Remember the futuristic and cool looking BMW that was featured during last year’s blockbuster movie Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol? Well word is BMW have been busy, preparing the plug-in hybrid Sportscar. Early prototypes have been spotted undergoing testing but now technical details have surfaced from a British-based automobile magazine.
The power output of the production plug-in hybrid will exceed the concept that was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year. While the concept was rated at 349hp, the production model will produce an increased figure of 393hp.
The front driving electric motors will be responsible for 170hp while the rest is provided from a three-cylinder 1.5-litre turbocharged unit powering the rear wheels. The combined peak torque is identical to the concept, rated at 550Nm. All this power is mated to a specially designed four-speed transmission, that aims to extend the performance range of the sports car. Currently it is claimed the i8 will travel almost 32km in all electric mode after a six hour charging time.
Constructed from an aluminium chassis and a carbon fiber body, the i8 weighs almost 30kg lighter than the concept at 1450kg. However it might complete the benchmark century sprint 0.3 seconds slower at 4.9 seconds. We aren’t engineers, but perhaps it has been designed to go slower to travel further?
The German manufacturer aims to sell around 10,000 units per year, and will only be available as a plug-in hybrid. Do not expect a performance topping M model, for the moment at least. The i8 is expected to cost over €100,000 (S$168,000) and will be launched as a 2014 model.
