BMW tour plans November stop in midtown Manhattan?

BMW says it is bringing its i “Born Electric” world tour to New York City between Nov. 13 and 18, but they may want to reschedule! We have a hunch that cleanup from Hurricane Sandy may disrupt their planning. Phillippe Crowe of hybridcars.com reports that the tour intends to offer the public an opportunity to explore the future of mobility through new vehicles, including the North American debut of the BMW i8 Spyder Concept and next generation BMW i3 Concept; as well as interactive displays and demonstrations of technologies the company believes will help shape the way we move in and around our cities in the future. BMW says its i3 and i8 models will be the first purpose-built electric and hybrid-electric production vehicles to be made primarily from carbon when they become available in 2013 and 2014 respectively.The BMW i world tour New York City stop will be held at 1095 Avenue of the Americas (between 41st & 42nd Streets) and will be presented under the banner “The Future is Closer than You Think.”On top of presenting cars and technology, the event will feature discussions exploring significant mobility challenges facing America’s largest cities and highlight some of the initiatives being implemented to meet those challenges. BMW says the event will also include forward-looking discussions of other transportation issues that are likely to impact our cities in the years and decades to come.The seven-city, year-long global tour exploring the future of mobility is an initiative of BMW i. BMW says this brand is dedicated to the development of new vehicles and services aimed at solving the mobility challenges facing the world’s most densely populated cities.“The greatest population increases in the future will occur in the world’s already crowded cities, which will further stress their mobility infrastructure and create a need for new vehicles and technologies that make getting around easier and more efficient,” said Ludwig Willisch, president and CEO, BMW of North America. “The sole purpose of BMW i is to address these issues and provide solutions that will improve personal mobility for each individual, whether it be by car or other modes of transportation.”According to BMW, the BMW i Born Electric Tour kicked-off in Rome in June 2012, is making stops in Dusseldorf and Tokyo prior to New York. (Too rich for my blood, but if you’re heading up there enjoy the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!)