TopGear1 calls it one of the most important BMWs ever! Autocar2 labels it as a car that is daring, exotic and state of the art in just about every way you might judge it. So what is all this 'i8' hype? Well BMW calls its i8 the 'progressive supercar' and we believe it's not exaggerating. The BMW i8 was first introduced as the BMW Concept Vision Efficient Dynamics which is a plug-in hybrid sports car being developed by BMW. The initial turbodiesel concept car was first unveiled at the 2009 International Motor Show Germany. The production version of the i8 was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The i8 was conceived to redefine sportscar conventions rather than abiding by them. The i8 began with the 2009 Vision Efficient Dynamics concept, which reintroduced the idea of a mid-engined BMW flagship. It drew power from two electric motors and a three cylinder turbodiesel engine. This later on became the plug-in hybrid i8 concept two years down the lane at the Frankfurt Motor Show by swapping the diesel for a petrol turbo.
The i8 is about as far from the usual BMWs as you can imagine. The engine is a tiny 1.5-litre turbo-three cylinder, mounted transversely ahead of the rear wheels. The engine might be tiny but it's mighty, producing about 231 bhp. In addition there is a 131 bhp electric motor up front and a big plug-in electric battery to give it some serious potential. All this packed into a carbon tub with some serious futuristic thermoplastic body work and it guarantees a tough competitions to the glamorous Ferrari's and Lamborghinis.
Coming to drivability, have no doubts about its capabilities. Though it lacks the rev drama and violence of a conventional supercar, it does boast an impressive 0-62 miles in 4.4 seconds and is ruddy quick with a fantastic traction. It is hard to believe it is an eco-chomping hybrid, doing an amazing impression of a 340bhp straight six rather than a little turbo triple.
On the inside, the i8 surprises with the sheer usability of its interior. With reasonably commodious child-swallowing rear seats and a high-quality cabin, it's sweepingly futuristic design, still shows plenty of core BMW ergonomic sensibility. All in all this is an amazing masterpiece from BMW who had taken a brief sabbatical from this segment, well but turns out for the good! It is not in the news just because of its revolutionary supercar concept but because it also marks BMW's return to a market that it has aced in the years gone by, and had done it with style! The Z8 and M1 have a successor finally though they are some daunting acts to follow.
Well BMW, we are with you on this one!
Source : articlesbase.com
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