The impressive BMW i8 hybrid sports car has officially been unveiled as the Formula E Safety Car. The car was revealed in a special ceremony at Donington Park.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc-pf7FkX0E#t=32[/youtube]
This BMW i8 is particular noteworthy for the fact that it can be charged wirelessly. Formula E and BMW partnered together to bring the technology to the car. The wireless charging sees the i8 being parked over a resonant magnetic induction pad with electrical current flowing into the i8’s battery pack. Throughout the Formula E season, it will be driven by Bruno Correia.
The BMW i8 is of course the second model from BMW’s new BMW i-Series. 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 production-spec i8 was of course revealed to the public last year at the Frankfurt Auto Show with production commencing in April. 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. 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 channelled through the front wheels via a two-stage automatic transmission.
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.
Too bad BMW decided to build another BS hybrid when they could have built an EV to compete with the Model S. Instead they built a car with a paltry 22 mile electric range and after that it is just a mediocre gasoline powered car.