A few months ago I posted a story from InsideEvs written by my good friend (and neighbor!) Chris Neff. It was his take on a day in October which he spent filming a series of videos for BMW of him driving around Monticello Raceway as a passenger in a BMW i3 driven by professional race car driver Erin Crocker. We have been waiting patiently for the release of the videos and the first in the series was finally made available. Take a look above!
Showing posts with label video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label video. Show all posts
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BMW i3 Carves up Monticello Raceway
A few months ago I posted a story from InsideEvs written by my good friend (and neighbor!) Chris Neff. It was his take on a day in October which he spent filming a series of videos for BMW of him driving around Monticello Raceway as a passenger in a BMW i3 driven by professional race car driver Erin Crocker. We have been waiting patiently for the release of the videos and the first in the series was finally made available. Take a look above!
BMW i3 Sochi Olympic Commercials Revealed
BMW has released a series of commercials that will be used for commercials during the Sochi Winter Olympics which just opened yesterday. There are spots for many of the new BMW products but the BMW i3 spots will be the first commercials ever aired in the US for the car so I've posted them here.
The commercials are titled "Shhh", "Reasons", "Cop" and "Zero Gallons". I really like Shhh & Cop. I think Reasons is OK and am not a big fan of Zero Gallons. Shhh (seen above) is great. A father comes home and when his son wonders why he didn't hear him pull up the dad says "Electric car...sneaky" and goes off to bed. This gives the kid the great idea of sneaking out quietly with the car for a rendezvous with his girlfriend; something that many teenage kids do. I remember pushing my dads 1976 Oldsmobile Starfire out of the driveway late at night so he wouldn't hear me "borrowing" it. I would then shut it off before I reached the driveway when I was coming home so I could silently coast back in without waking him. I could have really used a quiet EV for these stealth, late night adventures back then. However in the commercial the i3's smartphone app does the kid in, waking his dad to alert him of the cars charging status! Very clever spot.
The video below, Reasons, takes a swing at the idea that people only want to drive electric cars to reduce their carbon footprint, to help clean the air, to live a sustainable lifestyle, etc or in other words to save the world. But people buy cars for many reasons, and how well the car drives is one of the most important reasons of all. With the i3, you don't have to sacrifice driving pleasure to get all the other positives that driving electric brings, and this spot tries to drive that home.
"Cop" is easy to understand. The i3 is fast and fun to drive. You won't find yourself wanting to crawl along at 5 miles per hour under the speed limit in the slow lane if you have one. You'll more likely find yourself stomping the accelerator whenever you can. This will likely lead to unwanted attention by the men in blue.
While I like the message Zero Gallons was attempting to convey, I think it misses the mark. "This is our most efficient vehicle yet. With zero miles per gallon...more specifically, zero gallons." Most of the i3's sold in the US are going to have the range extender option, so they won't really use "Zero Gallons" in the first place. But even if BMW wanted to get the "all electric" message out there, they could have done it better in my opinion. Perhaps show the car whizzing by a deserted gas station with tumbleweeds rolling past the pumps and the driver with a clever smirk on his face. Hopefully this one will get the least airplay because the other three offer much more powerful messages.
XCAR Reviews The i3: The Ultimate Driving Machine?
There are dozens of video reviews of the i3 popping up now but this one seems pretty good so I thought it was worth putting up.
Later in the week I'll have another installment of the "I was Born Electric on..." series. This time we'll be traveling to Belgium to get some insight into how a new i3 owner there is feeling about living the electric life.
CarBuyer Offers a Comprehensive BMW i3 Video Review
Over in the UK i3 sales and deliveries have begun. Unlike here in the US the press is getting extended time with i3's and producing some more complete reviews. The video above is pretty well balanced so I thought the followers here would like to see it. The full printed review from CarBuyer can be found here.
It's track time! The first hand story:
My previous post was a video that showed some quick clips of an i3 racing around a track. I was happy to see BMW finally posting this video as I've been waiting for some performance-orientated marketing as I've had my fill of the Eco-Sustainable-Recylable side of the car for now. Of course all that stuff is very important, and BMW should be proud of how the i3 is the embodiment of BMW i's mission. But now it's time for some fun and this video is just the beginning. My good friend (and practically neighbor) Chris Neff was asked by BMW to spend a day at Monticello Raceway in an i3 piloted by race car driver Erin Crocker so they could film the i3 - and I suspect Chris's reaction. You can see Chris in passenger seat in some shots of the video below which is just a teaser, the real stuff hasn't been released yet. Chris was asked by InsideEVs.com to talk about his experience that day and the post below is what he wrote. I "borrowed" this from InsideEvs.com but they should get the credit for the original post which you can view here. Here is what Chris had to say:
Taking the BMW i3 on a track…a real race track, riding with a professional driver at the absolute limit for a full day at Monticello Raceway in New York and having it all caught on video; all this is what was spinning around in my head days before the shoot was set to take place.
I’ve been driving EVs since 2009, a MiniE and now the BMW ActiveE. I’ve always been the kind of EV fan where performance was first for me, the eco was the bonus. You can find me touting the benefits of EVs at many “green,” events but you will find me more often happily showing off my EV at exotic car meets and, in the past year, joined by other EV drivers who make it to the meets. I’ve always felt the best way for people to embrace EVs is to show them off where you would never expect to see one…parked next to a Ferrari or Lamborghini or Mclaren…we all love cars and mine is a fun daily driver.
Now, along comes the i3, with its funky look and skinny tires. I have to admit I was wondering if the i3 would be as fun as my ActiveE, I mean how could it be, just look at those tires. Still, I liked the styling, it started to grow on me….but would it be fun to drive? I know that is the question on the minds of many.
…and now here we are, I’m ready to learn if the i3 is a real ‘drivers’ EV and on a race track.
It’s track day and now I get to meet the professional driver who is going to take us around the track. Let me add that she is a professional race car driver. Erin Crocker, who has been racing competitively since 7 (Nascar racer, sprint car racer, stunt car driver and EV newbie, nope never driven an EV) and she’s just an all around cool person. She is laid back and, like the rest of us, loves automobiles. So, this is going to be a real blast then right? I’ve never ridden in an i3 or been on a race track and Erin has never driven an EV. I begin thinking we will just hit some decent speeds and test the handling…what could possibly go wrong.?
While filling out the final paperwork in preparation for the day I was asked if I kissed my family goodbye….umm….yes. A few others came up and asked if I would be “ok” today…umm….why?
So we do about 3 laps and the speed is increasing. Erin is feeling more comfortable, I’m not and it is not because of her driving, this is a first for me and all I’m seeing is how fast we are heading for a hairpin and no regen or braking is going on at all, at least not until the last second and when we go into that turn we are right back on the accelerator to pull out of it…..the i3 never flinched…I can’t say that for me. I had such little time to process what was going on, but one thought was clear…the i3 is impressive.
We did a few more laps then pulled back into the pits. Wow!!! I was full of adrenaline, a combo of fear and excitement. I never expected the i3 to do that. But wait, there is more, another 10 hours of this was left to go. You see, this was to be a video shoot which means take after take…..we had two i3s to play with, one was the full electric and the other was the REx (extended range). How would they both hold up through repeated on-track abuse? We were going to find out and that was exactly why we were there. Yes, I said 10 hours. Now I understand why they were asking if I was “ok” with this. Going flat out was pretty scary, but how long could that last? Apparently close to 10 hours. Okay then, let’s do this!!!
I won’t talk about the details of the shoot in this writing, I’m going to focus on what I think you all want to hear, how did it do on the track. There are lots of reviews to be had on the i3, but none of them are about a track experience so here we go.
…before I head into my thoughts let me quickly chat about Erin, this was a fun experience for her. It was clear she was eager to see what this funky little car could do. While we zipped around the track I filled her in on EV terminology which she got a kick out of…’frunk’ was probably her favorite word. She is truly a pro, she has been racing since 7 and does the sprint car circuit now, those are those tiny little 700hp race cars that go round and round a dirt track, very aggressive because you have to be. Her driving style is all on or all off with quick turns of the wheel. In many ways, an EV suits her style since they deliver power immediately or don’t and the i3s steering is instant quick…it was an observation of mine and she absolutely brought out all the i3 could do….I definitely got more grey hair that day.
Handling
First and foremost, the i3 is an extremely nimble critter. How in the world can a car handle that well with such skinny tires and on one of the i3s was all seasons? I’m no engineer, but a low center of gravity and low weight play an important roll. The i3 looks tall, but the weight is down low and that chassis is as stiff as can be. The i3 leans, but not enough to unsettle it. Erin commented a few times how she was impressed at how easy it was to take a turn, very predictable and the front tires just kept grabbing. Granted, the electronic stability brains were keeping us from sliding out, but not so much to ruin the fun. The real issue that kept us from creating a slide was the computer cutting the power, there is no way to fully disable the anti-skid brains unfortunately. Is this a problem? Not in the least. We were taking hairpins and long sweeping turns extremely fast, there is a sharp uphill hairpin, turn #18, and during the shoot we must have taken that 12 or more times both ways. Not once did the i3 flinch…I sure did. Especially going the other way where it banks to the outside, I could swear we were headed for the grass, nope, it was like the i3 was on rails….maybe it is.
The steering is incredibly quick, Erin had a real chance to test it in the slalom. You will notice at around 20 seconds in the video is an abrupt turn to the right, the i3 can do that all day, left then right and vice versa. It is hard to tell in the video but those cones were pretty close together and Erin got through them all a few times, that is her skill and the i3 was keeping up with her with lightening quick steering and a chassis that likes to dance. The i3 was definitely in its element here. Erin and I both said…wow.
Turning radius
The i3 basically turns in on itself. This is one sharp turning radius, take a look at 24 seconds into the video. We were actually trying to get the i3 to do doughnuts, but the computer would not let the rear brake loose, still, you can see how it held and how sharp we were turning….about 27 times in a row.
Braking
In a word….wow! We did a number of hard braking shoots where we would be rolling along at 30 or so MPH and Erin would slam on the brakes…my eyeballs popped out with my brain following. This car really does stop on a dime, we did this a few times and the brakes never faded. In fact, the first time Erin slammed on the brakes it caught her by surprise, we did not expect it to stop that quickly, this car can stop! This just might be the best braking street legal BMW out there. We noticed no difference with the REx.
Ride quality
BMW has nailed it, of course this was a track and it was smooth but we hit those rumble strips regularly and fast. The i3 never shuddered, it just soaked them up while still holding the track with composure. It is one thing I noticed right away, the i3 ride is not punishing but it is extremely composed. I’ve been driving my ActiveE for nearly 2 years and I do find the ride firm and a bit tiring after awhile but not the i3. We even had an opportunity to have a full car, 4 adults, with gear inside, the i3 managed it well, never bottomed out or felt floatie. This truly is an everyday comfortable driver that is athletic.
Chassis
Another wow, we had 2 cars to play with and we were on the track for nearly 10hrs. The cars never complained, they came and left with the same tires, not a single creek or rattle and believe me when I say both cars were pushed to the edge time after time. The i3 has no B pillar on either side….it does not need them.
Acceleration
The i3 is quick, probably the quickest street EV other than Tesla that is available. It has basically the same power as the ActiveE, 170hp and 184 ft lbs torque but it is pushing over 1,000 pounds less. The i3 is quicker at everything and very refined, power delivery is amazingly smooth and that’s saying a lot since EVs are inherently smooth. The i3 also keeps up its acceleration all the way to top speed, around 90. There is also a cool ‘Sail’ feature where basically there is a neutral spot between acceleration and regen where you can coast. Erin did it at around 80mph a few times.
I was very impressed with how both cars kept taking the punishment being delivered to them. They never faltered and were consistently comfortable.
Regen
The regen of the i3 is much more refined then the ActiveE is, more linear. When I drove I did not really get a chance to try it myself and to be honest we never slowed down enough to experience it.
Interior
Other than the bits I was grabbing for dear life I did get a close look, mostly because my face or body was plastered on different areas of the car so I can confirm there are lots of soft touches in the i3. This is a very high quality interior. The i3 feels much bigger inside that you would expect and outward visibility is excellent all around. The EV is quiet even at high speed, while cruising along at 90 the wind was not that bad….I never had to raise my voice to speak to Erin….well maybe when I was screaming in fear.
In the wet
Now this was pretty interesting. The goal was to get the i3 to drift through water, no matter how hard Erin tried the i3 would not keep a sustained slide. The anti-skid computer electronics kept the car in check even when flying into a puddle at high speed….is this a bad thing…not at all, this is a safety feature. The i3 maintains control.
Range
Well basically we killed it, none to speak of. The i3 had its ‘juice’ pedal mashed to the floor most of the time so it was impossible to tell what range we were getting, however with that said, I was able to see how efficient the regen was. It was amazingly efficient, now I’m comparing to the ActiveE but just a bit of a roll down a hill and the i3 had some juice back, a few more rolls and we had even more. For those know even a 1% difference is huge when you are trying to get home. It looks like the i3 will have some very effective regen.
So what was the REx like?
We had a pre-production REx version so it still needed some software programming but it works. The little engine kicked on automatically with around 5 miles left of range, once it got us up to a few more miles it turned off, it was pretty quick, it pumps energy into the battery fast. We had the chance to whip it around the track and it felt just as fast and just as planted. Erin said she thought it felt a little better balanced…..all I know is it stayed on the track and I was extremely happy about that.
Summing it Up
I finally got my chance to drive the i3, it was a quick run but I got to feel it’s handling and acceleration. The i3 is worlds ahead of the ActiveE. I was really impressed, for me driving an EV is about performance and the eco part is the bonus, the i3 nails them both.
This was an absolutely amazing experience, being that this was my first true tack experience, that alone was cool enough, but that it was in the i3 and with a professional race car driver that had never driven an EV before made it all the more fantastic. As EVers, we always want to give EV newbies seat time for that ‘A ha’ moment but the opportunity to get a professional race car driver into one and watch her expressions as she clearly enjoyed the car was icing on the cake.
I’m sure you are wondering how does it compare to other EVs? It does not compare, it’s a whole different type of machine. Did Erin really push the i3 to the edge…without a doubt…yes. What you see in the video is not all out, there is more to come. In the beginning she was holding back a bit, maybe giving me a chance to recover from shock, but eventually she opened it up, game face on, all business, and we were flying…literally…we caught some air. We once went off the track into the grass but the i3 held the line and just tip toed over the blades of green and back onto the track. There were a number of times I really thought we were headed for a guard rail or into the woods but Erin and the i3 just took it in stride….oh and the seats were comfy too, even though I was only in them half of the time.
There are some sounds of what appears to be tires squealing in the video….that is probably me.
Taking the BMW i3 on a track…a real race track, riding with a professional driver at the absolute limit for a full day at Monticello Raceway in New York and having it all caught on video; all this is what was spinning around in my head days before the shoot was set to take place.
Finally…The BMW i3 is on a Race Track – Image Copyright Chris Neff
Now, along comes the i3, with its funky look and skinny tires. I have to admit I was wondering if the i3 would be as fun as my ActiveE, I mean how could it be, just look at those tires. Still, I liked the styling, it started to grow on me….but would it be fun to drive? I know that is the question on the minds of many.
…and now here we are, I’m ready to learn if the i3 is a real ‘drivers’ EV and on a race track.
Monticello Raceway – I3 Handles Those Curves With Ease
While filling out the final paperwork in preparation for the day I was asked if I kissed my family goodbye….umm….yes. A few others came up and asked if I would be “ok” today…umm….why?
Any concerns I had quickly turned back to pure excitement when we headed over to the garage and there was the i3. Photos do not do the i3 justice, you really need to see it in person. No, it does not scream BMW, but it doesn’t have to. It is a beautiful car in its own right, the eye catching details are plenty. Erin and I did a quick walk around and I pointed out some of the unique attributes to an EV as well as the i3. Especially those tires. You are immediately drawn to them as they are so skinny and you have to wonder how this car can ever handle a road much less a track.
It’s close to 8 am and we head out. Erin is scanning the dash and soaking up the new controls she will need to get used to. That took maybe 30 seconds and then we are off. I don’t mean gradually. Nope, she really went for it right away. I calmly looked over and asked if she wanted to get familiar with the i3. She replied “no it’s ok.” I then asked has she ever driven this track. Never, she replied. Right…ok….now this is getting interesting.So we do about 3 laps and the speed is increasing. Erin is feeling more comfortable, I’m not and it is not because of her driving, this is a first for me and all I’m seeing is how fast we are heading for a hairpin and no regen or braking is going on at all, at least not until the last second and when we go into that turn we are right back on the accelerator to pull out of it…..the i3 never flinched…I can’t say that for me. I had such little time to process what was going on, but one thought was clear…the i3 is impressive.
I won’t talk about the details of the shoot in this writing, I’m going to focus on what I think you all want to hear, how did it do on the track. There are lots of reviews to be had on the i3, but none of them are about a track experience so here we go.
…before I head into my thoughts let me quickly chat about Erin, this was a fun experience for her. It was clear she was eager to see what this funky little car could do. While we zipped around the track I filled her in on EV terminology which she got a kick out of…’frunk’ was probably her favorite word. She is truly a pro, she has been racing since 7 and does the sprint car circuit now, those are those tiny little 700hp race cars that go round and round a dirt track, very aggressive because you have to be. Her driving style is all on or all off with quick turns of the wheel. In many ways, an EV suits her style since they deliver power immediately or don’t and the i3s steering is instant quick…it was an observation of mine and she absolutely brought out all the i3 could do….I definitely got more grey hair that day.
Bet You Never Imagined You Could Fit All This on the I3′s Dash
First and foremost, the i3 is an extremely nimble critter. How in the world can a car handle that well with such skinny tires and on one of the i3s was all seasons? I’m no engineer, but a low center of gravity and low weight play an important roll. The i3 looks tall, but the weight is down low and that chassis is as stiff as can be. The i3 leans, but not enough to unsettle it. Erin commented a few times how she was impressed at how easy it was to take a turn, very predictable and the front tires just kept grabbing. Granted, the electronic stability brains were keeping us from sliding out, but not so much to ruin the fun. The real issue that kept us from creating a slide was the computer cutting the power, there is no way to fully disable the anti-skid brains unfortunately. Is this a problem? Not in the least. We were taking hairpins and long sweeping turns extremely fast, there is a sharp uphill hairpin, turn #18, and during the shoot we must have taken that 12 or more times both ways. Not once did the i3 flinch…I sure did. Especially going the other way where it banks to the outside, I could swear we were headed for the grass, nope, it was like the i3 was on rails….maybe it is.
The steering is incredibly quick, Erin had a real chance to test it in the slalom. You will notice at around 20 seconds in the video is an abrupt turn to the right, the i3 can do that all day, left then right and vice versa. It is hard to tell in the video but those cones were pretty close together and Erin got through them all a few times, that is her skill and the i3 was keeping up with her with lightening quick steering and a chassis that likes to dance. The i3 was definitely in its element here. Erin and I both said…wow.
That’s the chase vehicle – a Mercedes-Benz AMG ML63….the i3 had no trouble staying ahead of it
The i3 basically turns in on itself. This is one sharp turning radius, take a look at 24 seconds into the video. We were actually trying to get the i3 to do doughnuts, but the computer would not let the rear brake loose, still, you can see how it held and how sharp we were turning….about 27 times in a row.
Braking
In a word….wow! We did a number of hard braking shoots where we would be rolling along at 30 or so MPH and Erin would slam on the brakes…my eyeballs popped out with my brain following. This car really does stop on a dime, we did this a few times and the brakes never faded. In fact, the first time Erin slammed on the brakes it caught her by surprise, we did not expect it to stop that quickly, this car can stop! This just might be the best braking street legal BMW out there. We noticed no difference with the REx.
Ride quality
BMW has nailed it, of course this was a track and it was smooth but we hit those rumble strips regularly and fast. The i3 never shuddered, it just soaked them up while still holding the track with composure. It is one thing I noticed right away, the i3 ride is not punishing but it is extremely composed. I’ve been driving my ActiveE for nearly 2 years and I do find the ride firm and a bit tiring after awhile but not the i3. We even had an opportunity to have a full car, 4 adults, with gear inside, the i3 managed it well, never bottomed out or felt floatie. This truly is an everyday comfortable driver that is athletic.
Chassis
Another wow, we had 2 cars to play with and we were on the track for nearly 10hrs. The cars never complained, they came and left with the same tires, not a single creek or rattle and believe me when I say both cars were pushed to the edge time after time. The i3 has no B pillar on either side….it does not need them.
Acceleration
The i3 is quick, probably the quickest street EV other than Tesla that is available. It has basically the same power as the ActiveE, 170hp and 184 ft lbs torque but it is pushing over 1,000 pounds less. The i3 is quicker at everything and very refined, power delivery is amazingly smooth and that’s saying a lot since EVs are inherently smooth. The i3 also keeps up its acceleration all the way to top speed, around 90. There is also a cool ‘Sail’ feature where basically there is a neutral spot between acceleration and regen where you can coast. Erin did it at around 80mph a few times.
I was very impressed with how both cars kept taking the punishment being delivered to them. They never faltered and were consistently comfortable.
Other Than 110 Chargers in the Pits – We Had Some Portable Chargers
The regen of the i3 is much more refined then the ActiveE is, more linear. When I drove I did not really get a chance to try it myself and to be honest we never slowed down enough to experience it.
Interior
Other than the bits I was grabbing for dear life I did get a close look, mostly because my face or body was plastered on different areas of the car so I can confirm there are lots of soft touches in the i3. This is a very high quality interior. The i3 feels much bigger inside that you would expect and outward visibility is excellent all around. The EV is quiet even at high speed, while cruising along at 90 the wind was not that bad….I never had to raise my voice to speak to Erin….well maybe when I was screaming in fear.
In the wet
Now this was pretty interesting. The goal was to get the i3 to drift through water, no matter how hard Erin tried the i3 would not keep a sustained slide. The anti-skid computer electronics kept the car in check even when flying into a puddle at high speed….is this a bad thing…not at all, this is a safety feature. The i3 maintains control.
Range
Well basically we killed it, none to speak of. The i3 had its ‘juice’ pedal mashed to the floor most of the time so it was impossible to tell what range we were getting, however with that said, I was able to see how efficient the regen was. It was amazingly efficient, now I’m comparing to the ActiveE but just a bit of a roll down a hill and the i3 had some juice back, a few more rolls and we had even more. For those know even a 1% difference is huge when you are trying to get home. It looks like the i3 will have some very effective regen.
Erin and I After Our Awesome Day…The i3 Truly Impressed Us Both
We had a pre-production REx version so it still needed some software programming but it works. The little engine kicked on automatically with around 5 miles left of range, once it got us up to a few more miles it turned off, it was pretty quick, it pumps energy into the battery fast. We had the chance to whip it around the track and it felt just as fast and just as planted. Erin said she thought it felt a little better balanced…..all I know is it stayed on the track and I was extremely happy about that.
Summing it Up
I finally got my chance to drive the i3, it was a quick run but I got to feel it’s handling and acceleration. The i3 is worlds ahead of the ActiveE. I was really impressed, for me driving an EV is about performance and the eco part is the bonus, the i3 nails them both.
This was an absolutely amazing experience, being that this was my first true tack experience, that alone was cool enough, but that it was in the i3 and with a professional race car driver that had never driven an EV before made it all the more fantastic. As EVers, we always want to give EV newbies seat time for that ‘A ha’ moment but the opportunity to get a professional race car driver into one and watch her expressions as she clearly enjoyed the car was icing on the cake.
I’m sure you are wondering how does it compare to other EVs? It does not compare, it’s a whole different type of machine. Did Erin really push the i3 to the edge…without a doubt…yes. What you see in the video is not all out, there is more to come. In the beginning she was holding back a bit, maybe giving me a chance to recover from shock, but eventually she opened it up, game face on, all business, and we were flying…literally…we caught some air. We once went off the track into the grass but the i3 held the line and just tip toed over the blades of green and back onto the track. There were a number of times I really thought we were headed for a guard rail or into the woods but Erin and the i3 just took it in stride….oh and the seats were comfy too, even though I was only in them half of the time.
There are some sounds of what appears to be tires squealing in the video….that is probably me.
The First-Ever BMW i3 Hot-Lap Video
Now this is more like it! I've talked to quite a few people within BMW that have driven the i3 on a track and have promised me it is a capable performer, worthy of the BMW name. The test drives for reporters and the public so far haven't really allowed for this kind of performance validation so it's good to see the i3 tearing around a track. This appears to just be a teaser video, so hopefully we'll get a longer version of this driving event soon. This is my kind of sustainability: Sustaining my driving pleasure!
Test Drive Video From The LA Auto Show
During the LA Auto Show BMW held a private event for the people in the ActiveE field trial. The purpose of the event was to introduce us to the i3, let us take one for a drive and to answer any questions we had about the i3 or the ActiveE program we are in. All of the ActiveE lessees were invited but since this was held in LA, the East Coast ActiveE drivers (except for me) did not get the opportunity to attend. I was there covering the LA auto show for PlugInCars.com so I was able to attend. BMW has arraigned a similar event for the East Coast ActiveE drivers next week, which will be held at BMW headquarters in Woodcliff Lake, NJ.
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| My passengers |
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| Getting the camera set up for the drive |
What do you want to know?
Before I went out to LA a couple weeks ago I asked people to post questions or requests for specific pictures in the comment section. I think I got just about every question and picture requested. With the East Coast ActiveE private meet next Wednesday, I'll make the same offer. Post anything you want to know about the car in the comments section. However we will not have the opportunity to drive a REx i3 while the battery is depleted and in range extender mode, so unfortunately I won't be able to answer questions about the REx performance, noise, etc. Anything else is fair game though. I'll try to get every question answered and every requested picture taken.
BMW i3 Euro NCAP Crash Test Video
My previous post discussed the four out of five star rating the i3 received from the Euro NCAP crash tests. Above is a video provided by the NCAP which shows the various tests being performed on the car.
Additionally, BMW offered a press release today, seemingly as a response to the 4 star overall rating, with the intention of reminding customers that the i3 did sores a perfect 5 or 5 in the actual crash:
BMW i3 Marketing Stepping Up
The i3 is set to launch in the UK, Germany and other select European countries in about two weeks now and BMW i marketing is preparing for the launch. Ads for the i3 and i8 are appearing in magazines and now a new video(seen above) has surfaced on the BMW UK YouTube channel.
I have been a bit critical of the little I've seen so far to promote the i3 and feel like BMW has been leaning on the sustainability angle way too much. In addition it seems like every short video clip they have made features a slim/metrosexual/surfer type. I'm not the only person to say this either, in fact of Richard Read of Green Car Reports wrote a whole tongue-in-cheek article on this, asking if BMW is only interested in waify metrosexuals to buy their i3's!
The good news is this spot is much better than what has previously been out there. I particularly like how the video has the i3 and i8 driving down a street in Chicago together to signify that they are born from the same genes but at a point they turn in different directions because, let's face it, although they have the same genetics these are two very different cars with different purposes. The camera follows the i3 until it eventually enters the car to show the interior and the drivers point of view before moving onward.
There is no talk of sustainable living, recycled materials or plant based door panels and key FOB. We hear about making choices, intelligent and efficient, lightweight carbon fiber, driving pleasure, electric and finally we're asked "Are you ready?" All to the perfectly selected and inspiring tune of Claire's Horizon (Broken Promise Land version). This is much more like it. Now sprinkle in a few video clips of an i3 screaming around a racetrack with one of your professional drivers at the wheel and we'll be lining up for test drives.
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BMW i3 Marketing Stepping Up
i3 Video: Zero to Top Speed
Autoblog.nl posted a short video showing them driving an i3 from a standstill to its top speed of 151km (93mph). You really get a clear picture of how well the car accelerates all the way up. Take a look:
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i3 Video: Zero to Top Speed
BMW i3 Production Video Series
BMW released a four part video series which shows in great detail the construction process of the i3. From carbon fiber manufacturing, to battery pack construction and full vehicle assembly on the production line at Leipzig. It's rare that a manufacturer allows such a detailed look at how they make a car. There's over an hour of combined video in the four part series below. If you are an i3 enthusiast, or even just a car person, this is definitely worth watching.
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BMW i3 Production Video Series
BMW i3 Electric Motor Assembly Video
A friend of mine posted a video that shows the manufacturing process of the 168 horsepower, 184 lb-ft electric motor used in the i3. It's nearly nine minutes long and pretty comprehensive so I thought I'd put it up here. Hat tip to George Batek for finding and posting it on the Facebook group page!
More i3 Video Love
There have been i3 videos popping up just about every day now. I posted a bunch of them a few days ago and when I find any of interest I'll post it here. This one by Automann TV spends a good amount of time inside the car so I thought it would be interesting to post. Make sure you change the settings to 720p or 1080p for the clearest look.
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More i3 Video Love
BMW i3 Video's Galore!
With the Frankfurt Auto Show in full swing now, there have been various videos of the i3 posted on YouTube. Some, like the first one here were shot by journalists (that one was done by Horatiu Boeriu of BMWBLOG) getting a ride in an i3 and others vary from describe the navigation system to "taking a ride" around BMW's indoor track at IAA. There hasn't been any new i3 information coming out if the show, but videos are always fun:
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BMW i3 Video's Galore!
New Video Shows i3 Having Some Fun
A video posted on YouTube today by BikingInTheFreeWorld shows a Capparis White i3 having some fun on some roads in Germany. The video was shot from behind by the driver of a motorcycle and it's clear the driver of the i3 had more on their mind then "sustainable transportation". See for yourself.
BMW i3 Teaser Video Released
BMW Press released a teaser video of the production i3. We get to see the real production i3 in action for the first time. Enjoy!
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BMW i3 Teaser Video Released
A Sunroof and a Moonroof Option?
After examining some of the latest i3 photographs, I've noticed something unusual. It seems there may be a sunroof and a moonroof option. One, as seen in the above video below of the i3 driving on the Autobahn, shows a normal looking large sunroof that opens and slides towards the rear of the car as most sunroofs do.
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| Look at the roof above the front seats. It's clear there are two different openings divided by a section of roof and the glass is covered with the same material on the side window of the rear door the woman has open |
However the second, as seen in these two pictures seems to be two separate glass sections divided by a stationary section of the roof. It's hard to tell, but it seems these may not open, and just be there to let light in, like a classic moonroof. The interesting thing is there are two distinct separated panels, not one large piece of glass. I suppose this would allow one passenger to close their moonroof section if the sunlight was bothering them while the other front seat occupant could leave the one on their side open. Unless of course it is one large glass panel that opens and slides back above the section of roof that divides the opening into two spaces. Perhaps they needed that section to increase the strength of the CFRP passenger module. Take a look at the pictures and let me know what you think is going on there.
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| It's harder to see here but you can see the divider sticking down between the two openings. |
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A Sunroof and a Moonroof Option?
BMW i3 Interior Pictures Captured
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| Super-thin seats of the i3. They'll save weight but will they be comfortable and supportive? |
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| The rear seats will have plenty of legroom |
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| Practically uncovered i3's now roam the streets in Germany. BMW is still obscuring the funky look of the rear window though. |
BMW Presents "Driving the Next Movement" Video Series
BMW recently introduced a series of eleven short videos titled "Driving the Next Movement". I was surprised to find one of the video's(number seven & shown above) featured me talking about my experiences driving my MINI-E and ActiveE, and how I have come to accept the range of these cars without compromising my lifestyle.
I have spent a good a lot of time over the past few years being filmed by BMW and talking about my EV experiences without really knowing exactly what BMW had planned to use it for so it definitely was cool to see some of my interviews being used.
The entire video series can be seen from the BMW Group YouTube page from this link. They are all about BMW's electric vehicle program, the materials used and manufacturing process of the i3. Take a half hour and watch all eleven video's, they are really interesting as well as informative.
I have spent a good a lot of time over the past few years being filmed by BMW and talking about my EV experiences without really knowing exactly what BMW had planned to use it for so it definitely was cool to see some of my interviews being used.
The entire video series can be seen from the BMW Group YouTube page from this link. They are all about BMW's electric vehicle program, the materials used and manufacturing process of the i3. Take a half hour and watch all eleven video's, they are really interesting as well as informative.
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