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BMW Optimistic About i3 -Maybe Overly So

BMW believes that its i3 will be a major success in Europe

The i3 and i8 will be the major i-series cars.

BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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head if the i-series sub-brand Ulrich Kranz gave a very enlightening interview to Automobil Woche at the debut of the i3 Coupe ConceptBMW i3 Concept CoupéGermany, 2012 > 201222 photos
at the LA Auto Show. He seems very optimistic about the success of the i3BMW i3Germany, 2011 > present12 versions
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perhaps to a fault.

We recently wrote about how more and more electric cars are eschewing Europe in favor of focusing sales on the west coast of the US, at least as a test market. BMW is bucking that trend by introducing the i3 to Europe first in the late 2013 and early 2014. It is a big gamble for the company who are still relatively new to hybrids and EVs. Even ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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looked at the European market and decided to only sell its RAV4 EVToyota Rav4 EVJapan, 2013 > present5 photos
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and iQ EVToyota iQ EVJapan, 2012 > present4 photos
on the west coast.

"In the world's megacities, zero-emission vehicles are in demand. There is also a demand for a holistic, sustainable approach that extends across materials, production, service life and recycling. We are also pursuing convenient charging at home and on the road," said Kranz.

BMW believes that customers will be attracted to the i3 because it will produce about half as much CO2 as a 1 Series DieselBMW 116d EfficientDynamicsGermany, 2011 > present1 photo
over the course of its lifetime.

To make the i3 a success BMW is focusing on making it a premium car with cutting edge technology and connectivity. The i-series models will be the first jobs in their class with carbon fiber reinforced plastic bodies. To keep costs down, BMW has worked with a partner to make a unique blend of carbon fiber that will be cheaper but still more expensive than a conventional body. The infotainment functions of the i-series will also be cutting edge with the ability to network with the car using a smartphone.

"We are offering something that has not existed to this point: the first electric car in the premium segment. With its driving performance and dynamics, the i3 will generate as much pleasure as a car with a traditional powertrain," he said.

Surprisingly for a company who makes subcompact cars like the Mini, Kranz believes that the minicar market will not be competition against the i-series.

"[Minicars] have clearly been rejected – whether you are in Asia, the U.S. or Europe. Minicars are not considered safe. Customers want to make sure that we are taking care of the environment, but they do not want to do without comfort," he said.

Kranz also discussed the future of the i-series sub-brand. The i8BMW i8Germany, 2011 > present2 versions
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will come in early 2014 and be built alongside the i3 in Leipzig. The Leipzig factory still has extra capacity to build future i-series cars.

Fiat 500e Will Not be Offered in Europe

The star of the LA Motor Show

From the 30th November up to the 9th December Los Angeles will become the world capital of the automotive industry. The biggest makes will come to LA to show their latest models and unveil some models with which they want to conquer the drivers' hearts. So take a look at what you might find in LA.

Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series

First there was the SLS AMG, then the GT model that added 20ps, now Mercedes has topped the AMG range with the new SLS AMG Black Series that adds 60ps to the standard car bringing total power up to 631ps and 635Nm and decreases the weight by 70kg. The upgrade cuts acceleration time to 3.4 seconds to 100km/h.

Mercedes Ener-G-Force

For the LA Auto Show, Mercedes will unveil its concept for a G-Class from the year 2025 called the Ener-G-Force. The car is an entrant into the Los Angeles Design Challenge that has a theme of “Highway Patrol Vehicle 2025.” A 1:1 model of the car will be displayed at the show.

BMW ePatrol

Like Mercedes, BMW has entered the Los Angeles Design Challenge to design a police vehicle from 2025. However, where Mercedes created an actual, 1:1 scale model, BMW just sketched its design. It calls the car the ePatrol, and it is meant to be a future vehicle for the California Highway Patrol.

Toyota Rav4

Toyota is revealing the fourth generation RAV4 at the LA Auto Show. It keeps the four-cylinder engine from the previous generation but drops the old four-speed automatic transmission in favor of a six-speed automatic transmission. The V6 from the previous generation will not be in the new generation.

Fiat 500e

Fiat has announced that it will show the 500e at the LA Auto Show on November 28, but it has not revealed any of the car's specs. All we know right now is that the 500e will be a pure electric car that will get its public debut at the LA Auto Show. Fiat says that the 500e will only be available in California for 2013.

Fiat 500C Abarth (US)

Fiat sneakily announced the launch of the Abarth 500 Cabrio at the LA Auto Show via Youtube with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa driving the car with a description saying: "The Scuderia Ferrari drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa tested the FIAT 500 Abarth Cabrio in Austin, Texas, in anticipation of its North American debut at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show."

Chevrolet Spark EV

Chevrolet has already revealed some of the specs for the Spark EV, but it has held back revealing the car's range. The Spark EV is powered by a 130hp and 400lb-ft electric motor and will accelerate to 60mph in less than eight seconds. It will also be the first car on the market with three-phase DC fast charging.The car uses a 20kWh battery pack with an eight-year/100,000 mile warranty.

Porsche Cayman

Porsche took the wraps off the second generation Cayman at the LA Auto Show, and it is exactly what you would expect - a Boxster coupe. Compared to the Boxster, the Cayman has a unique front end with larger air intakes, and the added roof makes the rear look more rounded. It is easy to see the Boxster in the Cayman, but Porsche has also worked to differentiate it.

Honda Civic

The reaction to the ninth generation Honda Civic in North America was not positive. Critics said that it looked too much like the previous generation, and that the interior appeared cheaper than before. To react to all of the negative press, Honda will debut a refresh to the ninth generation Civic just one year after it debuted. The new design will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show

Subaru Forester

Subaru will reveal the new Forester at the LA Auto Show on November 30. The brand says that the new Forester will be offered with either a 2.5-liter boxer engine with 170hp and 174lb-ft of torque or the new 2.0-liter turbo with 250hp and 258lb-ft of torque. The 2.5-liter will be available with either a six-speed manual or a CVT. The new 2.0-liter will only be available with a CVT,

Jaguar XFR-S

Jaguar is still teasing the XFR-S. The company says that it will be the most powerful Jaguar sedan ever produced, but it has not revealed exactly how much power it has. Jaguar says that it will sell the car in a limited edition of 200 cars in the United States.

Jaguar F-Type

Although it is not a world premiere Jaguar is taking to the LA Auto Show its most recent sports model, the F-Type. The model will make in LA its' north-american debut.

Land Rover Range Rover

The new generation Range Rover will also be making its first appearance in the North American market at the LA Auto Show. Together with the F-Type and the new XKR-S, the Jaguar Land Rover believes it has a good product offensive especially for the US market.

Volkswagen Beetle Cabrio

The redesigned modern Volkswagen Beetle has debuted in its convertible guise that will launch in Europe in the spring of 2013 and fourth quarter in the US. The new design uses the flatter roof from redesigned Beetle but covers it in fabric. Volkswagen says that it has flattened the roof to give the car a sportier look, but it also gives the car a more classic appearance.

ForJeremy

Fashion designer Jeremy Scott has teamed with Smart to create a unique, be-winged Smart ForTwo that will be on display at the LA Auto Show. It has been dubbed the Forjeremy and is based on the electric ForTwo. The car was revealed at a pre-auto show party at Jim Henson Studios.

i3 Concept Coupé

BMW has revealing a concept for a three-door version of the i3 at the LA with a body made from carbon fiber and CFRP panels. The design is heavily inspired by the previous i3s shown, but it is obviously a coupe. The rear side windows are larger than the door windows and incorporates and exaggerates the famous Hofmeister Kink into the window panel.

Hyundai Veloster Concept C3 Top Roll

Hyundai decided to go crazy at the LA Auto Show. How else do you explain a ragtop Veloster Turbo that can either be a pickup or a convertible. The Veloster C3 Roll Top Concept, which stands for convertible three-door, is pretty wild for a car so closely based to a production model. The power, canvas roof can either roll forward or roll back.

Acura RLX

Acura is debuting its new flagship sedan the RLX. It will have a hybrid for the first time that previews a similar system that will be used in the upcoming NSX. Sales of the RLX will begin in the spring of 2013. The new RLX is relatively unadorned in terms of style. It is a three-box sedan that is in no way showy. The car's most obvious feature is its array of LED headlights.

X1 Concept K2 Powder Ride

BMW has teamed with winter sports equipment maker K2 to create the X1 Edition Powder Ride and BMW Concept K2 Powder Ride. The cars will both be on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 30. The K2 Powder Ride concept has unique exterior features and is painted Valencia Orange metallic. It comes with a set of limited edition K2 skis.