BMW reveals the production version of the i8 hybrid

After the i3 that BMW launched recently, it was time for another big one from the Bavarian company. BMW revealed the final production form of the radical BMW i8 at the Frankfurt Motorshow.

The 4.7-metre-long i8 is the big sister of the i3 and features the similar construction methods like carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) bodyshell sitting on a welded aluminium chassis. BMW claims the i8 can go from a standstill to 100km/h in just 4.4seconds with the help of both the engine and electric motor. BMW talks of a top speed in the range on 250km/h on the petrol engine alone. This kind of performance is thanks to the i8’s relatively low weight of 1490kg and an aerodynamic bodyshell.

The i8 speeds upto 121km/h when in pure electric mode. The car has three driving modes: Comfort, Sport and EcoPro and BMW claims a range of 499km in hybrid mode, or up to 35km on lithium ion battery power alone.

The i8 gets a 3-cylinder engine and generator mounted behind the rear seats, powering the rear wheels. The front wheels are driven by an electric motor and a two-speed automatic transmission, while the battery pack is stored in the centre tunnel, with a petrol tank under the rear jump seats.

The i8’s part-time all-wheel-drive transmission is also of interest. The version of the 1.5-litre 3-cylinder engine in the i8 develops a remarkable 228bhp, and its specific output of 151bhp per litre is said to be the highest of any production BMW engine to date. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox and a combination of the electric motor produces peak outputs of 356bhp.

The i8’s dramatic styling hasn’t moved too far away from that of the original concept. LED lights are used at the front and rear, although buyers will also have the option of unique ‘laser’ headlights, which BMW says are 70 percent more powerful than LED lights and produce a pure white, extremely bright light.

Keeping the green code in mind, BMW has taken things to a completely different level. BMW’s carbonfibre manufacturing plant in the US is powered by zero-CO2 hydroelectricity, while the power at BMW’s i manufacturing plant in Leipzig, Germany, comes from local wind farms. In short, its a car that's filled with green DNA. For us the i3 and the i8 are two different cars but for BMW they are the winds of change.