After a build-up almost as long as a ‘Logies’ acceptance speech, BMW gorgeous i8 plug-in hybrid sports car has been launched in Europe ahead of local sales penciled-in for early 2015.
Car Showroom was on-hand in California in January when the i8 was tested publicly on the roads from Santa Monica to Malibu and we can verify this is one stunning-looking car.
BMW’s first plug-in hybrid is a 2+2 seater on the technical masterpiece known as the ‘LifeDrive’ architecture with a carbon fibre passenger cell. Weighing jst 1,485kgs, with a ground-hugging centre of gravity less than 460mm and a slippery shape delivering a drag Cd of just 0.26, the BMW i8 is a true sports car as you’d expect from the team in Munich.
The design is stunning, punctuated by the wing-like side doors; the manufacturing is no less impressive. BMW i8 is manufactured using 100 per-cent renewable electricity lots pf recycled materials and even leather tanned with olive leaf extracts for the instrument panel.
Power comes from a turbocharged three-cylinder engine (for the rear wheels) with a hybrid synchronous electric motor (for the front wheels) combining to deliver 260kW and zero to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds 9that’s faster than a Porsche 911!). Yet fuel consumption is rated at 2.1l/100kms and exhaust C02 at 49g/km.
On pure electric mode, the BMW i8 has a range fo 37kms and a top speed of 120km/h.
Underneath the BMW i8 runs a double wishbone front-end and five-link wheels all with Dynamic Damper Control. Those aerodynamic wheels measure 20-inches in circumference.
On the inside is hallmark BMW luxury and technology including a raft of high-tech kit including Head-Up Display, Surround View camera, navigation with Real Time Traffic Information and BMW Online Entertainment and internet access.
Australian details will be announced closer to local launch.
