The new BMW i8 has been unveiled in final production form at the Frankfurt Motor Show ahead of its launch later this year.
Following on from the BMW i3, the i8 is the second electric car to wear the BMW roundle. A plug-in hybrid mid-engined sports car, the i8 shares many of the construction methods used on the i3 and consists a carbon-fibre body shell and an aluminium chassis. Thanks to the minimalist construction, the i8 tips the scales at just 1,490kg.
The i8 is powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine which sends 228bhp to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. The front axle, on the other hand, is driven by an electric motor supplied by a lithium-ion battery. The electric motor develops 129bhp, giving the i8 an overall power output of 357bhp.
0-62mph takes just 4.4 seconds and flat out the i8 will hit a limited 155mph.
BMW claims that the i8 has an electric range of 22 miles in pure-electric mode and around 310 miles in hybrid mode. On top of this, according to the EU fuel economy test, the i8 emits just 25g/km of CO2 and will return 113mpg.
The i8 has near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution, so hopefully it will handle like a BMW should. Drivers will also benefit from dynamic damper control, which is fitted as standard, giving a choice between more sporting and more economical driving modes.
Styling-wise, the i8 doesn't look dissimilar to the original i8 concept which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2011. LED lights are used both front and rear and the doors are hinged off the A-pillars and open upwards and forwards.
The i8's interior isn't quite as berserk as its exterior would lead you to believe; however, you do get a free-standing LCD display which controls the car's infotainment systems.
The BMW i8 goes on sale later this year, and although prices have yet to be revealed, a price tag in the region of £100,000 is expected.
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