BMW i8

BMW has entered the niche market of hybrid sports cars with guns blazing.The BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid first unveiled as a concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show that garnered critical acclaim. The production model made its debut four years later at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. The car is being sold as part of BMW’s “Project i” and will be marketed as a new brand known as “BMW i”.

The concept car initially had a three cylinder turbodiesel engine along with two electric motors. This allowed a 0-100km/h time of 4.8 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

The next concept called the i8 Concept featured a single electric motor and a turbocharged 1.5L 3 cylinder petrol engine which would go on to become the engine configuration of the production model. It was also awarded the 2012 North American Concept Vehicle of The Year.

Interior:

The visionary design elements of the exterior have been carried over on inside. Although the gear knob and BMW’s familiar iDrive controller are present, the interiors look like something out a sci-fi movie.

Under the Hood:

The i8 features a keyless entry like no other.The key hub is seemingly packed with more features than a smartphone. It consists of a touchscreen consisting of multiple pages that can be viewed by swiping left or right. Each page displays various stats such as available range in electric mode and in normal mode, last charged and even the time. This car is truly a step in the right direction.The production version uses a 1.5L turbocharged petrol engine that produces 231 PS and is coupled with an electric motor that produces an additional 131 PS. This results in a total of 362 PS of power and 570 Nm of torque. With a top speed of 249km/h and a staggering 0 – 100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds, the i8 is no pushover. The electric motor supplies power during gear shifts for unhindered acceleration as well as providing additional power well into higher load ranges. Top speed in full-electric mode is 121km/h with a maximum driving range of 35 km. Drivers can select various driving modes such as SPORT, COMFORT and ECO PRO mode.

SPORT mode increases the electric motor and the engine’s power output, it also increases accelerator pedal response time and activates maximum energy recuperation during braking to recharge the battery using kinetic energy similar to the KERS system found in F1 cars.
Comfort mode offers a more balanced ride and also improves fuel efficiency.
ECO PRO mode is used to keep power consumption of the various electrical components at a minimum and can also be used for an all-electric operation. Each of these modes successively help increase fuel efficiency.

Starting at 1.5 crore, the i8 is far more expensive than any car available in its segment but then again, this isn’t like any other sports car. Futuristic styling combined with an almost unbeatable mileage, the i8 has the makings of a worthy contender in the sports car segment