The second and most powerful model within the i range arrived at the Frankfurt Motor Show with new details regarding production and dates. Of course, we talk about the new BMW i8 hybrid sports car, a model which is able to return impressive fuel economy figures together with good performance, almost the perfect recipe I would say.

The most important information from Frankfurt is that the new BMW i8 will enter the series production in 2013. In terms of powertrain, the German hybrid model packs a 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine but also an electric motors placed in the front.

The clever hybrid powertrain uses a dual clutch transmission for the petrol engine, a unit which will channel the power to the rear wheels while the twin-speed transmission connects the electric motor to the front axle. The fuel consumption is rated at only 2,7 liters/km while the total output at 349 horsepower and 550 Nm of torque.

With such resources, the new BMW i8 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4,6 seconds and achieves a top speed of 250 km/h. Of course, the price could be the only setback of this innovative model, current rumors announcing a price tag of over $150,000.

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Marcus M.

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As promised, we are back with the fresh details on BMW’s fully electric i range from the press conference held on Friday. If yesterday we analyzed the BMW i3 Concept, today we will talk about the other model in the range, the i8 plug-in hybrid which follows to be available starting 2013 along the fully electric i3. The first obvious difference between the first i models is the powertrain, the new BMW i8 adopting a hybrid setup with an electric motor and a 1.5-liter gasoline unit.

The electric engine is placed on the front axle and delivers 129 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, coupled to a twin-speed transmission which transfers the power to the front wheels. On the other hand, the 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline unit is able to produce 220 horses and 300 Nm of torque, the rear wheels receiving the power thanks to a dual clutch transmission.

As a hybrid model, the new BMW i8 can run fully electric for about 35 kilometers while charging the lithium-ion batteries takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. In conclusion, the total power amount reaches 349 horsepower and 550 Nm of torque making the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h possible in 4,6 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h, electronically limited.

These impressive features of the German sports car are even greater considering that BMW announced a combined fuel consumption of only 2,7 liters/100 km. In terms of dimensions, the i8 Concept measures 4,6m long, 1,9m wide and 1,2m tall.

The great power amount offered by the new i8 is also valued by the low total mass of only 1,480 kilograms achieved by using a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) body and an aluminum chassis. The Germans claim that they managed to obtain a 50/50 weight distribution by mounting the engines on each axle, this achievement bringing significant advantages.

“The sporting character continues into the interior. Boasting a driver-focused environment unmatched by any BMW Group vehicle before it, the BMW i8 Concept immerses the driver fully in the unique driving experience. The BMW i8 Concept is the sports car for a new generation – pure, emotional and sustainable,” adds BMW.

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Marcus M.

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The post BMW reveals the new i8 Concept, a 349HP plug-in hybrid sports car appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to see the new BMW i3 for the first time while the Bavarians were testing the electric model and also filming for something that most probably will be a video teaser coming up soon.

The spy photos of the new i3 from yesterday are without doubt more important than the current spy shots as we largely know how the new i8 looks from the Vision EfficientDynamics concept. Even so, we couldn’t ignore the second eco-friendly member of the new i family.

From the first details, the new hybrid will pack a 1.5-liter diesel unit developing 164 horsepower together with an electric engine offering about 33 horses. However, the situation regarding the engines that will be found under the bonnet is not very clear. According to Klaus Draeger, the 164-horsepower diesel is very likely to be replaced with a four-cylinder petrol engine.

So, we can’t tell you for now the engine options that will be available for the new BMW i8 but we assure you that you will be the first to know when official details in this regard will be available.

Spy Shots: CarPix via Autoblog

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Marcus M.

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The post Spy Photos: BMW running some tests with the new i8 appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

According to the first details, BMW is looking forward to fit the new BMW i8 which is scheduled to debut somewhere in 2013 with a hybrid powertrain which consists of an electric engine, of course, but also with a petrol unit, not the diesel turbo propeller as we expected.

This decision is little confusing as we all know that a diesel engine is more proper for a hybrid powertrain considering the fuel efficiency provided by it comparing to a petrol propeller.

These rumors are based on the recent statements of BMW’s development department chief, Klaus Draeger, who comes with the argument that the new BMW i8 wants to be a global model, thus, a petrol engine will fit best even for Europe it is not the best choice.

We can’t tell you for sure if this is the final decision because we relate just to the recent statements of the BMW official. If they’ll choose anyway the diesel engine we can tell you few estimative figures for the 2013 BMW i8. Thus, the diesel-electric powertrain would be able to develop 323 horsepower, 161 from the 1.5-liter turbo diesel and 162 ponies from the electric unit.

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Marcus M.

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The post Rumors on the hybrid powertrain of the new BMW i8 supercar appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

As we previously set, BMW will introduce most probably by 2013 the first two models bearing the new i electric badge.

We talk about BMW i3, a three-door four-seater city model that will benefit from a lightweight aluminum structure and most probably is the model associated with the MegaCity project. From the first details, the electric engine that will propel the new BMW i3 benefits from a rear-wheel drive system, is fitted with lithium-ion batteries and is able to develop around 170 horsepower.

What is interesting is that the electric unit one the new i3 will be placed somewhere in the rear, the battery pack being able to offer you a driving range of 160 kilometers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zOri1pnUiM

The new i3 and i8 will benefit from BMW’s LifeDrive system including a carbon fiber cell and an aluminum chassis. About the new i8, the things get more clear as the well-known BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is actually the new i8, a vehicle which will be a sporty supercar with an electric engine under the bonnet and a conventional one having the mission to charge the batteries.

The new BMW i3 will also benefit from a special version that will have an extra conventional engine which will significantly increase the driving range if you consider that the standard model does not provide enough autonomy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPhRITdnrhE

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Marcus M.

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The post Extra details for the first BMW i models + videos appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

As the Germans recently promised, we have some official details regarding the new electric range developed by BMW, information released today, as we expected.

Somewhere in 2013 the first model bearing the i badge, namely i3, will be revealed in a production-ready version. For now we know that the new BMW i3 will be a three-door vehicle with a lightweight aluminum structure. Together with the new electric model, another i model will enter the market around the same date.

We talk about the BMW i8, a model which is inspired by the Vision EfficientDynamics, as we set few months ago when the German supercar was tested in Abu Dhabi. The new electric i range will bear the “Born electric” slogan and the Germans will attack the same premium segment but this time in the electric models area. The Germans will start the production of the i3 and i8, the first models to debut, at the plant in Leipzig. More details and videos coming soon!

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Marcus M.

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The post Official details about BMW’s new i electric sub-brand available now appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

Ok, to be honest, we rushed up a little. There is nothing officially confirmed but there is most likely to be true. The series version based on BMW’s Vision Efficient Dynamics concept revealed at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The series version of Vision ED, or let’s already call it BMW i8, is expected to debut somewhere in 2013.

Ian Robertson claimed that the price tag of the new BMW i8 will be around 176,000 euros but nothing is certain. He says that the price of the new model will be influenced also by the prices of the rivals. Why i8? Well, we recently talked about the new trademarks registered by BMW, you can read more here.

The new BMW i8 will definately adopt a propulsion system focused on fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions but there is not any information on the possible engines. BMW i8 might hide under the bonnet the same combination revealed by the BMW Vision ED.

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Marcus M.

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The post BMW i8 name already reserved for Vision Efficient Dynamics appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.