BMW at the LA Auto Show

We’re just days away from two of the biggest shows of the year happening on either side of the Pacific. The LA show will feature the production version of the i8, the debut of the 4 Series convertible and some early looks at the X5 and the X4 concept.

Official Release: BMW is gearing up for a remarkable world premiere and the US debut of two exciting new vehicles on the West Coast. At the LA Auto Show 2013, the BMW 4 Series Convertible is being unveiled on the world stage to reveal an extraordinary combination of dynamic performance, aesthetic appeal and the thrill of the open-air driving experience.

And just a few weeks following their international launch at the IAA in Frankfurt, the BMW i3 and the BMW i8 are making their US debut in California’s megacity of renown. With its first fully electric-powered automobile produced in series, and the most advanced sports car in the world today, the BMW Group is demonstrating its vision of the future, universality and the wide-ranging possibilities offered by the BMW i brand.

BMW 4 Series Convertible: Open-top driving pleasure redefined.

The world premiere of the BMW 4 Series Convertible marks the beginning of a new era of open-air driving pleasure. Thanks to its specific design vocabulary, the open-top four-seater stands out significantly from mid-range models of the BMW 3 Series. Unique aesthetics and the noticeable increase in size compared to the predecessor model give the BMW 4 Series Convertible an expressive presence. The three-part, folding hardtop guarantees the highest degree of everyday suitability all year round. When closed, it offers enhanced acoustic comfort and opens in less than 20 seconds at the push of a button. At market launch, there will be a choice of a straight six-cylinder petrol engine, a four-cylinder petrol engine and a four-cylinder diesel power unit with an output ranging from 135 kW/184 hp to 225 kW/306 hp.

BMW i starting off with two models: Electric mobility with the BMW i3 and the BMW i8.

With the simultaneous presentation of its first purely electrically powered production vehicle and the world’s most progressive sports car of the present time, the BMW i brand is demonstrating a broad spectrum of future-oriented vehicle concepts. Both models represent a new form of premium characteristics that are sharply defined by sustainability. The electric motors and lithium-ion high-voltage batteries were developed by the BMW Group for use in each specific model. A further distinctive feature conceived exclusively for BMW i is the LifeDrive vehicle architecture, which includes a passenger compartment made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), thereby contributing significantly towards weight optimisation.

The BMW i3 is the first premium automobile designed right from the start to be powered solely by electricity, rendering it entirely emission-free. The five-seater car, which boasts pathbreaking BMW i design language, offers a generous amount of interior space and four seats. It is powered by a 125 kW/170 hp electric motor and achieves a range of between 130 and 160 kilometres (approx. 80 and 99 miles) in everyday traffic conditions. The optional two-cylinder combustion engine assumes the function of a range extender with which vehicle range can be increased to up to 300 kilometres.
The BMW i8 will also arrive on the market in 2014 as a sports car of a new generation. It combines the dynamics of a high-performance sports car with the fuel consumption and emission levels of a small car. The BMW i8 is a 2+2-seater featuring a visionary design and an intelligent lightweight construction, facilitating not only emission-free driving in the urban environment, but also sporty performance on country roads and motorways. The vehicle’s plug-in hybrid system comprises a supercharged three-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology delivering 170 kW/231 hp and BMW eDrive technology in the form of a 96 kW/131 hp electric motor. With the power of both engines, the BMW i8 sprints from 0‒100 km/h (60 mph) in just 4.4 seconds. Average fuel consumption according to the EU test cycle for plug-in hybrids is 2.5 litres/100 kilometres, the respective CO2 emission level being 59 grams/kilometre.

The new BMW X5: Sports Activity Vehicle built to perfection.

The BMW X5 was and still is the world’s first and most successful Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV). In its third generation, it presents itself with a distinctive and aerodynamically optimised design, up to 90 kilograms less weight depending on equipment options on board as well as a multitude of BMW ConnectedDrive innovations. The new BMW X5 is more luxurious and versatile than ever and impresses over and above with increased performance and ever better fuel economy.

The BMW Concept X4: The next chapter in the Sports Activity Coupe story.

BMW is once again breaking new ground with the creation of an all-new vehicle segment. The BMW Concept X4 opens a window into the future expansion of the BMW X family. The concept car combines the rugged looks of a BMW X model with the emotional and sporting aura of one of the brand’s coupes – and, in so doing, brings the Sports Activity Coupe concept so successfully coined by the BMW X6 to another new class. The BMW Concept X4 takes to the stage sporting a product character all its own. As such it follows in the tyre tracks of the BMW X5, BMW X3, BMW X1 and BMW X6, which likewise adopted the role of trailblazer in their respective segments and continue to set their class standard today.