BMW Group India has launched the new 2015 i8 hybrid sportscar in India at a price of Rs 2.29 crore all India ex-showroom.
The i8 will be the first ‘i' cars from the BMW to enter the Indian market. To be sold as CBU, the i8 will be offered in very limited numbers looking at its high global demand.
It is essentially a plug-in hybrid on the inside and has an amazing and futuristic carbonfibre body combined with a set of butterfly doors. The intelligent plug-in hybrid system in the BMW i8 combines benefits of an electric motor and a petrol engine. The electric drive is powered by a 96 KW (131 hp) lithium-ion battery located on the front axle while the rear axle is driven by BMW TwinPower 1.5 litre three-cylinder petrol engine with 170 kW (231 hp) peak performance.
The electric motor derives power from a Li-ion battery pack which can be charged from a power socket installed at home. BMW says that this battery pack will last the life of the car. Both the gasoline and electric propulsion systems are connected to each other via BMW's power control electronics.
The two units together deliver 362 hp and the car can accelerate from zero to 100 km in 4.4 seconds. On battery power, it reaches 120 kmph with a range of 35 kilometres. With the combustion engine, the electric motor takes it to 250 kmph.
Press the accelerator and the all-wheel drive car goes from 0-100kmph in 4.4 seconds and still gives a fuel efficiency of 48kmpl on the EU driving cycle, with the top speed restricted to 250kmph.
The electric drive, a 96 kW (131 hp) lithium-ion battery, is located on the front axle. The rear axle is driven by BMW TwinPower Turbo 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine.
Philipp von Sahr, President, BMW Group India said, "The global automotive industry is witnessing a paradigm shift from the conventional combustion engine to sustainable mobility solutions. And, so is India.”
On the global level, the BMW i8 hybrid goes up against the likes of the Porsche 911, Audi R8 and the Jaguar F-Type amongst others
