The last time we showed you a prototype of the BMW i8 hybrid sports car it was in May of 2011 with a scoop video of the car undergoing cold-weather testing. Now, our spy photographers captured another prototype of the i8 being driven on the snow.
So what's new about this test car? Well, a lot actually, as whereas the previous prototype was based on BMW's second concept for an i8, the car featured here is the final production version.
The design of the i8 has progressed with BMW moving the exterior mirrors from the window to the corner of the doors and refining other details such as the door handles, headlamps, bumpers and even the alloy wheel designs.
But while the Bavarians have made some necessary changes, the overall shape of the car along with the aerodynamic details like the rear wings and air channels in front of the rear wheel arches remain unchanged. We still don't know if the production model will keep the concept's butterfly-style doors.
We'll also note that in these photos, the i8's silhouette with the low front end kind of reminds us of the Audi R8.
The i8 makes use of BMW’s new LifeDrive architecture with aluminium structures and a carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) body shell to keep weight to a minimum.
The Bavarian firm's first ever hybrid sports car will be powered by two engines including a front-mounted electric motor sourced from the upcoming i3 hatchback and a rear-mounted 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline unit.
The gasoline unit drives the rear wheels through a dual clutch transmission, while the plug-in electric motor uses a twin-speed transmission to turn the front wheels.
It is believed that the twin-motor setup will have a combined system output of around 350-horsepower, which thanks to the i8's lightweight construction, should provide a sub 5.0 second time for the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint.
The 2+2 seater i8 hybrid will arrive in the market after the introduction of the i3 hatchback in late 2013.
Photo Credits: CarPix
8 Comments:
What?! u 8 my coupe?!
I'm liking it, but something seems off with the rear-wheel arch.
And those tailights and awful.
Unfortunately with every revision it becomes a little less cool.
They could habe done better with the back of the car
The rear lights are horrid, and the rear wheels look very low, is it sitting on air suspension? Maybe just something their testing. I think we can tell from those doors that it won't be a gullwing or like the doors on the concept. Small and with a step is what it looks like. It looks horrible from behind, but everything else is not that bad i guess.
Profile silhouette kind of reminds me of a 944 Porsche, some interesting aerodynamics happening with this car. It is very small is in it.
gorgeous car
Those rear lights are not anywhere near the production units. Those are just testing lights because the real ones are covered up by the swirly pattern and are a design feature they will try to save for the production car reveal. So don't get your panties in a wad over it.
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