The BMW Group entered a new era in automotive construction today with the start of series production of the BMW i3. The world’s first premium electric vehicle to be purpose-designed for this form of drive system is the result of an all-encompassing development approach targeted at reducing fuel consumption and emissions in urban areas. This is the first time that carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) has been used in automotive volume production. The body structure of the BMW i3 consists entirely of this extremely lightweight and durable material, allowing the extra weight of the batteries for the electric drive system to be cancelled out. By industrializing the manufacturing process for CFRP, the BMW Group has become the first company worldwide to make its use in vehicle production economically viable. This November the i3 will be available for sale in Germany and select European countries with US deliveries beginning 4 > 5 months later.
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ford shelby gt500 | click > enlarge
For the seventh straight year, thousands of consumer voters pick their faves in five categories:
• Best All-New Production Vehicle: Ford Shelby GT500 (23 percent of vote)
• Best Concept Vehicle: Lexus LF-LC (30 percent of vote)
• Best Green Vehicle: Chevrolet Volt (24 percent of vote)
• Best Exhibit: Jeep (29 percent of vote)
• Vehicle I’d most like to have in my driveway: Ford Shelby GT500
chevrolet volt
DesignApplause picks their faves in five categories:
• Best All-New Production Vehicle: Lexus LAF – their first super car – only 500 of them
• Best Concept Vehicle: volvo concept you – does not even look like a concept, at first glance
• Best Green Vehicle: BMW i3 “concept” – predict first in this class to hit the streets
• Best Exhibit: Honda – they create a lot of cool objects
• Vehicle I’d most like to have in my driveway: Audi R8 Spyder
lexus laf
volvo concept you
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all-electric bmw i3 | click > enlarge
The new i3; BMW’s first series-produced all-electric car, was created for practical everyday driving. It focuses primarily on the drive-ability in urban settings and of course zero emissions. This may be the best of the all-electrics due out and looks to be out first.
prius c hybrid | click > enlarge
Toyota’s smallest Prius, the Prius C (think city) concept includes a 1.5-liter engine and 144-volt nickel metal hybrid battery. Toyota claims this car will offer up the highest mileage of any non-plug-in hybrid.
fusion hybrid | click > enlarge
The fusion is not only getting better, it’s getting greener by dropping all V-6 engines and instead adding a pair of greener sedans: a hybrid and plug-in-hybrid.
smart for us pickup | click > enlarge
Bonus: Smart For Us urban pickup truck is tiny, a two seater, zero emission, all-electric just over 11.5 feet long and under 5 feet wide. It will haul anything as long as it’s small.
[ more on bmw i3 ]
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