Park Ave BMW

Park Ave BMW in Maywood, NJ was excited to hear that the new BMW Hybrid I Cars were spotted on the streets of Chicago.
As a premiere new/certified pre owned BMW dealer, Park Ave BMW is looking forward to the 2012-2013 arrival of these two amazing cars.

Out of all places in the US, the new BMW i3 and BMW i8 make an appearance in our hometown, Chicago. The folks over at KickingTires spotted the two and first BMW electric vehicles during preparations for a commercial shoot.

The first TV commercial was filmed in Vancouver, British Colombia, but now it seems that BMW is taking over Chicago for another exciting shoot. Among the people spotted in the photos below are several BMW i engineers and product managers that we met at different events in the past.

BMW i3 and i8 made their world debut two weeks ago in Frankfurt, just weeks before the public debut at Frankfurt Auto Show.

The i3, previously known as Megacity Vehicle, is based around a light CFRP body structure and rides on a predominantly aluminum chassis. The i3 produces 168 horsepower and 184lb ft of torque, and it has a top speed of 93 mph (150 km/h). It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.9 s. BMW i3 measures 3845mm in length, 2011mm in width and 1537mm in height. The plug-in system is a compact electric motor mounted over the rear axle. It draws energy from the battery to provide drive to the rear wheels via a single-speed transmission.

At 349 horsepower and nearly 80 mpg fuel consumption, the BMW i8 will set a benchmark in the performance segment. BMW says the i8 runs a 0-62mph in just 4.6 sec â?? 0.3 sec faster than the M3 Coupe. Initially previewed by the Vision EfficientDynamics (Vision ED) concept back in 2009, the super-sporty two-door i8 has already undergone two years of intensive development. The major change is a new 1.5 liter petrol engine replacing the initial diesel unit of same capacity. The engine is mounted at the rear and drives via a dual-clutch gearbox.

BMW i8 measures 4632mm in length, 1955mm in width and 1280mm in height, comparable to the 3 Series coupe in dimensions.

While the BMW i8 exterior design was well received by enthusiasts and automotive press, the i3 has initially drawn some criticism around its visual aspect, but seeing the car in an urban setting, the exterior design language stands out reminding once again that this is a premium car with an alternative, efficient drivetrain.

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Filed under: Sedan, BMW, New Car Reviews, Luxury

Rolling Sixes In Bimmer's Big 7



It's been a good long while since the BMW 740Li badge graced American shores, and even longer since the entry-level 7 Series packed anything other than eight furious cylinders under its hood. The last time a straight-six lurked behind the quad head lights of the big Bimmer here in the Land of the Free, Bill Clinton was still hanging around Arkansas and the only Cyrus terrorizing the airwaves was Billy Ray. Since then, an entire culture of consumption has blossomed and withered under the glare of questionable loans and fluctuating oil prices, and as such, automakers like BMW have begun to alter their wares to fit the times.

When it came to the long-wheelbase 7 Series, BMW decided to abandon larger displacement engines options for smarter, more efficient powerplants that wouldn't disappoint buyers accustomed to a world-class performance threshold.

Cue the arrival of the N54 - a twin-turbocharged, direct-injected 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that's happy to provide propulsion for the 2011 BMW 740Li. To drive it is to handily dispatch any and all naysayers who would have you believe that an executive sedan needs a V8 to hold its head high in the business district.

Continue reading 2011 BMW 740Li [w/video]

2011 BMW 740Li [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Hybrid, Technology, Hatchback, BMW, Electric

We've just wrapped up a series of workshops in Germany about all things BMW i, but before we drop our "Behind i" feature on you next week, we wanted to give you a few tasty morsels to chew on while you're pursuing our massive gallery of the all-new i3 and i8 concepts.

If you haven't read our breakdown on both models, check it out now, as it includes the basic specs, powertrain, suspension, chassis and a cursory look at all the techy tidbits behind the i3 and i8. But here's the latest...

The i3 will tip the scales at 2,755 pounds, while the i8 will come in under 3,300 pounds. While that might sound slightly chunky, consider that the average gasoline-powered car converted to EV duty normally tacks on around 500 pounds courtesy of the battery, motor and cooling system. When looked at in this way, both models could be considered rather svelte.

The carbon fiber "Life" structure that envelops the i3's passengers is so strong (yet very light) that BMW's engineers didn't have to include a B-pillar for structural rigidity. That means ingress and egress should be easy, aided by the fact that both models utilize ultra-thin carbon fiber and plastic bits for the interior elements. Click past the jump for a whole mess of videos featuring the new i3 and i8 concepts in more detail.

According to Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President of BMW Design, those oh-so-low side windows probably won't make it to production, but the design team is intent on bringing as much light into the cabin as possible - particularly on the i8. However, the i3's glass roof will make way for a full carbon fiber piece when production begins next year.

In our previous story, we mentioned that the i3 could be outfitted with an optional range extending engine, and after much poking and prodding, we got an answer on what it is and how it'll work. The engine will be rear-mounted, right against the electric motor (not compromising luggage space), and it will be a two-cylinder gasoline mill with a displacement of around 600cc. Cooling will be provided by the liquid system keeping the battery pack in check, and the i3 will be a true range-extender - no engine torque will reach the wheels mechanically (unlike the Chevrolet Volt). How much of an extension? Double, or around 186 miles.

And as for the i8, this will be the first mid-engine BMW in nearly 30 years, likely to be fitted with a dual-clutch gearbox and some kind of torque vectoring system to put out a combined 402 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels when the turbo'd 1.5-liter three-cylinder and electric motor are working in unison.

Check out a whole slew of videos from BMW after the break.

Continue reading Uncovering more details on BMW's i3 and i8 [w/videos]

Uncovering more details on BMW's i3 and i8 [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Hybrid, Technology, Hatchback, BMW, Electric

We've just wrapped up a series of workshops in Germany about all things BMW i, but before we drop our "Behind i" feature on you next week, we wanted to give you a few tasty morsels to chew on while you're pursuing our massive gallery of the all-new i3 and i8 concepts.

If you haven't read our breakdown on both models, check it out now, as it includes the basic specs, powertrain, suspension, chassis and a cursory look at all the techy tidbits behind the i3 and i8. But here's the latest...

The i3 will tip the scales at 2,755 pounds, while the i8 will come in under 3,300 pounds. While that might sound slightly chunky, consider that the average gasoline-powered car converted to EV duty normally tacks on around 500 pounds courtesy of the battery, motor and cooling system. When looked at in this way, both models could be considered rather svelte.

The carbon fiber "Life" structure that envelops the i3's passengers is so strong (yet very light) that BMW's engineers didn't have to include a B-pillar for structural rigidity. That means ingress and egress should be easy, aided by the fact that both models utilize ultra-thin carbon fiber and plastic bits for the interior elements. Click past the jump for a whole mess of videos featuring the new i3 and i8 concepts in more detail.

According to Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President of BMW Design, those oh-so-low side windows probably won't make it to production, but the design team is intent on bringing as much light into the cabin as possible - particularly on the i8. However, the i3's glass roof will make way for a full carbon fiber piece when production begins next year.

In our previous story, we mentioned that the i3 could be outfitted with an optional range extending engine, and after much poking and prodding, we got an answer on what it is and how it'll work. The engine will be rear-mounted, right against the electric motor (not compromising luggage space), and it will be a two-cylinder gasoline mill with a displacement of around 600cc. Cooling will be provided by the liquid system keeping the battery pack in check, and the i3 will be a true range-extender - no engine torque will reach the wheels mechanically (unlike the Chevrolet Volt). How much of an extension? Double, or around 186 miles.

And as for the i8, this will be the first mid-engine BMW in nearly 30 years, likely to be fitted with a dual-clutch gearbox and some kind of torque vectoring system to put out a combined 402 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels when the turbo'd 1.5-liter three-cylinder and electric motor are working in unison.

Check out a whole slew of videos from BMW after the break.

Continue reading Uncovering more details on BMW's i3 and i8 [w/videos]

Uncovering more details on BMW's i3 and i8 [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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