The BMW i8
History
BMW i8 Concept
The production
, first introduced as the BMW Concept Vision Efficient Dynamics, is a plug-in hybrid sports car developed byBMW. The 2015 model year BMW i8 has a 7.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that delivers an all-electric range of 37 km (23 mi) under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). Under the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cycle, the range in EV mode is 24 km (15 mi) with a small amount of gasoline consumption. The design is heavily influenced by the BMW M1 Hommage Concept (which is itself, a retro concept of the original M1).
The BMW i8 can go from 0�100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/h . The BMW i8 has a fuel efficiency of 2.1 L/100 km (134.5 mpg-imp; 112.0 mpg-US) under the NEDC test with carbon emissions of 49 g/km. EPA rated the i8 combined fuel economy at 76 equivalent (MPG-equivalent) (3.1 L gasoline equivalent/100 km; 91 mpg-imp gasoline equivalent) and '29 miles per gallon' when running in pure gasoline mode (after the battery is drained empty).
The initial turbodiesel concept car was unveiled at the 2009 International Motor Show Germany.The production version of the BMW i8 was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. The i8 was released in Germany in June 2014. Deliveries to retail customers in the U.S. began in August 2014.[14] Global cumulative sales totaled almost 7,200 units through December 2015. The top selling markets are the United States, the UK and Germany.
Because the BMW M1 (1978) was deemed a commercial flop (only 453 were produced), BMW was extremely hesitant at producing a new mid-engined production car. Concept cars like the ItalDesign BMW Nazca C2 (1992) kept public interest in a mid-engined BMW, though BMW only decided to build the BMW M1 Hommage in response to the retro-craze. The renewed public-interest, convinced BMW to re-pursue the ''mid-engined'' idea, and BMW unveiled the VED Concept to an enthusiastic public.The i8 is part of BMW's "Project i" and it is being marketed as a new brand, BMW i, sold separately from BMW or Mini. The BMW i3, launched for retail customers in Europe in the fourth quarter of 2013, was the first model of the i brand available in the market, and it was followed by the i8, released in Germany in June 2014 as a 2015 model year. Other i models are expected to follow.[13][18][19]
The initial turbodiesel concept car was unveiled at the 2009 International Motor Show Germany,[11] In 2010, BMW announced the mass production of the Concept Vision Efficient Dynamics in Leipzig beginning in 2013 as the BMW i8.[20] The BMW i8 gasoline-powered concept car destined for production was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.[21]The production version of the BMW i8 was unveiled at the 2013 International Motor Show Germany.[12] The following are the concept and pre-production models developed by BMW that precedeed the production version.
plug-in hybrid electric vehicle includes an electric motor located in the front axle powering the front wheels rated 96 kW (131 PS; 129 hp) and 250 N�m (184 lb�ft), a turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine driving rear wheels rated 164 kW (223 PS; 220 hp) and 300 N�m (221 lb�ft) of torque, with combined output of 260 kW (354 PS; 349 hp) and 550 N�m (406 lb�ft), a 7.2 kWh (26 MJ)lithium-ion battery pack that allows an all-electric range of 35 km (22 mi). All four wheels provide regenerative braking. The location of the battery pack in the energy tunnel gives the vehicle a low centre of gravity, enhancing its dynamics. Its top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (160 mph) and is expected to go from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in 4.6 seconds. Under normal driving conditions the i8 is expected to deliver 80 mpg-US (2.9 L/100 km; 96 mpg-imp) under the European cycle. A full charge of the battery will take less than 2 hours using 220V.[21][27] The positioning of the motor and engine over the axles results in optimum 50/50 weight distribution.[27][28][29]
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2011 International Motor Show Germany, followed by CENTER 548 in New York City,[30] 42nd Tokyo Motor Show 2011,[31] 82nd Geneva Motor Show 2012,[32] BMW i Born Electric Tour at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni at Via Nazionale 194 in Rome,[33] Auto Shanghai 2013BMW i8 Concept Spyder (2012)[edit]
The BMW i8 Concept Spyder included a slightly shorter wheelbase and overall length over the BMW i8 Concept, carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) Life module, drive modules made primarily from aluminium components, interlocking of surfaces and lines, 8.8-inch (22.4 cm) screen display, off-white outer layer, orange tone naturally tanned leather upholstery.[35]
The vehicle was unveiled in Auto China 2012 in Beijing[36] and won Concept Car of the Year,[37][38][39] followed by 83rd Geneva International Motor Show 2013.[40]
The designer of the BMW i8 Concept Spyder was Richard Kim.
i8 has a 7.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with a usable capacity of 5.2 kWh and intelligent energy management that delivers an all-electric range of 37 km (23 mi) under the NEDC cycle. Under the EPA cycle, the range in EV mode is 15 mi (24 km), with a gasoline consumption of 0.1 gallons per 100 mi, and as a result, EPA's all-electric range is zero. The total range is 330 mi (530 km).[7]
The production version has a fuel efficiency of 2.1 L/100 km (134.5 mpg-imp; 112.0 mpg-US) under the NEDC test with carbon emissions of 49 g/km.[5] Under EPA cycle, the i8 combined fuel economy in EV mode was rated 76 equivalent (MPG-equivalent) (3.1 L gasoline equivalent/100 km; 91 mpg-imp gasoline equivalent), with an energy consumption of 43 kW-hrs/100 mi and gasoline consumption of 0.1 gal-US/100 mi. The combined fuel economy when running only with gasoline is 28 mpg-US (8.4 L/100 km; 34 mpg-imp), 28 mpg-US(8.4 L/100 km; 34 mpg-imp) for city driving, and 29 mpg-US (8.1 L/100 km; 35 mpg-imp) in highway.