Driving the BMW i3 truly feels like driving the future, while owning one makes you feel like you are a pioneer. This last week BMW sent me a gift, a small piece of carbon fiber reinforced plastic in a modern, clean case. “It’s not every day you get to make history. But as one of the first owners of a BMW i vehicle, you are in the forefront of mobility’s future.”
The BMW i3 makes extensive use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic in its construction so it’s cool to be able to handle a raw piece of it.
The gift came with a card and a sleek white box that has the piece of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic suspended in the center.
The box opens like a book and you can grab the CFRP piece and feel its rough edges. If feels like a small lightweight piece of steel – incredibly strong like steel but 50% less weight. Initially we thought there would be only 1,000 of these i Gifts sent out, but as we picked up our i3 at the end of September, over 1000 had already been delivered.
BMW i3 is so quiet when you drive it and it’s a whole different driving experience than other cars. Furthermore, it’s not that because is just electric, it’s the way was made to be electric from the inception. The BMW i3 is the most efficient electric vehicle in production and makes use of cutting edge lightweight materials, like CFRP, magnesium, and aluminum. These highlight BMW’s commitment to building a lightweight, yet strong and safe car. The cabin tech in the i3 is also cutting edge with its only glaring omission being no Head-Up Display.
The i3 is the world’s first mass produced CFRP vehicle. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) is made in Washington State using hydroelectric power and the i3 is assembled in Leipzig, Germany.
The 2014 model sell for $41,350 (BEV) while the i3 REX starts at $45,200 before local or federal tax incentives.
