BMW i8, BMW i8 CONCEPT, BMW i8 Sports Car Concept

BMW i8
BMW i8 Sports Car Concept
BMW has revealed both its i3 and i8 eco-friendly cars, both part of the German carmaker’s new i Series sub-brand. Having just covered the i3, it’s only fare we did the same for the i8. We dubbed the i3 a little monster hatchback — the i8, in comparison, is a beast not from this world (for a vehicle of its kind, at least).

Unlike the i3, which is a full-electric car, the i8 will be a plug-in hybrid. It features a turbocharged, 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that produces 220 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. Combined with the same 170-hp electric motor found in the i3, it runs from 0-60 miles per hour in under five seconds (4.6 seconds, to be exact) and reaches an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph. Despite having the same electric motor as the i3, the i8 has an electric-only range of up to 20 miles on a full charge. Its fuel economy is estimated at three liters per 100 kilometers when driving like a softy and seven liters per 100 kilometers when driving aggressively.

The i8 has a perfect 50/50 weight distribution and has a layout that allows it to reap the advantages of both front-wheel and rear-wheel drive setups. In other words, it will provide sports car performance without sacrificing too much in the fuel-economy department.