Well that's better. This BMW i8 -- the second entry in BMW's i sub-brand for premium sustainable mobility-- looks just as cool when caught by our spy photogs as it did in early renderings and concept models. Earlier today we had spy photos of the other i vehicle, the Megacity EV and, unlike renderings it was failry bland if heavily camoed.
The i8 is, obviously, the near-production version of the Vision EfficientDynamics concept which, like its i3 brandmate, the i8 is running on super-skinny -- and thus lower rolling resistance -- tires. The original Vision EfficientDynamics ran on 195/55R21 tires and these don't seem much larger. And on the subject of performance, the VED plug in hybrid, it had a 163 horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder direct-injection diesel twisting out 214 pound-feet of torque. And that's before the electric motors come in....
The diesel kicks power to the rear wheels and is augmented (at times) by a 51 hp / 214 lb-ft electric motor. Up front is a second electric motor that makes 80 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Except when it makes short bursts of up to 139 HP. Combined, BMW says the three make 356 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. That should be enough to tear those bike tires to shreds. No word on what this mule is powered by.
(Photos: CarPix)
coolb944 says:
04:06 PM, 03/ 8/11
It's impressive that this stayed soooo close to the concept. A car from BMW I can actually get behind! Finally!
travai says:
06:38 PM, 03/ 8/11
Rakish. S'gonna be gorgeous.
Skinny tires. S'pose it won't matter if it's a blast to drive.
Is this going to be a 2+2, or a 2+1? Looks like there's room in the back . . .
blueguydotcom says:
09:00 PM, 03/ 8/11
I like that new interpretation of the kidney grill.
typography says:
10:06 PM, 03/ 8/11
Wow. Just wow. This has got to be one of the most progressive designs in automotive history. I never even paid much attention to the concept because I just immediately wrote it off as being one of those completely unrealistic designs.
gtrguy2012 says:
10:39 PM, 03/ 8/11
The skinny tires don't make sense with 590 Lb/ft of torque. Maybe it's just a pre-production thing.
xorbe says:
11:20 PM, 03/ 8/11
590 ft-lb of torque is fine at low rpms (electric motors) and skinny tires. It probably falls off rather rapidly after 0 rpms.
patrickw says:
11:24 PM, 03/ 8/11
Love the looks and the mechanical concept. Would really like to see an aerodynamical analysis (e.g., the bases of the A and C pillars look like they are floating several millimeters from the cabin; why?). Narrow tires may have a small impact on acceleration and lateral grip, but my main concern would be braking. Can't wait to drive one.
jacton says:
05:50 AM, 03/ 9/11
BMW Volt? I do give them credit for sticking closely to the concept car. This willl be a very bold statment when it comes out.
blueprint1 says:
09:52 AM, 03/ 9/11
This is probably their most outside-the-box piece of styling since the M1. Love the looks!
csubowtie says:
11:44 AM, 03/ 9/11
Cool. I had written this whole thing off as a design study, you know, the kind where they whip up a cool body, talk about a bunch of make believe technology of the future, and then dissapears. It's cool that they are at least making a running proto-type.
steelpenguin says:
07:54 PM, 03/ 9/11
I don't care what they call it, but i8 shouldn't be a name for anything. Sounds exactly like "I ate".
alex38 says:
01:53 AM, 03/11/11
HOT! One of the best BMW designs i have seen in a LOOONG time.. Finally..
transpower says:
04:53 PM, 03/24/11
I love this design...and would buy it immediately if it were priced below $60000. Fat chance....