BMW, the German luxury car manufacturer is gearing up for the launch of much-awaited BMW i8 Plug-in hybrid sportscar in the Indian car market. Unveiled at the 2014 Delhi Motor Show, the i8 Plug-in hybrid sportscar will go on sale in India in February. It will be the country’s second car to feature laser headlamps, as Audi has recently introduced the R8 LMX with laser headlamps.
Under the bonnet of the BMW i8 is the 1.5-litre three-cylinder twin scroll turbo engine that churns out a maximum power output of 231bhp and a peak torque of 320Nm. This engine is paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox, which sends the power to rear wheels. The front wheels of the car are coupled to an electric motor via a two-stage automatic box, which is good for 131bhp of power, and this motor is coupled to a 5kWh lithium-ion battery. The combined power output of this system is rated at 362bhp and 570Nm of torque. The car accelerates to 100kmph from zero in mere 4.4 seconds. It offers three driving modes- Comfort, Sport and Eco Pro.
Only limited units of the BMW i8 hybrid sportscar will be allotted for Indian market, and it will be sold as a flagship product for the brand. The vehicle gets a low slung body design with large bonnet and squat rear profile. It features a flat twin kidney grille flanked by an oblong-shaped full LED headlamps. The wide air intakes and aerodynamically enhanced wing adds to its sporty character. It is equipped with scissor doors which opens upwards, while the flared wheel arches have been fitted to specially designed alloys.
