Two leaked images published on a Russian auto design website have given us the best look yet at BMW’s upcoming i8 plug-in hybrid sports car.

Previewed by a concept that debuted at the 2011 edition of the Frankfurt show, the production-bound variant retains the show car’s overall shape but it loses many of the futuristic design cues.  The scissor doors and the aerodynamic C-pillar remain.
The i8 stretches 4.67 meters long, 1.93 meters wide and 50 inches tall.  It is powered by a hybrid drivetrain that consists of a 231-horsepower 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine located behind the rear seats and a 131-horsepower electric motor mounted on the front axle.  The gas-burning engine sends power to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission while the electric motor spins the front wheels through a two-stage automatic gearbox.

Rated at a combined 362 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque, the plug-in hybrid drivetrain propels the i8 from zero to 100 kmph in 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 250 kmph.  Alternatively, the i8 can operate on electricity alone for up to 22 miles at speeds of up to 120 kmph.

With both power sources engaged, the i8 returns roughly 180 kmpg in a mixed European cycle while emitting less than 59 grams of CO2 per kilometer, figures that make it cleaner than even the smallest, most frugal economy car in Europe.

Like the city-friendly i3, the central part of the i8 is a LifeDrive architecture that puts a heavy emphasis on lightweight materials.  Crafted out of aluminum, the Drive module includes the gas-burning engine, the electric motor, the lithium-ion battery pack and all electronics.  The Life module is built out of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and mainly consists of the 2+2 passenger ccompartment.  As a result, the car tips the scale at about 1451 kg and boasts a perfect 50/50 weight distribution.

A full set of details about the BMW i8 will be available in the weeks leading up to the Frankfurt Motor Show.  Look for the plug-in hybrid sports car to land in United States showrooms in late 2014.

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