A few days ahead of its debut with much pomp and circumstance at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the new BMW i8 plug-in hybrid appears online in a couple of official pictures. What these images do is confirm that the production i8 looks as stunning as the concept version.

That means from next year you will be able to buy a car that seems to be designed, and built, by some aliens in a different planet. the BMW i8 is truly outworldly with its unique front and rear-end design; doors that appear to be modeled on the wings of a n insect; and a powertrain that makes 360 horsepower and yet consumes just 2.5 liters of fuel every100 kilometers.

The 2014 BMW i8 features a very lightweight and aerodynamic body with a drag coefficient of just 0.26. Those qualities contribute to the car’s great fuel efficiency, but the main reason for that is a sophisticated hybrid system consisting of a 1.5 liter three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor. Together they make 362 hp and over 570 Nm of torque.

That power is enough to take the i8 from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 250 km/h. It is not supercar fast, but then it won’t cost supercar money either. What’s more, you can drive for more than 50 km solely on electricity.

Prices of the 2014 BMW i8 will be revealed closer to its launch next year.

via: Autowp.ru