BMW i8 Photos Below
The 2014 BMW i8 plug-in hybrid will start at $136,625 including destination, when it goes on sale in the spring of 2014. That base price makes the i8 the second most expensive model in the lineup behind the $140,000+ 2014 760Li sedan, but a few thousand dollars more than the Alpina B7 and nearly $20,000 more expensive than the 2014 M6 convertible.
The BMW i8 is ready to revolutionise its vehicle class. As the first sports car with the consumption and emission values of a compact car. The strength of the plug-in hybrid lies in the perfect synchronisation of electric motor and combustion engine, that’s brought to the street with the highest efficiency and dynamics. No longer a vision, but charged intelligence. The first sports car that even accelerates the zeitgeist.
BMW i8 Design
Long wheelbase, short overhangs, solid status as it crouches on the street: the BMW i8 has all the characteristics of a full-blooded sports car. The front appears extremely low and wide. Everything is arranged to be optimally aerodynamic. At the same time, the flat, but prominent double kidney grill makes this vehicle’s origins clear. A V-shaped ‘black belt’ starts on the bonnet and dynamically wraps around the bodyshell to the rear.
Viewed from the side, the exaggerated wedge shape, the long drawn-out lines and the flat silhouette underscore the dynamics and fulfil the expectations one has of a sports car. From the front to the rear, the car has a very dynamic, three-dimensional appearance. Surfaces and lines overlap and interlock, a method known as ‘layering’. This joins all the surfaces harmoniously and allows compact and unbelievably agile look. Its monolithic appearance lends the BMW i8 its extraordinarily powerful stature.
BMW i8 Doors
Off to a swinging start: the special sports car aspect of the BMW i8 is unmistakeable after just a glance at the spectacular scissor doors. The prominent scissor doors – which swing upwards when opened – are an optical highlight and blend perfectly in the smooth lines of the aerodynamic bodyshell.
From the inside, the doors emphasise the entire sporty character of the interior and guide the driver’s gaze forward. The decorative door handle is ergonomically located in the inside of the door panel.
BMW i8 Plug-In Hybrid
Think further to go further. The intelligent plug-in hybrid system in the BMW i8 combines the benefits of an electric motor and a petrol engine into an extraordinary driving experience: highest efficiency and maximum dynamics are simultaneously possible. The electric drive, a powerful 96 kW (131 hp), is located on the front axle. The rear axle is driven by an authoritative BMW TwinPower Turbo 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with 170 kW (231 hp) of peak performance and up to 320 Nm of torque; combined with the electrical boost of the hybrid system, it guarantees typical BMW driving pleasure.
Together the pair accelerates the BMW i8 from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds*. And this with an enormous saving in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, as it uses just 2.5* l per 100 km and emits 59 g/km*.
BMW i8 eDrive
The innovative BMW eDrive technology is the result of many years of BMW EfficientDynamics development work. Three key features deliver an unequalled emission-free driving experience: the entire torque of the extremely agile electric motor is available virtually from a standing start, and uninterrupted acceleration is maintained up to the maximum speed. An innovative cooling system keeps the high-voltage battery constantly at the optimal operating temperature, which increases performance and longevity.
The intelligent energy management system coordinates optimal interaction between the electric motor and the high-voltage battery with the goal of maximum performance with minimum consumption. Regenerative braking mediated by one-pedal driving extends the car’s range. Together with the ECO PRO modes, the push of a button is all it takes to gear all car systems towards maximum efficiency – and utilise energy reserves intelligently.
BMW i8 Optional Charging
A new dimension of sporty electromobility: The BMW i8 can be charged to 80 % quickly and easily within 2.5 hours via the charging cable at a standard electrical socket. With the BMW i Wallbox, you can optimise charging times, enabling the BMW i8 to be charged to 80 % in approximately two hours.
Even the vehicle concept and drive control are configured to ensure a balanced flow of energy on the move. During rest phases, the TwinPower Turbo engine charges the high-voltage battery via a generator. The electric motor also charges the lithium-ion battery in various driving situations. Additional energy is obtained via Brake Energy Regeneration. Thus, the battery is never flat and the electrical drive is always operational.
Written By: BMW i8 Team
BMW i8 Photos
