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BMW

Gordinier Group was fortunate to once again team with BMW to help to promote their new i8 at CES in Las Vegas.bmw-i8-hybrid-sportscar-designboom08

I know what you are thinking, “tough job”.

Well, the i8 might be the coolest vehicle that I have driven. From BMWBLOG:

BMW i8 uses a plug-in hybrid system consisting of a turbocharged three-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine and BMW eDrive technology in the form of an electric drive system.

“The 1.5-liter combustion engine develops 170 kW/231 hp and drives the rear wheels of the BMW i8, while the 96 kW/131 hp electric drive sends its power to the front wheels and allows an all-electric range of up to 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).”

On paper, those figures seem okay, but actually driving this space-age vehicle is a different story. Shifting the vehicle into EcoPro mode combines the 1.5L., 3-cylinder turbocharged engine and electric motor systems for optimum efficiency. The combined systems make 357 HP and 420 lb. ft. of torque. With a superlight body made mostly of aluminum and carbon fiber, this powerplant will take you from 0-60 mph in under 4.5 seconds.

All performance and driving dynamics aside, the driving experience from the cockpit is equally impressive in the i8. I needed more time to dial in all of the electric goodies, but I have to say that my favorite gadget was the onboard camera system that uses multiple cameras around the vehicle to create a bird’s-eye view of your vehicle driving down the road in real time. All of the cars and obstacles that you pass are shown around your vehicle – unreal!

I could go on and on about this car, but you can read about it elsewhere.

Did I mention that we were also given 2015 M4 and M5 cars to drive? This was a nice way to start 2015 – life is good!

Here are a few shots of our i8 assault on Las Vegas:

 

January 6, 2014

 

Gordinier Group had a cool, uniqudesigne opportunity to activate a driving event leading up to CES with the new 2014 BMW i3, which will be released in the US in early summer of this year.

 

The i3 is part of the new BMW i brand, a lineup of all-electric, performance driving machines. One could go on and on about the new technologies and features that this innovative new vehicle brings to the marketplace. However, there are extensive articles raving about it all over the web. Let’s just say that this is one of the more spirited, exciting vehicles that we have driven. The interior is something so different and calming, we have never seen anything like it. With a range of 100 miles/charge (200 miles /charge with optional additional generator), this city car could be a game changer.

 

To say that we were flooded with interest in this vehicle, would be an understatement. It was difficult to pass through a green light, as people would wander in front of us to get a better look or a picture.

 

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