BMW Announces Frankfurt Lineup: i3, i8 and New 1-Series

At this year’s IAA in Frankfurt, BMW and its sub brads will be unveiling their brand-new products in Hall 11 of the Exhibition Site. The most highly anticipated arrivals are the misterious new i cars that will finally show the Bavarians’ future directions. In addition, the new 1-Series hatchback that’s been leaked, then officially revealed, only to become the subject of rumors and speculation, will show itself for the first time at an auto show. It’s a global debut, but we already know what we’re getting basically! “The successful concept of presenting the cars as they drive has been developed and refined, providing the press and the public with the experience of efficiency and dynamics through the products themselves. The combination of trade fair and event in the form of stage shows will allow visitors to become immersed in the world of the brand,” the Munich carmaker says in its press release. Using the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept, the Group is presenting its visions for future mobility. “The concept vehicles offer a foretaste of the first series-produced electric automobiles in the new BMW i sub-brand. Around 300 international journalists were already able to gain a clear impression of the BMW i vehicles and the world which they inhabit on part of the IAA exhibition stand at the end of July,” BMW adds. Although there’s no mention of this in the press release, we know BMW’s lineup has been substantially revised for the ‘autumn-winter season’, so expect to see new engines and personalization options (think M Sport Packages) to arrive on the Frankfurt Show, ranging from the less than impressive 520i with only 184 hp from a 1.6-liter, to exciting stuff like the M5 and new 6-Series. The Bavarians are probably not going to miss the opportunity to highlight their eco-friedliness with EfficientDynamics, the ActiveE and increased use of turbocharged five-pots. There’s also a good chance that BMW will finally show the X3 M in Frankfurt, with its new tri-turbo engine that’s never been seen before. autoevolution will be attending the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, so stay tuned for some real up close and personal shots of the vehicles, as well as for first-hand details of the motorized contraptions presented at the event.