The all-new BMW i8 is no ordinary sports car. It's an extraordinary evolution of the Ultimate Driving Machine®.
As a plug-in hybrid, the BMW i8 combines the power of a TwinPower Turbo engine and the efficiency of an all-electric motor for an exhilarating driving experience. And launching from 0-60 mph in under 4.5 seconds, the #BMWi8 is electric mobility, redefined.
The BMW i8.
It's born electric inside and electrifying outside.
The BMW i8 Concept's sweeping silhouette gives the appearance that it's surging forward even before the wheel turns. Large, transparent greenhouse-like windows create an extraordinary feeling of lightness, while the doors swing upward like wings to provide an undeniably emotional and sporty allure. And as a 2+2 vehicle with seating for up to four, it's not just dynamic, it's practical.
Innovative design is as much about materials as it is about looks. By using carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), a material that's as strong as steel but around 50% lighter, BMW i truly created an efficient, high-performance innovative sports car.
Not only can CFRP be shaped elegantly, its unique strength combined with its light weight makes a world of difference in durability and fuel economy.
CFRP is currently being manufactured in the ultra-modern carbon fiber production plant in Moses Lake, Washington. The plant is completely powered by renewable, hydroelectric power ?
helping BMW i stay true to its focus on sustainability.
Part of reinventing the sports car is rethinking its entire architecture, something designed to deliver impeccable performance and optimum dynamics. For BMW i, this led to the creation of the LifeDrive concept, consisting of two separate, independent modules: the Drive Module and the Life Module.
The Drive Module includes the electric motor, lithium-ion battery,
fuel tank, combustion engine and aluminum chassis, while the Life Module is comprised of the carbon fiber passenger compartment.
As a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the i8 Concept needs fewer battery cells than the i3 Concept. The battery's central location in the Drive Module gives the vehicle a low center of gravity, further enhancing its dynamics. The end result is an optimum 50:50 weight distribution, guaranteeing superior handling and performance.
When a car looks this fast, it better live up to its appearance.
The i8 Concept does just that, with help from its powerful, yet sustainable turbocharged combustion engine situated at the rear axle. This 3-cylinder engine produces 223 hp with up to 221 lb-ft of torque.*
[*specifications shown for concept vehicles]
Developed entirely in-house by the BMW Group, the 1.5-liter,
3-cylinder engine represents the state-of-the-art conventional engine design. The i8 Concept accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in under 5 seconds and gets 87 mpg, making it as efficient as it is dynamic.
