In less than a year BMW will launch its revolutionary i8 hybrid electric, and if they keep their word about the pricing, it is going to be the most affordable car of its type. Other hybrid sports car in the pipeline at the moment are all million dollar dream machines.
The user-friendly BMW i8 pricing varies depending on the market. In the UK it is priced at £99,845 and in Germany at €126,000. In America, where it launches in Spring 2014, the i8 will cost $135,925 including destination and handling.
BMW i8 offers the performance and thrill of a proper sports car with the a level of efficiency that was deemed impossible a few years ago. The car is powered by a hybrid system consisting of a three-cylinder gasoline engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, displacement of 1.5 liters, output of 170 kW/231 hp, and maximum torque of 320 Nm (236 lb-ft). It is coupled to an electric motor that generates 96 kW/131 hp, and maximum torque of 250 Nm (184 lb-ft).
The gasoline engine drives the rear wheels and the electric motor the front ones. That makes the i8 four-wheel-drive, and an intelligent one of that. With a total output of 266 kW/362 hp (max. torque: 570 Nm / 420 lb-ft), BMW i8 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, which is impressive, but not as impressive as the fuel economy: EU fuel consumption 2.5 litres per 100 km – 94 mpg (US).
