May 15
BMW’s latest hybrid supercar proves that sometimes multibillion-dollar gambles pay off and pave the way for a future that’s both sexy and sensible.
Aug 03
Electric vehicles have come a long way from their humble beginnings, and this new BMW looks like a good combination between performance and economy. While it’s design does look a bit bulbous to me, its capabilities sound like they’re more than enough to make up for that.
The BMW i3 is a rear-wheel drive EV with four seats. The engine produces 170 hp and it has an 80 to 100-mile range on a single charge, which will work for most people’s daily commute and more. It accelerates from 0 to 60 in 7 seconds. BMW have combined carbon fiber and plastic to make the passenger compartment lighter than other cars, and it’s still supposed to be stronger than steel. It weighs only 2,700 lbs.
One of the available options is a gas generator for people worried about running out power on long trips. You can get it for $41,350 in spring 2014.
[via GreenBiz]
Jul 29
BMW’s i3 concept has been kicking around for quite awhile, and so far we’ve seen the carbon fiber chassis, a you-wish prototype, many of the specs and even the price. All that remained was to see an actual car, and BMW has finally pulled the covers off of it today. The $41,350 (US pricing) vehicle will run for 80-100 miles on a charge while going from 0 to 60 MPH in seven seconds, thanks to the 22kWh battery, 170-horsepower electric motor and relatively slight 2,600 pound heft. If you opt to pay $45,200, you’ll be able to nearly double the range, thanks to an optional 34-horsepower two-cylinder backup motor. That’s pricier than the $39,145 Chevy Volt (which also has a backup gas motor), but BMW has equally high hopes for its premiere EV. It launched a dedicated sales channel for the i3 and future i-branded EVs, and even created a division dedicated to creating mobile apps for such cars. It’ll arrive in Europe in November and we’ll see it stateside during the second quarter of next year. Check the source or video after the break for more.
Gallery: BMW i3 Press Gallery
Filed under: Transportation
Source: BMW (International), (USA)
Jun 06
BMW expanding ConnectedDrive with web browsing, Siri, S Voice and Android support
Posted in: Today's Chili
BMW has been refining its ConnectedDrive services for months, but that was apparently just the prelude to greater things: the automaker just outlined a roadmap for 2013 and beyond. The company is rolling out iDrive 4.2 firmware for the 2014 model year that supports web browsing while stopped, iAP Bluetooth control through iOS devices and integration with both Siri Eyes Free and S Voice. The new revision also brings voice search for locations through Google, and a ConnectedDrive Store lets drivers buy services without leaving the car.
There’s more to come in the long run. BMW will add support for Android apps later this year, for a start. It also wants cellular services to be commonplace. Many of its cars will have built-in SIM cards from July onward, and the company expects that cellular access will eventually be standard or near-standard worldwide — certainly in i-series cars, where it’s needed for remote control. About the only catch to the strategy is the current lack of upgrade plans for those with older vehicles. If you’re using a 2013 BMW or earlier, you may have to settle for owning the Penultimate Driving Machine.
Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Wireless
Via: CNET
Mar 12
Range anxiety? Clearly, the decisive issue of today’s automotive age. In an effort to avoid “pulling a Tesla” (or “pulling a Musk,” as it’s uttered in some circles), BMW is reportedly planning to offer petrol-powered loaners to i3 buyers who need to — you know — actually drive somewhere other than work. All snark aside, it’s clear that the 80 to 100 mile range on the 2014-bound i3 won’t mesh with longer road trips — at least not until the charging infrastructure advances by a few years — and that’s a problem that could sway potential buyers into siding with a more conventional automobile.
According to WardsAuto, however, BMW is piecing together a program that would allow i3 buyers to grab a gasoline-powered Bimmer when long hauls are necessary, and the loaner program will be bundled into the cost of the car. Of course, no one’s saying what kind of limits will be put in place here, but you can rest assured that the bigwigs in Munich won’t tolerate any abuse.
Filed under: Transportation
Via: Autoblog
Source: WardsAuto
Jan 22
Now that Intel has its efficient and expensive Ivy Bridge microarchitecture in tablets and computers everywhere, it’s decided to launch a budget-friendly line of processors which use the same 22nm manufacturing process. More »
Nov 30
Intel NUCs or Next Unit of Computing mini PC available in Japan thanks to Dospara
Posted in: Today's Chili
I believe that Dospara is the first company in Japan to offer Intel’s NUC or Next Unit of Computing Mini PC, behold the Diginnos Mini NUC-TB. In just 116.6x112x39mm and for 510g you Intel’s NUC comes with 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD, a Core i3-3217U at 1.80GHz, Thunderbolt, HDMI, USB 2.0, WiFi and even WiDi! The perfect little companion for those who are looking for a powerful yet compact HTPC or Linux Box, the Diginnos Mini NUC-TB, is now available at around 60,000 Yen
Sep 27
Want to know how the BMW i3 electric car can be so light (2,800 pounds) despite hauling around a massively heavy battery pack? A lot of it has to do with its carbon chassis. BMW uses something called CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) to create a material that is light, strong and, crucially, cheap enough to actually be used in production. The car is still on track for its 2013 release, where it will be sold out of posh i Stores like the one recently opened in London.
Gallery: BMW i3 cutaway and car
Steve Dent contributed to this post.
Filed under: Transportation
BMW i3 sheds its skin, shows off carbon skeleton originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sep 17
Going green seems to be the trend these days and car manufacturers are starting to come up with ways to make going green a little more appealing. For those who are in the market for a new electric vehicle, it looks like BMW will be unveiling their new i3 Concept electric vehicle in Paris at the Paris Motor Show later this month. This is basically the i3 Concept that BMW has been working on for a while now, but this will be the latest version that they will be revealing. In this particular version, BMW will be emphasizing not just on the vehicle’s ability to cut the need for fuel, but at the same time on the interior of the vehicle which makes use of renewable materials.
Examples of sustainable interior includes the use of an eucalyptus dashboard taken from a sustainable source in Europe, along with the use of natural fibers like wool and a leather tanning agent extract from olive leaves. It sounds pretty good and as far as performance is concerned, the i3 Concept packs 125kW/170bhp and 250Nm of instantly accessible torque that will take the car from 0-100 in a pretty impressive 8 seconds, or so they claim. The battery of the i3 Concept is also expected to take six hours to charge. If this is an electric vehicle you wouldn’t mind getting your hands on, it seems that this i3 Concept is set for serial production in 2013 so we still have quite a way to go.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: BMW unveils i3 and i8 eco-friendly cars, Level 10 M gaming mouse from Thermaltake and BMW DesignworksUSA is very real,
Jul 25
BMW opens i Store in sync with London Olympics, shows tourists their electric destiny
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Technology companies have been lining up to milk the London Olympics spotlight for all it’s worth. BMW isn’t shy about taking its turn, but it’s not looking to cash in — directly, we mean. The automaker is instead using its just-opened i Store to showcase everything electric and hybrid for downtown visitors who aren’t busy watching the cycling. Its centerpieces are unquestionably the i3 and i8, which won’t even go on sale until many months after the summer games’ closing ceremonies; the i3 on the floor is closer to the street model, though, and will tease EV drivers with BMW’s option packs. Should that make your bank account cringe far too soon, the i Pedelec scooter and the i Wallbox charger will be hanging around as well. If you didn’t book a ticket to Heathrow in time, don’t panic: the i line is going on a world tour this year that starts in Rome, swings past the US and Japan, and comes full circle to London in 2013.
Filed under: Transportation
BMW opens i Store in sync with London Olympics, shows tourists their electric destiny originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 01:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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