When you think about hybrid cars you think about those cars doing 50 mph in the right lane on the highway. Don’t get me wrong, respect to anyone who purchases a hybrid car and makes an effort to preserve our planet – but let’s face it – a hybrid car wasn’t really designed for the thrill of the ride….until now.
The new BMW i8 is everything that is a sports car – in a hybrid body (and engine for that matter). The $137,500 ride has everything from an ultra-cool design to the performance you’d expect from a BMW. The car has that distinct BMW style – it’s long, low and wide and sexy as hell. The i8 is the second product in the line to feature the new LifeDrive architecture. The Life Module is the carbon fiber frame that houses the passenger compartment. The inside is deceptively roomy making for an awesome driving experience.
The Drive Module in the i8 is an aluminum frame that uses the center battery enclosure as a stressed member. The aluminum saves a few hundred pounds which benefits the car in many ways. Since it’s located right through the center of the car – it allows for the i8 to have the lowest center of gravity of any BMW on the market.
As for the power – we’re talking 228 horsepower and 236 lb-ft torque which allows for a total of 357 hp. For those only interested in numbers check this out – 0-60 mph in as little as 3.8 seconds. The two engines make this BMW something extremely powerful, yet suitable for the day-to-day drive. Come 2016 – this could be one of the hottest cars out there – oh wait, it’s still $137,500. So maybe it won’t be one of the hottest cars out there, but it certainly is special.
Image via BMW
