BMW, the German luxury carmaker, is gearing up for the launch of its highly-rated BMW i8 Plug-in hybrid sportscar in the Indian car market. Unveiled at the 2014 Delhi Motor Show, the i8 will come as a flagship product and will be offered in limited numbers. It was speculated that BMW will launch the i8 Sportscar by the end of 2014, but the launch delayed and it will hit Indian shores in February, 2015.
The BMW i8 plug-in hybrid is propelled by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder twin scroll turbo engine that churns out a maximum power output of 231bhp and a peak torque of 320Nm. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels of the sportscar via a six-speed automatic transmission gearbox. The front wheels of the car are coupled to an electric motor via a two-stage automatic box, which is mated to a 5kWh lithium-ion battery and is capable of developing 131bhp. The vehicle offers a combined power output of 362bhp and a peak torque of 570Nm.
The BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car accelerates to 100kmph from zero in mere 4.4 seconds. It is claimed to offer an excellent fuel efficiency of 39.9kmpl (European Cycle). The engine comes with a three driving modes- Comfort, Sport and Eco Pro. The BMW i8 hybrid is equipped with several advanced features and enhanced interiors. It is expected to be priced around Rs. 2 crore, ex-showroom.
