BMW News

If you’ve ever visited central London in England and visited its famous Hyde Park, the chances are you’ve also seen one of BMW’s most prestigious showrooms, located along the highly-expensive and exclusive Park Lane.

Now, weeks ahead of the BMW-sponsored 2012 London Olympic games, BMW’s London Park Lane store will become the first i Store in the world.

At the opening of its first i Store, BMW will premier an updated version of BMW’s i3 concept electric car, unveil BMW’s i Pedelec electric bicycle concept, and detail an ownership package designed exclusively for its electric car customers.

BMW’s latest press photographs of the i3 electric car show a roomy, airy interior that mixes what BMW calls “a unique mix of renewable raw materials”

While very basic and flat in their appearance, the i3 Concept’s seat covers combine responsibly sourced wool and naturally tanned leather, while bench-derived front seats and lack of floor-mounted transmission, brake levers or center console means that it is possible for a driver or passenger to slide to either side of the car to get out in tight parking spaces.

Meanwhile, the curving, almost symmetrical dash is inlaid with eucalyptus wood which BMW proudly proclaims is sourced from sustainable managed European forests, while information is fed to the driver through a 6.5-inch freestanding instrument cluster and 8.8 inch central information display.