In 2014, the new BMW i8 will come to market as the Bavarian’s first entry in an untapped segment: premium hybrid sportscars.
The BMW i8 brings the vision of a modern and sustainable sportscar to life. The highly-emotional design immediately makes it clear what qualities the BMW i8 has to offer. A signature feature of BMW i cars is the “black belt”. On the BMW i8, it emerges in a “V” shape from the bonnet and extends back over the roof into the rear section of the car, where it frames the center section of the rear apron.
BMW i8 uses a plug-in hybrid system consisting of a turbocharged three-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine and BMW eDrive technology in the form of an electric drive system. The 1.5-liter combustion engine develops 170 kW/231 hp and drives the rear wheels of the BMW i8, while the 96 kW/131 hp electric drive sends its power to the front wheels and allows an all-electric range of up to 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).
In Germany, the BMW i8 starts at €126,000, while in the UK it will cost £ 99,125. The U.S. market will also get the BMW i8 in 2014 at a base price of $135,700.
At the 2013 LA Auto Show, Ian Robertson, Head of Sales and Marketing at BMW, said the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car due to be introduced in mid-2014 has sold out for its first year of availability.
Here is video compilation showcasing the BMW i8:
