, both of which have been spied on several occasions.

Until the time comes for BMW to either inform us about its future plans or better yet, tease us with a concept model, we have a study to show you. It's called the BMW i-FD and it was created by independent industrial designer Feliciano Ruy-Díaz from Valencia, Spain.

The young designer says that the inspiration for the styling of the i-FD came from the work of renowned Spanish architect and structural engineer Santiago Calatrava as well as the forms of ancient Greek armor and the lines of a white shark.

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