Project i now has an online presence. The BMW Group has launched a website for Project i, the think tank program for developing environmentally conscious solutions for congested city motoring. The site is located at www.project-i.com and will feature information and news on BMW’s automotive sustainability development. Facebook and Twitter pages for Project i have also gone online.
The internationally oriented, English-language website provides a detailed overview of the approaches and solutions regarding the challenges of sustainable mobility - from the basic vision of electric vehicles on specific test vehicles like the MINI E and the BMW ActiveE to the revolutionary LifeDrive concept of the Mega City Vehicles.
In addition to the official website, twitter and facebook pages for Project i have also been launched at www.twitter.com/bmwprojecti … CONTINUED
BMW design chief Adrian Van Hooydonk speaks about the upcoming Megacity vehicle coming in 2013, BMW’s first volume production car to use carbon fiber in the structure and panels. He says that the car will be attractive but not controversial and will be priced at a premium to the Tata Nanos of the world.
Andrei Arvarvarii has produced this rendering of the future all electric BMW Megacity Vehicle. Based on the official BMW Megacity concept teaser image, this interpretation seems to inject some production practicality, such as a higher roof, door handles, smaller wheels, and antenna. But overall, it stays true to the BMW teaser image.
BMW is the exclusive vehicle partner of the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games and it will be using this position to showcase its Megacity electric cars, in nearly production form. The global viewership and exposure of the Olympics presents BMW with a unique opportuity to showcase the Megacity car on a huge global scale.
The only Megacity car variation shown so far is a carbon fiber passenger cell, 4-seat, rear wheel drive, 100% electric vehicle, with its motor underneath the vehicle floor. Future The Megacity line of vehicles is expected to become a sub-brand (perhaps reviving the Isetta nameplate) under the BMW moniker and will likely be on sale in 2013.
The 4-seat (5-door) … CONTINUED
The Megacity Vehicle (MCV), due to come onto the market in 2013 will soon be the world’s first volume-produced vehicle with a passenger cell made from carbon fiber. The weight savings will allow an offset of the extra 250 to 350 kg of weight typically found in electrically powered vehicles
Here is the first officially released stunning concept image of the upcoming Megacity vehicle, an all electric “city car.” The BMW Megacity is expected to enter production sometime in 2013. Pictured here is a 4 seater car powered by a rear mounted electric motor (running on batteries). To minimize weight, the Megacity vehicle will feature extensive use of carbon firber reinforced plastics.
More photos shortly.
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BMW has announced that its all-electric “Megacity Vehicle” line will launc in 2013. This line of vehicles was designed from the ground up to be fully electric vehicles and will be significantly lighter than conventional cars with heavy use of carbon fiber. It will be a zero-emission urban car for the world’s metropolitan regions. It is currently being developed as part of project i and will be available from 2013 under a sub-brand of BMW.
New trademarks registered by BMW gives some insight into new model lineups that will eventually be added to BMW’s offerings. The new names include: i1, i2, i3, i4, i5, i6, i7, i8, i9, E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7, E8, E9, M50d, Urbanic, Gran Coupe, Compactive, and Compactive Tourer.
The “i” lineup of cars could very well be used to designate the sub-compact electric megacity vehicle we’ve been hearing about for a while. The “E” lineup of cars could possibly be used to designate electric versions of current BMW models. “M50d” is speculated to refer to a tri-turbo diesel. “Urbanic” could be a new trim level associated with the megacity vehicles. And “Compactive and “Compactive Tourer” could be applied to wagons based on the 1- and … CONTINUED
According to a local Washington State TV station BMW and partner SGL are looking at several locations in North America to build a plant specifically for producing carbon fiber material likely for the upcoming iSetta range of cars. According to sources BMW is looking at a location near Moses Lake Washington (US) and an unnamed Canadian city. The project is so secret that those inside the Washington county where Moses Lake resides are only calling it