2014 BMW i8 Side

The 2013 BMW i8 has gone on display at the BMW stand here at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show 2013. The concept has been making waves as the BMW Concept Vision Efficient Dynamics since the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show 2009. Back then BMW penned it as an efficient diesel engined concept with a petrol version later unveiled at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show 2011. The car now returns for the 2013 show, production ready, as the 2014 BMW i8 with a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid powertrain.

The BMW i8 is the second model from BMW’s new BMW i brand. It is intended as a sports car and provides a forward-looking, revolutionary interpretation of BMW’s hallmark driving experience. It is a 2+2-seater with a design that BMW refer to as LifeDrive architecture. It gets a “life module” passenger cell made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), as you would expect from any premium sports car. Total weight is just 1,490 kg, bearing in mind the plug-in hybrid architecture.

The drive system utilises a brand new three-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. From 1.5 litres, the i8 manages an output of 231 hp, a maximum torque of 320 Nm and rear wheel drive. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. The petrol engine is supplemented by an electric motor with an output of 131 hp and maximum torque of 250 Nm. The power from this lithium-ion high-voltage battery is channeled through the front wheels via a two-stage automatic transmission.

2014 BMW i8

The combinations mean that the BMW i8 is able to produce 362 hp maximum power and 570 Nm of torque. Performance is 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds with both engine and electric motor engaged. The BMW i8 manages economy figures of 2.5 litres per 100 km or 113 mpg in imperial measurements.

For more information on the 2013 BMW i8 please check out our earlier article.

IAA Frankfurt 2013

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