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Reverse-engineering i3 shows BMW profits after 20,000 sales

"This is, without a question of a doubt, the most advanced vehicle on the planet. It's as revolutionary as the Model T was when it came out." That is exceptionally high praise, and it's not even being heaped on one of the million-dollar hybrid hypercars from Ferrari or McLaren. It's not even being attributed to a particularly zealous Tesla fan. Nope, it's coming from a mustachioed man in suburban Detroit, and he's discussing a $42,400 BMW hatchback with Forbes. Of course, said hatchback is the revolutionary i3, and Sandy Munro's statements carry some degree of authority, as his company is tearing apart and analyzing every little nut, washer and bolt on the four-seat EV. Munro's eponymous company performs reverse-engineering analysis, meaning they rip apart brand new cars and sell the information to the world's automakers, saving OEM's both time and money. The most interesting thing it has discovered thus far? That even with the high costs of two of the i3's most important elements – carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic and lithium-ion batteries – his company's analysis shows that BMW need only sell about 20,000 units a year to turn a profit, Forbes reports. While Munro's company is often contracted by automakers, he's gone it alone on the i3 project, dropping about $1 million into in-depth analysis. That's a lot of money, but the company should be able to turn around and sell its findings for about $500,000, with a batch of Chinese automakers already queued up and ready to buy. Analysis of individual i3 components will also be available from a sort of a la carte menu. To see what it is about the i3 that has Munro speaking so highly of it, head over to the Forbes website and check out the feature article and video on the reverse-engineering process. Featured Gallery 2014 BMW i3: First Drive View 33 Photos News Source: ForbesImage Credit: Copyright 2015 Sebastian Blanco / AOL Green BMW Hatchback Electric Sandy Munro

President Obama will be on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

The seventh season of Jerry Seinfeld's excellent Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee will debut on Wednesday, December 30, and if this first trailer is any indication, the guest lineup is damn impressive. But rather than building up to one big guest over the course of the season, the show is starting with one of the biggest guests possible – the president of the United States. President Barack Obama will join Seinfeld behind the wheel of what looks like a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray for a trip around the South Lawn of the White House. According to CBS, the pair will enjoy their coffee in the staff dining room, which is probably a better idea than crippling Washington, D.C., with a Stingray-led motorcade. Aside from the president, Seinfeld has recruited a couple comedy icons, including first-timers Will Ferrell and Steve Martin. Also appearing are Garry Shandling, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Kathleen Madigan. The four-wheeled stars will include the Corvette, a Plymouth Superbird, a Chevy Camaro, a classic Porsche 911, a BMW 2002, and what we think is a (rather troublesome) 1952 Siata 208 8V Coupe Balbo. You can check out the entire trailer up at the top of the page. News Source: Crackle via YouTube Celebrities TV/Movies BMW Chevrolet Porsche Coupe Performance Classics Videos jerry seinfeld comedians in cars getting coffee cicgc will ferrell

Recharge Wrap-up: BMW invests in Zirx, EV charging on National Mall

BMW i Ventures has invested in valet company Zirx. Zirx offers on-demand valet services in urban centers and other areas where parking can pose a challenge to drivers. Drivers use the Zirx app to mark their location, where an agent will pick up the car and park it and, if desired, refuel/recharge, wash or have other maintenance performed on the vehicle in the meantime. "BMW i Ventures provides equity financing to service providers it identifies as having high potential to make urban mobility smarter, more efficient and more flexible," says BMW i Ventures Managing Director Ulrich Quay. "With its combination of service and technology that makes it easier for drivers to park and take care of their cars, ZIRX has the potential to be a central component of on-demand services." Read more in the press release below. Tesla gets more Google searches in China and Norway than any other automaker. While Toyota searches dominate much of the rest of the world, Tesla is enjoying solid favor in Norway. While electric vehicles make up about a quarter of new car sales in the Scandinavian country, Tesla has had trouble getting a foothold in China. Perhaps the Google searches mean Chinese drivers could be warming up to the automaker. Read more from Gas2. Two EV charging stations have been installed at the National Mall in Washington, DC. Installed by the National Park Service, the stations – which cost $2 per hour to use – are located across from the National Museum of American History and from the National Air and Space Museum. "As the National Park Service prepares for its second century of service to the American people, we are committed to providing clean and green energy to promote a healthy environment," says the National Park Service Acting Superintendent Karen Cucurullo. Read more from NBC Washington. BMW i Ventures Makes Strategic Investment in ZIRX New investment helps fuel ZIRX's expansion into new markets and service offerings; company introduces ZIRX Enterprise SAN FRANCISCO and NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- BMW Group today announced a strategic investment in ZIRX under the company's venture capital entity, BMW i Ventures. An innovative on-demand parking and car services company built for drivers, ZIRX eliminates the frustration that drivers face in owning a car and parking in major urban markets like New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C.