Monday, July 31, 2017

2018 Ford Mustang GT Offers New Quiet Mode Exhaust...



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2018 Ford Mustang GT Offers New Quiet Mode Exhaust

Steve von Foerster, a product development leader at Ford, has some lame neighbors.

According to von Foerster, while backing a Shelby GT350 Mustang out of his Detroit suburb driveway early one morning, the sound of the car’s thundering V-8 engine annoyed one of his neighbors so much that they called the police to complain about it.

Fortunately von Foerster didn’t receive a citation, but instead of doing donuts on his neighbor’s lawn in retaliation, he decided to be proactive.

“I love the sound of the V-8, but it can be loud, and you can’t annoy people like that in your neighborhood,” said von Foerster in a statement.

“It sounds so cool, but I thought, ‘There has to be a way to give people more control over the engine’s sound.’”

Von Foerster and Mustang engineers quietly developed “Good Neighbor Mode” as an option for the 2018 Mustang GT that allows drivers to keep engine sound to a minimum and to program quiet start-up times in advance.

To access this feature, drivers toggle through a menu in the instrument cluster to select when they want to cater to the quiet whims of their nosey neighbors.

Ford says both Quiet Exhaust mode and Quiet Start features will be part of the active valve performance exhaust system on the new Mustang GT.

“Active valve performance exhaust gives Mustang owners the best of both worlds – that classic Mustang sound, and the ability to not wake up your neighbors when you leave the house early in the morning or arrive home late at night,” said Matt Flis, Ford exhaust development engineer, in a release.

The new Quiet Exhaust mode limits volume of the engine by using an active valve performance exhaust system that closes valves to restrict the amount of noise made by the car.

“When sounds get up into the upper-70-decibel range, that’s typically about when they start to bother people,” said Flis.

“With quiet start activated, the decibel level of the new Mustang GT drops by about 10 decibels, to a much more comfortable 72 decibels – about the level of a household dishwasher.”

The 2018 Mustang GT arrives this fall. So until then, let’s hope a fraternity or sorority moves in von Foerster’s neighborhood to keep things interesting.

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2019 Mercedes-Benz GLA Spied in the U.S. and Germany...



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Ford F-22 Raptor Goes for $300,000 at Auction...



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Ford F-22 Raptor Goes for $300,000 at Auction

Inspired by a fighter jet, a one-off Ford F-22 Raptor commanded $300,000 at auction recently.

The one-off truck, named after the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, features a Whipple-intercooled 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 good for 545 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque.

Other modifications include a Modified Addictive Desert Design front suspension and bump stop kit, upgraded Alcon six-piston calipers with oversized rotors and high-friction pads, cat-back Borla exhaust system, Innov8 Racing custom forged beadlock wheels, and Falcon Wildpeak tires.

In addition to an off-road LED lighting system, the model also features DeBerti carbon fiber fender flares, hood, and fender vents.

With $300,000, you can very easily buy five regular Raptor trucks. The standard Raptor produces “just” 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque from its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6.

The auction took place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at the Experimental Aircraft Association Gathering of Eagles. Since 2008, Ford has raised more than $3 million at the annual event that benefits youth aviation programs.

Appropriately, the lucky new owner of the Ford F-22 Raptor is an Honorary Commander/Ambassador for the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

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BMW Teases New Convertible Concept Ahead of Pebble Beach Debut...



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BMW Teases New Convertible Concept Ahead of Pebble Beach Debut

BMW and Toyota fans alike have waited eagerly for any updates on the forthcoming Z4/Supra sports car developed jointly by the two automakers. We’ve only seen the sports car in camouflaged, test-mule form as it underwent testing on the Nurburgring, but that might be about to change. Thanks to a teaser from BMW, we’re getting our first glance at an open-air concept the German-Japanese roadster ahead of its debut at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance that might be our first look at the Z4/Supra.

Don’t get too worked up – regardless of what it looks like, it’s still a concept. Still, this might be our first peek at what the two automakers have been working on for a few years now, and will serve as a solid preview of what we can expect to see. Purists hoping for a back-to-basics stripped-down, simplified sports car will likely be disappointed, considering reports have emerged predicting a hybrid powertrain and an automatic transmission as the only drivetrain option.

As much as we hope, there’s also a chance this isn’t a peek at the new Z4. An i8 Spider or 8 Series convertible are likely candidates as well, considering the i8 drop-top has been in development for a while, and the 8 Series convertible was recently spied turning laps on the Nurburgring earlier this month. Look for more information closer to the car’s debut in August.

Additionally, the striking Concept 8 Series BMW showed in May at the 2017 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will be making its first appearance on North American soil.

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A Tribute to the Great Works of Erich Waxenberger...



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A Tribute to the Great Works of Erich Waxenberger

It’s easy to overlook the origin of where exactly the modern rendition of a high-performance sedan came from. The concept first took the world by storm in the form of the marvelous 1968 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3, the birth of the modern “Q-ship.”

It proved to the world that big, unassuming automobiles could secretively pack a lot of punch, breaking the stereotypical image of a performance car only coming in a compact package. It helped define the term, “sleeper.” And it wouldn’t have happened without the motivation of a “six-foot Bavarian hurricane” and once a leading engineer for the Silver Arrow, Erich Waxenberger.

Various media reported Mr. Waxenberger’s recent passing at the age of 86. Being the 50th anniversary of Mercedes-AMG, the world-renowned luxury performance brand owes part of its spirit and startup to his legendary work.

As an engineer, he was often regarded as a tour de force for Mercedes-Benz between 1956 and 1987. Known for pushing boundaries and prototype testers to the limits, often leading to their demise, insurance companies frequently pressured at-the-time CEO, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, to ban Waxenberger from driving. Uhlenhaut simply replied, “I’m just glad to have somebody who can push our cars to the limit. Leave him alone.”

Erich Waxenberger is not only responsible for predicating the modern-day high-performance sedan. He also assisted Mercedes-Benz’ rise in motorsports by collaborating with AMG Engine Production and Development, Ltd. The famed emergence of this team effort wouldn’t have occurred without the 300SEL 6.3 serving as the main platform.

As his story goes, Waxenberger started working for Daimler-Benz’s Passenger Car Testing division in 1953, following the immediate passing of his last exam as an engineering student. Birthed into a very automotive-centric family of DKW dealership owners, you can literally say he was born for the job.

In his earliest years, his first big project involved the development of the iconic W198 and W121 SL Roadster and Gullwings. By the 1960s, Waxenberger moved from road-testing prototypes to chassis development, beginning with the also iconic, “Pagoda” W113 SL Roadster. And this is where Waxenberger decided to get awesomely ambitious. He began secretively toying around with a lowly 230SL by taking the recently developed and famous 6.3L M100 V-8 engine originally commissioned for the aristocratic 600 limousines, and shoehorning it into the 230SL just to see if it could be done.

Tired of German automotive press deploring Mercedes-Benz’ efforts of concentrating on boring, executive sedans, or “grandpa cars and taxis,” Waxenberger did the unthinkable. With Mercedes-Benz pushing for lap time records on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, Waxenberger continued experimenting, leading him to come up the idea of taking the 6.3L M100 V-8 and stuffing it into the unassuming body of Paul Bracq’s latest big-body four-door “SEL design” in 1966.

“The idea came from a German journalist who told me I was getting old, building Granny cars,” Waxenberger told Classic Sport and Car in 1999, recounting his experience.

“I decided to show him and ordered up a SEL body rejected from Sindelfingen. We put the 6.3 V-8 into that. Uhlenhaut didn’t know a thing about this until he heard it go past his office window late night and immediately insisted on driving the car. I wanted to get it right so I put him off for another day and we worked all night.”

Uhlenhaut, caught by surprise and intrigued, later drove the car and loved it so much, he took a prototype for an inter-continental sprint around Europe reportedly without trouble — impressive for when reliability was still an effort of much trial and head-scratching.

Two years later, the 300SEL 6.3 took its official bow at the Geneva Motor Show in 1968 after gaining approval from Mercedes-Benz. It further utilized the M100 engine production line capacity, helping its case. At the time, the 600 wasn’t a rapid seller and reaching down market was necessary for Mercedes-Benz to optimize profits. But they did so with little compromise, selling a respectable 6,526 300SEL 6.3s worldwide.

Waxenberger’s main priority during his tenure was to also race a car. The birth of the 300SEL 6.3 opened these doors for even more opportunity with automotive press often labeling it as the “greatest sedan in the world,” completely shoving aside anything from Cadillac and Rolls-Royce. To prove his concept worked, Waxenberger took a 6.3 to the six-hour endurance race at Macao in 1969. The goal was to showcase his latest project’s ability to withstand the brutal beating of an international rally course and win. He also mainly wanted to piss off the Porsche 911 crowd.

In succeeding test runs, he met up with a Mr. Hans Werner-Aufrecht after hearing about the establishment of AMG Motorenbau und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH in 1967. This is when and where Waxenberger and AMG began toying with the idea of increasing intake flow and the bore of the M100 to 6.8-liters. This roots the conception of the later famed 6.9-variant of the M100 for the 450SEL 6.9 (what was once the world’s fastest production vehicle at the time).

The peak of Waxenberger’s career arguably led to the birth of the beloved motorsports variant of the 300SEL 6.3, dubbed the “Red Pig.” Featuring that enlarged 6.8-liter AMG-prepped V-8, the Red Pig spearheaded Mercedes’ newfound efforts in touring car racing at the time. In the late 1960s transitioning into the 1970s, European motorcar racing largely consisted of compact and nimble sports cars.

Against all odds, Waxenberger entered his latest collaboration with AMG and entered the 24-hour touring car endurance race at Spa-Francorchamps in 1971, taking second place behind a race-prepped Ford Capri. Part of the Red Pig’s shock factor was that it was a giant land barge originally meant for transporting five passengers in intercity Autobahn sprints in the fastest, most comfortable, safest, and most reliable way possible — a complete polar opposite to the compact sports racer.

Despite its size, the Red Pig could hustle to 60 mph in nearly six seconds for a top speed of 142 mph — groundbreaking figures for the era. Furthermore, while many competing sports cars continued with endurance durability issues, with Mercedes-Benz and their impeccable engineering standards of that era, the Red Pig certainly gained attention from its reliability on the track.

Because Mercedes-Benz loved Waxenberger’s concept with the 300SEL 6.3, they continued the idea with the next-generation S-Class in 1972 with the 450SEL 6.9 of 1975, a car I absolutely adore next to the 6.3 for simply how far ahead of their time both were.

Following Waxenberger’s peak with the 300SEL 6.3’s success, he laid low to work on projects like the W123. But upon the launch of the third-generation SL with the R107 and C107, he reengaged his motorsports efforts. He later led the great rally exploits and success of the C107 AMG sports coupes (the famed 450SLC 5.0 AMG), particularly with the legendary 1978 South American rally, a grueling 30,000 kilometer (18,641 mile, yes you read that correctly) loop through ten countries, with an additional 3,728 miles of special stages, all over 40 days. The two top finishers were AMG-prepped C107 450SLC 5.0 coupes that he conceptualized and engineered.

Altogether, Erich Waxenberger’s recognition might be overshadowed by other major key figures in Mercedes-Benz’ and Mercedes-AMG’s history. But his accomplishments and achievements are of no less value than any other great contributor to the automaker. So if you love and appreciate some of the finest automobiles to come from Mercedes-Benz or AMG, or even the idea of a performance luxury sedan sleeper, you can thank the ambitions of Mr. Waxenberger.

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One Week With: 2017 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 Coupe...



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Friday, July 28, 2017

Details of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Revealed at Last!...



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Details of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Revealed at Last!

Since Elon Musk first showed the 2018 Tesla Model 3 to the world in March 2016, speculation about the electric equivalent of the BMW 3 Series has, at times, reached levels of obsession. While the first 12 months or so were largely limited to design analyses and hot takes that often seemed to more closely reflect the author’s position on Tesla stock rather than the car’s potential merits, the start of prototype production in late February led to numerous spy shots of both the amateur and professional varieties.

Somehow, the fledgling California automaker managed to keep details under wraps until tonight’s presentation of the first 30 customer cars to their new owners, who have waited patiently since putting down a $1,000 deposit nearly 16 months ago. (The first production car, SN1, became Musk’s property after board member Ira Ehrenpreis gave away his claim to it as a birthday present.)

So what exactly are they getting in exchange for their cold, hard cash (and some taxpayer funds in the form of incentives that drop the net price into the mid-high-20s, depending on state)?

Well, in the case of these first 30 customers, as well as most others who take delivery before the fall, basically a spec car. Given that the Model 3 represents an exponential increase in demands on Tesla’s manufacturing capacity, the automaker is initially offering the new sedan in just one configuration: Rear-wheel-drive with the optional 310-mile battery and premium package. While the Model 3’s previously touted $35,000 base price remains, the two mandatory options add $9,000 and $5,000 to the price, respectively, bringing the total pre-incentive sticker of the Model 3 Long Range Premium to $49,000. Small wonder, then, that the entry level Model S 75 RWD was recently discontinued.

The story behind the bigger battery isn’t just about range, however. Though motor specs are one of the few details we haven’t seen, Tesla claims the Long Range can hit 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds versus 5.6 seconds for the standard 220-mile car, which will become available in the fall once production pace has ramped up and, presumably, at least some pain points have been ironed out. Top speed increases as well, going from 130 mph to 140. Additionally, the Model 3 LR charges substantially quicker, collecting 170 miles of range per hour at a supercharger instead of 130, and 37 miles of range per hour on a 240-volt outlet versus 30.

Meanwhile, the Premium package gussies up the interior with “premium seating and cabin materials throughout.” The one material highlighted is open pore wood trim, but the suede door inserts are also part of the deal, along with the leather upholstery. Other additions include 12-way-adjustable power front seats, power-adjustable steering column, a premium audio system, tinted glass roof, auto-dimming and power-folding heated side mirrors, LED fog lamps to go with the standard LED headlamps and taillamps, heated rear seats with dedicated USB outlets, and a covered center console with twin USB ports and phone docks.

If that makes the base Model 3 sound sparsely equipped, you’re not wrong. While the 15-inch screen remains, the leather is replaced with textile upholstery and the closed center console makes way for an open one, though the dual USB ports remain. The stock audio system offers only FM and streaming capability, the latter of which is easy to access thanks to the standard on-board WiFi and LTE connectivity, as well as the obligatory Bluetooth integration. A rear-view camera is the only piece of external optical gear that comes standard, not counting the Autopilot sensor package, and there’s just one 12-volt outlet to go with the twin USB ports. But at least the rear seats fold in a 60/40 configuration. We haven’t seen a Model 3 interior without the Premium package, and given the set production plan, any examples that exist are almost certainly prototypes, so a comparison is not yet possible. However, even in Premium form, the Model 3’s gauge-cluster-free interior is decidedly minimalistic — perhaps uncomfortably so — as there is not a single button to be found aside from the steering wheel-mounted controls.

Speaking of Autopilot, while the Model 3 comes standard with a suite of seven cameras, a forward radar, and 12 ultrasonic sensors, you’ll have to part with another $5,000 to unlock driver assist functionality like active cruise control and lane-keep assistance via the “Enhanced Autopilot” option (active safety systems like collision avoidance and automatic braking are enabled on all versions, however). Customers can also pay an additional $3,000 for “Full Self-Driving Capability,” which does not yet exist and seems like the sort of thing Tesla would allow you to purchase separately in the future, given that the hardware is already present in every car.

Physically, the Model 3 is slightly larger than the BMW 3 Series, its 184.8-inch length being exactly two inches longer, while its 113.2-inch wheelbase offers a 2.6-inch advantage. At 72.8 inches wide, the Model 3 is also 1.5 inches wider, and with a height of 56.8 inches, 0.3- to 0.5-inch taller. Things stay close on the scale as well, with the Model 3 Long Range weighing in at 3,814 pounds while the smaller battery reduces weight by nearly 300 pounds to 3,549; slightly more than half of that bulk sits in the rear half of the car, with distribution checking in at 47/53 percent f/r for regular Model 3s and 48/52 for Long Range ones. The BMW, meanwhile, weighs in between 3,665 and 3,820 pounds, depending on configuration.

Despite the slightly larger dimensions, the Model 3 offers a nearly identical amount of interior space as the BMW. Headroom measures 40.3 inches up front and 37.7 inches in the back for glass-roof models, dropping slightly to 39.6 inches up front for standard-roof variants. Legroom measures 42.7 inches up front and 35.2 inches in the back, increases of 0.7 and 0.1 inch, respectively, while shoulder room sits at 56.3 inches for front occupants (a 1.3-inch advantage over the 3 Series) and 54.0 inches for rear-seat ones (a 1.0-inch disadvantage). The BMW also has a cargo space advantage, offering 17.0 cubic feet versus the Tesla’s 15.0, though it is not certain if that figure includes the front trunk as well as the rear one.

Underneath, the Model 3 features a double-wishbone front suspension with twin-tube coil-over shocks and a multi-link rear. Steering is variable ratio and, unsurprisingly, electrically assisted, as are the brakes, which also feature electronic force distribution capability. Eighteen-inch wheels are standard, while 19-inch ones are offered as a $1,500 option; both come exclusively with all-season tires, so you’ll need to hit up Tire Rack regardless if you want something with more grip.

Tesla offers six exterior colors: Solid Black is standard and free, while the other five — Midnight Silver Metallic, Deep Blue Metallic, Silver Metallic, Pearl White, and Red — add another $1,000 to the total.

Once you add up all of the available options, including the autonomy pre-payment, you’re at $59,500 before incentives if you want the larger wheels and any color other than black—a long way from the much-hyped $35,000 mark. That’s a hefty chunk of change for a luxury segment car short on luxury features, but the Tesla premium, if you will, doesn’t seem to have deterred too many of its fans in the past. Several hundred thousand plunked down $1,000 for a spot in line within days of the Model 3’s announcement, and excitement does not seem to be waning except among those holding short positions on Tesla’s stock.

What might trip-up matters, however, is that manufacturing plan. Unlike early adopters of the funky Model X, Model 3 buyers are unlikely to tolerate the same level of growing pains this time around, so nailing the execution of its next growth step is of paramount importance. Depositors can always cancel their order, and there is also the small matter of the upcoming electric 3 Series for Team Elon Musk to worry about, but it’s clear that, bare-bones interior and all, Tesla has built “it” and “they” have come — all that’s left is for the company to build several hundred thousand of “it,” and we’ll soon find out if it can do so.

2018 Tesla Model 3/Model 3 Long Range Specifications

ON SALE Now
PRICE $35,000/$40,000 (base)
MOTOR
N/A
TRANSMISSION Single-speed
LAYOUT 4-door, 5-passenger, rear-motor, RWD sedan
RANGE 220/310 miles
L x W x H 184.8 x 72.8 x 56.8 in
WHEELBASE 113.2 in
WEIGHT 3,549/3,814 lb
0-60 MPH 5.6/5.1 sec
TOP SPEED 130/140 mph

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Bollinger Motors Reveals the Custom-Built B1 All-Electric...



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Bollinger Motors Reveals the Custom-Built B1 All-Electric Off-Roader

NEW YORK, New York — Bollinger Motors is a small start-up based in Hobart, New York. Established in 2014, the firm set off to create the world’s first all-electric sport utility truck, purpose built to be an ultimate all-electric off-roader. With the future of the internal combustion engine still in question, Bollinger seeks to fulfill the niche of combing the instant power delivery benefits of electric motors with off-road capability. When four-wheeling, torque is a very good friend to have, especially if it’s supplied almost instantly.

Built on a custom fabricated all-aluminum frame bolstered by a high-strength, low-alloy (HLSA) steel rollover-resistant skeleton, the Bollinger B1 measures in at 150 x 76.5 x 73.5 inches. That makes it just a few shades smaller than a standard Land Rover Defender 90 by about seven inches in every direction.

Upon first glance, it appears like it was designed in Minecraft, taking the expression “two-box” and literally implementing it with the body. For a purpose-built four-by-four, it’s perfectly OK and perfectly functional.

Its simple design lends great visibility of all four corners, a welcome attribute for those on the trail. And it can seat up to four comfortably with up to 95 cubic feet of total cargo capacity. Because there’s no traditional motor up front, it turns into a storage “frunk” and so the space is divided by that compartment and the removal of the rear seats.

The interior is specially lined with polyurethane-coated floor pans. Additionally, all of the on-board instrumentation is water-resistant, allowing for a quick and easy hose-down of the interior if things get dirty. Other than that, the B1’s interior is fairly straightforward with simple gauges, a rather basic three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel with a column-mounted shifter.

Featuring two electric motors, one at each axle, the new Bollinger B1 promises a total output of 360 horsepower and 472 lb-ft of twist. Electricity is stored in either a 60 kWh or 100 kwh battery. The 60 kWh unit offers up to 120 miles and 200 miles for the larger unit.

In optimal conditions, Bolllinger says a charge time for the 60 kWh battery from completely dead should only take 45 minutes on a specialized DC fast charger, and seven hours on a traditional 220v Level 2 socket. The 100 kWh box needs 75 minutes on a DC fast charger, and 12 hours on a 22v Level 2.

Because of the lightweight body, the Bollinger B1 only weighs 3,900 pounds in total with the chassis making up only 295 of those. Yet, thanks to its sturdiness and the power of the electric motors, Bollinger claims a 0-60 mph time of just 4.5 seconds, a top speed of 127 mph, and a tow and payload capacity of 6,100 pounds. And above all, because there’s a motor at each axle, weight distribution is said to be evenly split, 50/50.

Like most other off-roaders, the Bollinger B1’s wheels sit the furthest at each corners. It’s aided and suspended by hydro-pneumatic, four-wheel independent, self-leveling suspension with disconnectable anti-roll bars. This allows for incredible approach, breakover and, departure angles when needing to maneuver obstacles. The B1 can approach up to 56 degrees, breakover at 33 degrees, and depart at 53 degrees, making it more capable than a Defender 90 (51 degrees approach, 34 degrees breakover, 35 degrees departure). Enabling that is over 10 inches of wheel travel, a wide 68-inch rear track, and grippy LT285/70/R17 all-terrain tires. Bringing things to a stop are 11.75-inch vented, regenerative, four-wheel anti-lock brakes.

Bollinger didn’t say when production is ready as it claims they are in “talks with third-party independent vehicle manufacturers in the U.S.” As of the B1’s reveal, the company says those potential parties are currently studying the market potential and investment costs for proper financial estimates. Bollinger also hopes to learn a thing or two about manufacturing vehicles in an efficient and cost-effective matter as it seeks to produce the B1’s concept.

“While we’ll be announcing pricing and manufacturing targets later this year, the business case for the B1 makes sense at a very realistic and modest production number and at a price point of a nicely equipped sport utility vehicle,” said Robert Bollinger, CEO of Bollinger Motors.

“When you factor in this vehicle’s superiority over the other choices on today’s market, we think we have a winning combination.”

Bollinger says B1 deliveries are scheduled to start within 19 months with the direct-to-consumer sales model. Those interested for the first early wave of 2018 models can place a deposit of $1,000.

2018 Bollinger Motors B1 Specifications

ON SALE Early 2018
PRICE TBA
MOTOR Dual front and rear electric motors/360 hp, 472 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION 1-speed automatic
LAYOUT 2-door, 4-passenger, all-electric, dual-motor 4WD SUV
EPA MILEAGE 67.4 mpge (city/hwy) (est)
L x W x H 150 x 76.5 x 73.5 in
WHEELBASE 105 in
WEIGHT  3,900 lb
0-60 MPH 4.5 sec
TOP SPEED 127 mph

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World’s Ugliest BMW i3 Auctioned for Charity...



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