The upcoming 2013 BMW i3, the Bavarians’ all-new rear-wheel-drive EV hatchback, was out in Chicago recently, evidently for a promotional video. The car was fully undisguised, rolling silently down Chicago’s Wacker Drive.

The i3 will be the first model of the new BMW i brand when it arrives in 2012, and will be powered by a 170-horsepower, all-electric motor mounted over the rear axle. Juice comes from a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack, also mounted beneath the floor.

The drive set up gives the car a flat floor, meaning there’s more than enough room in the small package for passengers and cargo. There are bench seats front and rear, which each accommodate four people. There’s also room for just over seven cubic feet of cargo. Click past the jump to see the i3 in motion.

Continue reading BMW i3 snapped rolling through downtown Chicago

BMW i3 snapped rolling through downtown Chicago originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.

Autoblog Podcast #217 is a little late. Blame Dan. That out of the way, Chris, Dan, Zach and Chris Paukert talk over their favorites from the Chicago Auto Show, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid. We wrap with your questions and comments, as always, and we’ll see you next week. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #217: Chicago recap, Camaro ZL1, Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

• Infiniti Etherea Concept
• Camaro ZL1
• Chicago Auto Show
• Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

In the Autoblog Garage:


2011 Jaguar XF
2011 Jaguar XK
2011 Dodge Durango Crew AWD
2011 Chrysler 200

• Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert

Runtime: 01:01:00

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #217: Chicago recap, Camaro ZL1, Porsche Panamera S Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.

GoAuto RSS – Car News

No related posts.

Is Kia considering following the lead set by Toyota in crafting an entry into NASCAR? No – at least not that we know of. But the Korean automaker is proving it has an interest in racing nonetheless, as you can see from the 2011 Kia Optima Turbo SX built by Kinetic Motorsports seen above.

According to Kia, this race car was built as a prototype to showcase the performance and racing capabilites of the Optima. Performance aside, this machine, which is being shown off at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, certainly looks the part of a credible racer.

It’s worth noting that the Kia Forte race car, also built by Kia racing partner Kinetic, finished second in the Grand-Am race at Daytona a few weeks ago. Will the Optima be following suit? It certainly wouldn’t be a complete surprise…

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

Chicago 2011: Kia Optima Turbo SX Kinetic Race Car originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.

General Motors has big plans for the upcoming Chicago Auto Show. At the exposition opening this week, GM will unveil a pair of new vehicles, although details on what form they’ll take remain scarce.

The news comes from reports quoting GM’s North American president Mark Reuss. All he’s revealed at this point is that one of the two cars will be based on the Chevrolet Camaro‘s platform. That tells us it will be a front-engine/rear-drive vehicle, but little else. So, commence speculation: Camaro Z28? Chevy Zeta-platform sedan? (Which we think should be called Chevelle, because hey, if Dodge can call its sedan Charger…)

As for the second car slated for the Windy City salon, your guess is as good as ours. So we’ll just have to sit tight and see what the General has got in store for us.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: The Detroit News]

Chevy Camaro platform underpins new GM vehicle in Chicago originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog

No related posts.