It was a couple of decades ago when BMW first started down their path towards extreme efficiency. EfficientDynamics was a concept that had been used internally for many years before it eventually became a marketable aspect of BMW’s development for the public, and it proved to be quite a success as emission regulations tightened and customers had a greater environmental conscience.
BMW i is the next logical step in the progression of EfficientDynamics. It’s a part of BMW that has the freedom to create models that were extremely efficient- whether that comes in the form of the entirely electric BMW i3, or the hybrid BMW i8. For the second time in succession BMW i clinched victory at the World Car Awards in the category World Green Car. Following the success of the purely electrically driven BMW i3 the previous year, the BMW i8 was awarded this prestigious award at the New York International Auto Show.
The sports car’s combination of groundbreaking plug-in hybrid drive technology and innovative lightweight construction together with its avant-garde design was honoured by the international jury at the World Car Awards. The BMW i8 was also one of the finalists in the category World Luxury Car at the World Car Awards 2015, thereby underlining its special position.
The BMW i8 is the first plug-in hybrid vehicle manufactured by the BMW Group. It combines the performance of a sports car with the fuel consumption and emission figures of a subcompact vehicle. The BMW i8 can be driven up to 37 kilometres under electric power alone, accelerate in the style of a purebred sports car and yet its average consumption is that of a subcompact car.
Its 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, equipped with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, is combined with an electric motor. The battery can be charged at a conventional power outlet, at a charging station or simply while driving. The system performance of the BMW i8 is 266 kW/362 hp and it accelerates in just 4.4 seconds to 100 km/h from a standing start (combined fuel consumption: 2.1 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 49 g/km)*.
