Video: BMW i8

12 September 2013

Feature

The 4.7-metre-long BMW i8, shown here at the Frankfurt motor show, features unusual construction methods, using a carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) bodyshell sitting on a welded aluminium chassis. BMW claims the i8 can hit 62mph from rest in just 4.4sec with both the engine and electric motor engaged. Top speed — achieved by the petrol engine alone — is 155mph. BMW says this performance is partly thanks to the i8's relatively low weight of 1490kg and an aerodynamic bodyshell, which has a drag coefficient of 0.26.

More from the Frankfurt motor show:

Ferrari 458 Speciale

Audi Sport Quattro coupe concept

Porsche 918 Spyder

Lamborghini Gallardo Squadra Corse

Full Frankfurt motor show video highlights

Complete news coverage from the show

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Comments

fadyady

The stand-out feature

12 September 2013

The 3-cylinder 1.5L turbo petrol engine that produces a remarkable 228bhp is a stand-out feature that is getting buried under the batteries and the near incredible 25g/km CO2 and the 113mpg from a car that hits 62 in under 4.5 seconds.
Imagine this engine in a 1-Series or Countryman. Pretty impressive stuff.

Peter Cavellini

Death of the big capacity engine....?

22 September 2013

If you can extract that amount of horsepower from a 1.5 triple,is there really end need for engines with 6 cylinders......?

Peter Cavellini.

Peter Cavellini

Well to be honest......!

27 April 2014

This is a game change car for BMW,in the sense that they have a car with performance to match most of BMW's opposition,top speed today is irrelevant,the daft mpg figure is just not attainable although if BMW and the like can prove it i'll believe it then,i think it's a great looking car,typical BMW interior,and i will repeat this,are we seeing the last death throws of large capacity Engines?,if you can get 220bhp out of a 3 cylinder,and 500bhp out of a 1.6 (Williams/Jaguar),it definately beggars the question.

Peter Cavellini.