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BMW is ready for our inevitable EV future  

Is "rolling lithium" a thing, yet? Because BMW is trying to make this — the opposite of " rolling coal" — happen at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show. The Bavarian vehicular group is showing five all-new electric-powered concepts or production models in L.A. These include the C-Evolution, a 99-mile range scooter from BMW Motorcycles; the 150-mile range, two-door hardtop Electric Concept from Mini; and three vehicles from its advanced i sub-brand: the i3S, a sportier and more potent version of the brand's electric commuter nodule; the i Vision Dynamics four-door coupe concept, featuring a sporty four-second 0-60 time and a professed 373 mile range; and the long-promised roadster version of the i8 supercar, with just two seats, a bikini top, and an enhanced power pack providing 18 miles of range. The unveiling of these vehicles in Los Angeles makes perfect sense to us. California is one of the world's largest markets for luxury automobiles. It is also America's biggest market for electric-powered vehicles. Studies show that the state's combination of fiscal incentives, trendsetting cultural positioning, legislative requirements and massive population contributed to the purchase of half of the country's EVs and hybrids this decade. "The customers for the brand are mainly on the West and East Coasts, and the California customer especially is interested in sustainability and environmental protection," said Robert Irlinger, head of BMW's advanced i sub-brand. The bigger question revolves around BMW's larger EV strategy. Given the current global regulatory environment, with its rightful pressures on increasing efficiency and decreasing emissions to help soothe our warming planet and save all life on it, luxury automakers seem to be making a push toward developing a range of battery-powered vehicles to be available around or after the start of the next decade. It seems BMW, with its varied subsidiaries — from lightweight scooters to ultra-luxury barges — is uniquely poised to provide an array of such vehicles. "In the first stage of i back in 2013, we brought what you could call 'bookmark' cars to the market — the i3 commuter and i8 sports car — to show the range of what an electric vehicle could be," said Irlinger. "Now, we are seeing growing interest from customers to bring electrification to the heart of the brand, even to a sport sedan like our i Vision Dynamics four-door coupe.

Audi overtakes BMW as adulterers' favorite car brand

As Audi hopes to surpass BMW as the top-selling luxury automaker, sometimes it has to look at the small victories, too. For instance, IllicitEncounters.com - a UK dating site for married folks (also known as adultery) - is reporting that a recent poll shows that more people willing to cheat on their spouses drive an Audi. Last year, this same poll showed that BMW was the car-of-choice for adulterers.
With Audi on top (pun intended) and BMW bumped to number two, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Volkswagen round out the top five car brands owned by unfaithful wives and husbands. Check out the poll over at IllicitEncounters.com, but be sure to clear your browser history afterward. You know, just to make sure your spouse doesn't get the wrong idea about the websites you visit.

BMW i3 will come with unusual 'OwnersChoice' non-lease option

In case you were interested in driving a BMW i3 but were afraid of getting into a traditional lease, there's some good new for you. We think. BMW recently announced that it would offer something called "OwnersChoice" and "OwnersChoice with Flex" to make the elegant city EV an easier purchase. Or temporary purchase, anyway. Something called "OwnersChoice with Flex" is not listed on the federal government's consumer information page on vehicle financing and we couldn't get a better explanation out of BMW than the official announcement, but the gist appears to be that an i3 buyer can make a gigantic balloon payment at the end of the contract term in order to pay less in monthly costs along the way. The way Automotive News describes it, the typical balloon note chains the buyer to the car in such a way that, while you can get lower monthly payments, you're still on the hook for the amount of the financing even if you return the car. With OwnersChoice, if you give the i3 back after the contract is done (usually after three years), you're in the clear. With OwnersChoice with Flex, you need to pay up no matter if you keep the car or not, but you can take the $7,500 federal tax incentive and increase your balloon payment by - let's see here, what's the amount? ah, yes - up to $7,500, which would knock $208 (7,500 divided by 36) off your payment every month. BMW Group Financial Services (GFS) came up with this new lease/payment hybrid thing, and Fred Isele, BMW GFS vp of sales and marketing, says it lets owners get, "a comfortable payment for one of the highest technological and efficient premium electric vehicles available to date." BMW GROUP FINANCIAL SERVICES OFFERS 'OWNERSCHOICE WITH FLEX' FINANCING PRODUCT WITH PURCHASE OF NEW i3 -- PROVIDES END-OF-TERM OPTIONS SIMILAR TO LEASING, YET BENEFITS OF OWNERSHIP WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ – February 25, 2014 – With the launch of the BMW i3, the brand's first premium electric vehicle, BMW Group Financial Services becomes one of the first in the industry to create a financial solution to ownership that provides eligible customers with the options to lower their monthly payment and return the vehicle at the end of their contract term. The financing product called 'OwnersChoice with Flex,' provides eligible BMW i3 customers the option to increase their final OwnerChoice balloon payment due at the end of their contract term by up to $7,500.