They recently spoke with the manager for the i3 project, Roland Kowalski, who explained that “the thing with the SUVs is nobody, more than 90 per cent, needs four-wheel drive for the city. The SUV trend is only a thing about the space or the roominess.”
He argued that the i3 offers just as much interior space as a 3-Series, while sitting on the same wheelbase as a 1-Series hatchback.
Another statement was made by BMW’s vice-president of functional integration and driving dynamics, Jos van As, who commented on the naming policy:
“If you start with i1, what do you do if you want to make a smaller car? A 0.5?” he said, completing the idea with “I think they did it to leave space for something if we want to do something different. And that’s something we’re developing. With the separate i [brand] we take a very deliberate step in one direction if the world is moving towards less emissions, [problems with] petrol availability, etc.”
Is this good or bad news? Would you have been intrigued by the prospect of (say) a purpose-built all-electric or range extender SUV with a BMW badge? I know I won’t miss it…
By Andrei Nedelea
Although Renault didn’t confirm or deny the target of 50,000 sales for the Zoe this year, Inovev told Autonews Europe that the number was provided by multiple high-ranking Renault executives. Earlier this year, Renault-Nissan announced that it would not meet its goal of selling 1.5 million electric vehicles worldwide by 2016. The alliance has not set any new targets yet, a spokesman said.
Renault sold 6,600 Zoes in the first nine months of the year, with the supermini being the brand’s best-selling electric vehicle, ahead of the Fluence Z.E. sedan, Kangoo Z.E. small van and Twizy two-seat model.
Inovev believes consumers will become more interested in EVs once there are more public places available to plug in cars. “We think that the Zoe and EVs in general will continue to become a popular alternative to combustion engine cars, especially in urban environments, as charging stations become more available. But that will happen slower than what Renault forecast,” Inovev CEO Michel Costes told the news publication.
Analysts at IHS Automotive estimate that Renault will sell 23,434 Zoe EVs in 2014 and 25,843 units in 2015. However, the target of 50,000 sales a year won’t be met before 2020.
By Dan Mihalascu
We’ve already featured a video review of the i3 from a German blogger, but this latest one comes from AutoExpress. The handling is described as pretty good thanks to the rear-wheel-drive setup, 50/50 weight distribution and the low center of gravity. However, it’s not the sort of BMW one would want to go drifting with.
The reviewer points out the hot-hatch-like acceleration, as well as the quality of the interior. Overall, the car is described as a really desirable electric vehicle, which is not something one can say about the Nissan Leaf, for example.
Probably the most important thing in this review is the range test. The reviewer wanted to see if BMW’s claimed driving range is attainable. Scroll down to watch the video to find out if it is.
By Dan Mihalascu
Now, Musk goes further, talking to Welt am Sonntag, quoted by Reuters. He said, "I have confidence in the German consumer," going on to add that "Our fast charging stations should cover around half of Germany by the end of March 2014 and the entire country by the end of 2014." This move will be backed up by the opening of a planned number of 25 dealerships in the country, by the end of 2014.
The goal is to achieve 10,000 sales per year by 2015, with a car that starts from €71,400, but you can pay up to €109,150 for a fully-extra Signature Performance model. However, the introduction of the Model S, and the construction of the Supercharger network will do a great job in smoothing the arrival of the smaller and cheaper electric car that Tesla is reportedly working on.
You can also check out a German perspective on the Model S in the video posted below via Deutsche Welle – it’s a bit different to the usual reviews we post, especially in its approach to testing and picking out key qualities that matter.
By Andrei Nedelea
Video Credits: Deutsche Welle
Lennart Stegland, VP of electric propulsion systems at Volvo, stated that “the tests demonstrated that our VolvoC30 Electric can be fully charged without a power cable in about two and a half hours.”
There’s clear incentive to get this wireless charging tech up and functional, because it will boost the appeal of owning an EV in town, as you will be less troubled about parking it in the street and the prospect of petty people snipping the cord for fun. Also, there’s now the prospect of hiding the charging pads in plain sight as manhole covers – will work wonders against the aforementioned vandals, as they’ll just walk on by and overturn a trash bin or something of the sort instead.
Volvo’s intentions in the field of electrification are very clear. Not only have they launched a diesel-electric version of the V60 that went into production in 2012 and is doing very well, but they also have the C30 full-EV that they use as a test bed. It has an output of 120 hp and a maximum range of 150 km or 93 miles.
Moreover, they’re now also looking into making the batteries built into the structure and panels of a car using carbon fiber – it’s actually trick stuff, but a long way from becoming a commercially viable solution.
By Andrei Nedelea
The National Highway Safety Administration said on Thursday that “no evidence that the fire on a Washington state highway resulted from a Model S defect or violations of U.S. safety standards. The luxury car struck metal debris that pierced its lithium-ion battery pack.”
Tesla CEO and co-founder, Elon Musk, was keen to point out that they’ve installed a “six-millimeter thick armor plate on the bottom of the car,” further distancing the company from the implications of the fire. Evidently, though, the market did react, and shares fell by 10 percent in the two days after it all happened.
Moving over to the Silicon Valley-based automaker’s European side of the business, Musk gave an interview while he was in London, where he illustrated his views on why the Model S is a suitable car for the Old Continent.
In fact, he even went as far as to say it’s more suitable here, than it is in the US, basing the argument on several points, but especially the reality of distances being much shorter, and therefore making the dreaded range anxiety less of an issue. You can find the interview, in video form, courtesy of Bloomberg, after the virtual jump.
By Andrei Nedelea
The reviewers (there are two of them) first begin to comment on the Model S’ interior, which they say is “all about the big screen,” and because it’s meant to draw your attention to it, the fledgling manufacturer has put less emphasis on material quality – its overall finish does not reflect is high price tag, according to the video.
As for handling, the reviewer says yes, the car is competent, but no it’s not an agile little sports car dressed up as a big family car. We are lead to understand that the Model S needs a bit of time to settle into a corner, after the driver has sent his or her input through the steering wheel. It grips and steers brilliantly (no surprises here), but we are warned that it definitely shows its weight, and it’s not necessarily the most engaging of drives – a Porsche Panamera or Aston Martin Rapide would serve you better in that area.
However, since this review is a different take on the Model S, the conclusion reached at the end is also an unusual one, but it’s an understandable choice given the presented arguments. Now, check it out after the jump.
By Andrei Nedelea
The announcement was made by Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the company’s service center in Munich, Germany, this week. The exec said Tesla will offer customers free custom high-speed tuning to make driving above the 130 km/h (81 mph) recommended speed more refined and enjoyable.
“I was just driving the Model S on the Autobahn, on one of the unrestricted sections. It was a lot of fun. But for Buyers of the Model S, we’ll offer a free, optional high-speed tuning,” Musk said.
“If you’re someone who likes to ride at the top speed on the Autobahn then we will tune the car. We’ll do a custom tune of the car to make it feel really great at top speed,” he added. Musk also said that he will send his top engineers from California to Germany to make sure Model S cars there were perfectly tuned for Autobahn driving.
Although Musk didn’t state it explicitly, the Model S with the high-speed tuning is expected to have an increased top speed and not just feel better at speeds of over 130 km/h. The CEO also announced a massive rollout of Supercharger stations across Germany, promising that more than half of the country’s population would be within range of a Supercharger. By the end of 2014, Tesla wants to have the whole country covered.
By Dan Mihalascu
Story References: Transport Evolved
You can swap out ‘visionary’ with whatever word you want, but it doesn’t change the fact that he still wants to build a supersonic-vacuum-tube-train and thinks it would work.
However, Musk is sometimes a bit too outspoken about his personal views, and this time he definitely got on a few people’s nerves with what he said. During a speech he was giving at the opening of a new Tesla service center in Germany, the EV maker’s CEO and co-founder revealed his disapproval of hydrogen-fuel cell-powered vehicles by saying they are “so bullshit. Except in a rocket.”
He backs up his claim by adding that current fuel-cells lack the necessary energy storage capacity of lithium-ion cells (like on the Model S), still seeing conventional batteries as the way to go.
You can check out his entire speech below, though most of what is said (aside from Musk’s own words) is in German. Skipping through to the 29th minute, when he says it, may not be the worst idea if you don’t speak the language – he starts speaking after the 15-minute mark.
By Andrei Nedelea
Story References: YouTube via Wired
The following review comes from Germany’s Ausfahrt.tv (don’t worry, it’s in English) and tackles many of the i3’s features, including mundane stuff like storage spaces, interior room and practicality.
However, the i3 is still a BMW, so the driving experience is what interests most people. The blogger liked the way the i3 drives in the city and noted that it’s very smooth and silent while being pretty quick as well.
Given that the BMW i3 rides on ultra-thin 19-inch wheels, it comes as a surprise that the suspension offers a good compromise between comfort and sportiness - always according to the reviewer. The car has many storage spaces and plenty of room inside, except in the back, where the two seats don't look like they're suitable for large people.
You can find out more about the i3 from the review posted below.
By Dan Mihalascu
Apparently, coming from “a senior BMW source,” the tip is a fully-credible one, though even if it does turn out to be accurate, don’t expect to see an i5 on sale any time soon – they haven’t even decided if it’s to be a crossover or sedan.
The idea was sparked by the surprising success of the Tesla Model S, as well as the numbering gap in their “i” range, witch jumps from 3 to 8… Joking aside, this model is thoroughly plausible, though not as a full EV, and not necessarily in sedan form.
The source speculates that this i5 may take the form of an X4-esque model, fashioned extensively out of CFRP (carbon-reinforced plastic) and maintain a rear-wheel drive approach, staying in-line with the rest of the range.
We can’t speculate; it may be years before we follow this up, but don’t be surprised if BMW eventually announces and starts teasing something along the lines of what was described here, but from an enthusiast’s perspective, I hope it’s a sedan, for obvious handling- and sportiness-enhancing properties of the lower and lighter body.
Still, turning the idea into a Tesla Model X rival isn’t a bad idea either, especially since the American model, when it does arrive in showrooms, will have no immediate mainstream threat…
By Andrei Nedelea
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