BMW i3 and i8 revealed

CARS that drive themselves to work will be on our roads in the next three years.

The self-driving cars from BMW are the electric-powered i3 small city car and the electric-petrol i8 hybrid sportscar which will go into production in 2013 and be on sale In Australia in 2014.

BMW's new "i" range of cars will use cameras, radar and sensors to follow the traffic up to 40km/h, accelerating, braking and steering itself. All the driver has to do on the commute to work is have one hand on the steering wheel.

If the traffic becomes too heavy, the car may even suggest pulling over and catching a bus or train to work.

But BMW's new range of smart cars is not just all work and no play. In conjunction with your smart phone, they will also book you a table at a restaurant or tickets to a concert, then direct you to the closest free parking space.

BMW is also developing partnerships in programs such as a DriveNow car-sharing service; MyCityWay, a mobile app that provides information on public transport, parking availability and even entertainment; and ParkatmyHouse, an internet platform allowing owners to rent their driveway or parking space.

But these cars won't be hitting the roads in large volumes.

BMW sales and marketing boss Ian Robertson says the i8 could cost about $300,000. He wouldn't reveal the cost of the small, urban i3 car. However,you can bet it wont be cheap as both cars are largely made of strong and lightweight carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) which is stratospherically expensive.

BMW i3 CONCEPT

This car was previously known as the Megacity Vehicle, the BMW Group’s first series-produced all-electric car. It features an electric motor over the rear axle with 125kW of power and 250Nm of torque pushing it to 60km/h in under four seconds and to 100km/h in less than eight seconds.

The battery is under the floor with a liquid cooling system to keep it at optimum operating temperature. It can be charged in six hours from the mains. Because of the braking effect of the engine when you release the accelerator, BMW claims you can drive the car in traffic without using the brake on most occasions. They call it “single-pedal control”. At faster speeds, the car goes into a free-wheeling cruise mode when the accelerator is released.

In a “Back to the Future” moment, the i3 brings back the “smooch” bench seat, which BMW explains will be handy if you park up close to a wall on the driver’s side; you simply slide across and exit through the passenger door.

Price: no estimate available
Motor: 125kW/250Nm electric
Dimensions: 3845mm (L), 2011mm (W), 1537mm (H) 2570 (WB)
Body: 3-door, 4-seater
Kerb weight: 1250kg
Top speed: 150km/h electronically limited
Acceleration: 0-60km/h in 3.9s; 0-100km/h in 7.9s
Range: 130-160km
Charging: 6 hours, or 80% in 1h
Luggage: 200 litres.

BMW i8 CONCEPT

This plug-in hybrid 2+2 sports car features the i3 electric drive system at the front axle with a combustion engine over the rear wheels. The 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine produces 164kW/300Nm while the electric motor can power the car on its own up to 35km, if required.

Acceleration to 100km/h is under five seconds with fuel consumption in the European cycle of less than three litres per 100km, or 7L/100km when driven hard. The lithium-ion battery can be charged from a domestic power supply while a high-voltage alternator hooked up to the combustion engine also charges the battery. A feature of the sports car is its upward-swivelling doors fixed to the A pillars which provide direct access to the front and back seats.

Price: about $300,000
Motor: 96kW/250Nm electric
Engine: 164kW/300Nm 1.5L 3-cylinder turbo petrol
Dimensions: 4632mm (L), 1955 (W), 1280mm (H), 2800mm (WB)
Body: 2-door, 2-seater
Kerb weight: 1480kg
Top speed: 250km/h electronically limited
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 4.6s
Economy: 2.7L/100km
CO2: 66g/km
Electric range: 35km
Charging: 105 minutes
Luggage: 150 litres.