L.A. Auto Show: New BMW convertible debuts; i8, X4 concepts on display
BMW kicked off the 2013 L.A. Auto Show on Wednesday morning by paying homage to the City of Angels’ love of sunshine.
The automaker’s all-new 4 Series convertible made its world debut, alongside several models making their North American auto show debuts: the forthcoming i8 plug-in hybrid sports car and the Concept X4 Coupe crossover.
“All these BMWs represent one thing,â€Ludwig Willisch, president and CEO of BMW North America, said during the press conference. “Acceleration on four wheels.â€
The company also brought with it the all-new i3 EV car for test drives. We’ll have a review of that, as well as several other all-new EV and plug-in hybrid cars, on Saturday. In the meantime, here’s what BMW has on display in L.A.
PHOTOS: L.A. Auto Show model debuts
4 Series convertible: In its new quest to delineate sedans and wagons (3 Series) from coupes and convertibles (4 Series), BMW gives us this.
This new convertible will use a three-piece folding hardtop, like its predecessor. BMW says extra sound deadening in the top makes it quieter than before, with enough trunk space to fit a set of golf clubs.
The power-operated top folds in 20 seconds and at speeds of up to 11 mph. For top-down driving in cooler weather, BMW will offer an optional neck-warming system similar to those in various Mercedes and Bentley convertibles.
FULL COVERAGE: L.A. Auto Show 2013
The 4 Series will come with one of two engines. The 428i will have a turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 240 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque. Zero to 60 mph goes by in 6.2 seconds, and the top speed on the 428i will be 155 mph. This model will start at $49,675, including destination charge.
The 435i convertible, starting at $55,825, gets a 3.0-liter, direct-injected six-cylinder engine that makes 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. It will do zero to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and has the same 155 mph top speed as the lesser 4 Series.
Regardless of engine, the 4 Series convertible will come with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive will be standard, with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system optional on the 428i.
The BMW 4 Series convertibles will be in showrooms in early 2014.
i8 plug-in: Using the same lightweight carbon fiber construction as the new i3 EV, the i8 is an all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid sports car. The car will start at just under $137,000 and features 362 total horsepower and 420 total pound-feet of torque.
It draws this power from two sources. The first is a turbocharged 1.5-liter, three-cylinder gasoline engine that makes 231 horsepower that is powered to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.
In the meantime, an electric motor channels 131 horsepower to the front wheels via a two-speed automatic transmission.
This combination will move the i8 from zero to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds, and gives the car a fuel economy rating of 94 MPGe. It will be able to travel 22 miles on electric power alone, BMW said.
This powertrain is wrapped in a sleek, modern package with dramatic doors that open upward. The passenger cell is made from carbon fiber, while the chassis and doors are made from aluminum. This helps keep the car’s weight down; the i8 weighs 3,285 pounds, BMW said.
The i8 will go on sale in the middle of 2014.
X4 Concept: Though BMW hasn’t confirmed this model for production, don’t be surprised if you see it in a dealership in a year’s time. Similar to how BMW spun the X5 SUV into the sporty (yet impractical) X6, the automaker is considering spinning the X3 into the X4.
Though BMW calls this concept a coupe, it still has four real doors like a proper SUV. Powertrains haven’t been announced, but expect them to mimic what’s currently available on the X3. This includes a 240-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 300-horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine. All-wheel-drive will be standard.
Since this is a concept, pricing details are a long way away. But with an X6 starting at about $8,000 more than an X5, a production X4 will likely start in the mid- to high $40,000s.
Additional reporting by Alicia Banks.
