First Look: 2013 BMW Megacity Vehicle
BMW's Megacity Vehicle is finally taking shape with these official sketches that tease the electric car well before its 2013 arrival. Until now, BMW's Project i has merely been vague talk about future mobility concepts and electric vehicles for major urban areas. The sketches reveal the first car that will come out of BMW's electrification program as a dynamic but practical hatchback.
For now, it's called the Megacity Vehicle (MCV). BMW says the edgy shape reflects a commitment to building fun and engaging cars, while the ultrashort overhangs emphasize a minimalistic design that optimizes vehicle efficiency and range. To complete the picture, our contacts in Munich have slipped us significant information about the car's powertrain, packaging, and pricing.
To maximize the MCV's range, BMW has focused on reducing weight with a carbon fiber passenger cell and aluminum chassis components. A lithium-ion battery with about 35 kWh of capacity is placed below the vehicle's floor and should deliver about 100 miles of range. Power will be delivered to the rear wheels through a rear-mounted 150-hp electric motor. Top speed is predicted at 95 mph
While the sketches are ambiguous, We learnt that the MCV will feature a four-door, four-seat configuration with rear "suicide" doors, like a Rolls-Royce. Length measures in at about 157 inches, roughly the same as a Ford Fiesta. The production vehicle is also rumored to be taller than the sketch leads on. An MCV concept car should appear on the BMW stand at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show in September.
We've also been told by a BMW insider that Project i cars will eventually expand to include other powertrain options. One possibility would package a 35-hp combustion engine as a range extender, much like the Chevrolet Volt. Plug-in hybrids are also in the cards and would have a ten-mile electric range before relying on a three-cylinder gas or diesel engine to cover another 300 miles.
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