BMW i8 To Hit Indian Roads Soon

The BMW i8, which was unveiled at the 2014 Auto Expo, would be launching the plug-in hybrid specifically designed for the Indian market, on February 18th this year.



Let's take a quick glance at the features of the BMW i8.

Design and Styling



On the exterior, the BMW i8 gets a design that is inspired from the range of 8 Series cars which were available in the 1990s. The new i8 has managed to sport the same design and yet look trendy. This car has got a futuristic appearance and is dominated by twin kidney grille, full LED headlights, and a bumper with aerodynamically enhanced wings right below the headlamps. The wind shield has been modified to add on to the sharp looks of the car. With the characteristic swan-wing doors and a unique design for its alloy wheels and various aerodynamic vents, this car has got a revolutionary design that adds to the sportscar credentials of the BMW i8.

Looking on to the interiors of the car, the i8 gets the standardized features of any BMW car, along with a 10-inch display to interact with the inbuilt iDrive system. Though the European and American variants of the i8 gets loaded with futuristic features, the Indian variant seems to be low on that account, to cut down the price, which otherwise itself costs around Rs 1.5-2.2 crores.

Engine and Performance



The entire life and soul of the BMW i8 lies in its engine. Powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder twin scroll turbo engine, which produces about 231bhp and 320Nm of torque and power, the car is expected to deliver a fuel-efficiency of 39.9kmpl (as per European test conditions). The power from this engine is sent to the rear wheels by means of a six-speed AT, while the front wheels are connected to an electric motor via a two-stage AT box, mated to a 5kWh lithium-ion battery, which is expected to give a power output of 131bhp. With this setup, the total power output delivered by the i8 would be 362bhp and 570Nm of torque thus allowing the i8 to attain a speed of 0-100kmph in 4.4 seconds.

Price



As mentioned earlier, the expected price of the i8 in India would be estimated around Rs 1.5 – 2.2 crores. This high price for a BMW i8 isn't a surprise as this would be the first of its kind to be launched in the country. The car would be brought to India via the CBU route. Though the official launch of the car would take place on February 18th, the delivery of the cars through the dealerships across India would commence in March. The i8 gets a limited allocated number of 8 units to be sold in India for this year.