Every once in a while, something comes along that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Introducing the BMW i8, a revolution in its class. It is the first plug-in hybrid car with near perfect synchronization between electric and combustion engines. Which means, you won’t notice the difference when the engine switches from one engine to the other. BMW has gone further in the pursuit of owning the high performance hybrid category by creating a unique eDrive concept. Combining a three-cylinder fuel engine with a plug-in electric hybrid. This future thinking marks an evolution for BMW Efficient Dynamics technology and brings the vision of a modern, sustainable sports car to life.

What makes this high performance hybrid even more revolutionary is a non-compromise on performance whilst still being efficient. We all know hybrid cars to be sluggish off the mark and lacking a bit of oomph, however the BMW i8’s intelligent plug-in electric system delivers a heart jerking 96kW (131hp) of power. Combined with a 1.5 liter three-cylinder Twin Turbo petrol engine delivering 170 kW (231hp) at its peak to give a total of 264kW (362hp) of power. That is an intelligent 0-100Km in 4.4 sec while only consuming 2.5 liters per 100km and emitting a mere 59g/km. A truly game changing result for hybrid electric cars.

The LifeDrive architecture of the BMW i8 is made up of two units for lightweight construction. The Drive module is the aluminium body shell. The Life module is the ultra-light passenger cell made of high-strength carbon. This combination makes for a strong framework and structure to support safety and strength for the electric motor and high voltage battery.

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IMPACTS:

• Pricing – More expensive for hybrids
• Fuel stations will diminish replaced by charging stations
• Price of fuel will increase
• Aluminium Auto industry to start slowing (High-strength carbon)

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