BMW details Frankfurt-bound i8

BMW has published a full set of technical details about the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car that will debut at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

Previewed by a concept that debuted at the 2011 edition of the Frankfurt show, the production-bound i8 stretches 184 inches long, 76 inches 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 62 mph in 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 250 Km.  Alternatively, the i8 can operate on electricity alone for up to 22 miles at speeds of up to 75 mph.

With both power sources engaged, the i8 returns roughly 180 Km 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 1452 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.