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BMW i creates high-design solar charging carport

With the first deliveries of the i3 under way, and the recent i8 press launch, the marketing push in the US for the BMW electric sub-brand has begun. These i vehicles are supposed to have a completely different feel from the rest of the brand's lineup. To complement their earth-friendly ethos, the Bavarian company commissioned BMW Group DesignworksUSA in California to create a solar carport concept that could keep the models sustainably topped up on power. It premiered alongside the i8 in Los Angeles at the electric sports coupe's media launch.
At first glance, the BMW i Solar Carport Concept looks like a pergola from a winery or a well-groomed garden, but like the i vehicles, the deeper you look, the more high-tech features there are. The sides feature carbon elements in a similar way that the i3 and i8 have a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic body. Bamboo forms the uprights because its quick-growing nature makes it rather sustainable, and the solar panels are strung along the top to harness energy.
Obviously the sun can't provide all of the energy that the electric cars need, and a BMW Wallbox Pro charger is also connected to the power grid as a supplement. It includes a readout telling users the amount of solar energy versus municipal electricity it's using.

You can buy Puma shoes inspired by BMW's fabric concept car

Back in 2008, BMW revealed the GINA Light Visionary Model – a concept car covered in fabric instead of metal body panels, placing it somewhere in between the fields of automotive design and fashion. Now BMW's Designworks studio applied the same idea to a pair of Puma shoes. The partnership brings the idea full circle: the car imitated shoes and now the shoes imitate the car. The new Puma BMW X-Cat Disc sneakers are covered in a single, seamless piece of metallic fabric. Instead of laces, the shoes pack Puma's Disc system that uses hidden wires hooked up to a dial on the tongue for adjustment. As they were for designed for driving, the X-Cat features rolled heels for quick pedal work – just like the Speed Cat, Future Cat, and Drift Cat that Puma furnishes to the likes of BMW Motorsport, Red Bull Racing, and Scuderia Ferrari. The combination of BMW design, seamless fabric, and high-tech adjustment makes these look like the slickest pair of kicks we've seen since Pininfarina designed sneakers for Fila. (And hopefully more durable. This writer had a pair of those that fell apart rather quickly.) The finished product ought to give the Adidas line by Porsche Design a run for its money when it launches in stores and online at Puma starting this Friday, July 1. Related Video:

Crossovers versus Cars | Autoblog Podcast #479

Episode #479 of the Autoblog Podcast is here. This week Dan Roth, David Gluckman, and Greg Migliore compare and contrast the strengths of cars and crossovers, and if we'll soon see the long dominance of the midsize sedan ceded to this relative newcomer. It all starts with the Autoblog Garage - check it out! Check out the rundown with times for topics, and thanks for listening! Autoblog Podcast #479 The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience. Topics Cars vs. Crossovers In The Autoblog Garage 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e 2016 Honda Civic 2017 Cadillac CT6 Hosts: Dan Roth, David Gluckman, Greg Migliore Rundown Intro & Garage - 00:00 Cars vs Crossovers - 24:28 Total Duration: 54:55 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Feedback Email – Podcast at Autoblog dot com Review the show in iTunes Podcasts BMW Cadillac Honda SUV crossovers