Official: BMW i3 gets luxury makeover for opening London BMW i Store

Filed under: Concept Cars, Etc., Europe, Technology, BMW, Design/Style, Electric

BMW has unveiled a new luxury version of the company's i3 Concept as part of the opening celebrations for the manufacturer's first i Store in London. Designers lathered the cabin in premium wood, leather and natural fibers, all with an eye toward sustainability. The wood trim is carved from Eucalyptus trees harvested in Europe, and the leather is tanned using a special olive tree extract instead of harsh chemicals.

The cabin is outfitted with bench seats front and rear, which allows for easy ingress and egress in tight city parking situations. The driver, meanwhile, is treated to three displays for vehicle information, climate control and entertainment options. BMW says the design does away with the need for a center console.

Power still comes from a 170 horsepower electric motor with 170 pound-feet of torque, which is good enough to scoot the concept to 62 mph in under eight seconds, thanks in part to a single-speed transmission. Top speed sits at 93 mph. The concept relies on lithium-ion batteries, which can be charged in around six hours via a standard socket, though a quick charger can reduce that time to around an hour. Expect a range between 80 or 100 miles depending on usage.

BMW i3 gets luxury makeover for opening London BMW i Store originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Jun 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/17/bmw-i3-gets-luxury-makeover-for-opening-london-bmw-i-store/

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