BMW launches i8 hybrid sportscar in India

The BMW i8 has been launched in India at Rs 2.29 crore (ex-showroom, India). The i8 is a hybrid sportscar from the Bavarian carmaker and was first revealed in India at the Delhi Auto Expo 2014.

Mechanically, the i8 is powered by either a petrol engine, an electric motor, or a combination of both. The petrol engine is a 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged unit that develops 228bhp, while the electric motor makes 129bhp. The combined output stands at 357bhp. BMW claims that the i8 can go from 0-100kph in 4.4 seconds, while managing an electronically-limited top speed of 250kph. What adds to the i8’s performance is that the car is built primarily out of carbon fibre and even though it has a large battery pack, it weighs just 1,490kg.

Visually, there aren’t too many cars that are as striking as the i8. It has this out-worldly look, thanks to a low slung, coupe-like structure, draped in silver, with blue accents.

The i8 is the first of the ‘i’-branded cars from BMW to be launched in India. It’s a car that attempts to deliver big, both on performance as well as the ‘green’ credentials. And that, very clearly, does not come cheap. Also to be noted is the fact that this is basically a halo car in BMW’s portfolio, and will be brought into India as a CBU in limited numbers.

The first plug-in hybrid vehicle from the sub-brand BMW i, the i8 is available at BMW i dealerships in Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai as a CBU (Completely Built-Up) unit from today onwards.

Philipp von Sahr, president, BMW Group India, said, “The world we live in is changing and a changing world constantly demands new ideas. The global automotive industry is witnessing a paradigm shift from the conventional combustion engine to sustainable mobility solutions. And, so is India. This iconic change is inevitable. At BMW, we are constantly working to create cutting-edge mobility solutions for the future. We will spearhead this revolution with BMW i – a ground-breaking concept for sustainable mobility and a new understanding of what premium means – strongly defined by sustainability.”

He added, “The i8 is no ordinary car – it is a new culture. It is an example of futuristic technology which is an evolution of BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy. Most of the futuristic technologies used in the BMW i8 are already implemented in current BMW models in some form or the other that enable enhanced performance and lower emissions. To put it simply, the BMW i8 is a remarkable vision that has become an exciting reality today. The BMW i8 is the most progressive sports car of the 21^st century – the future is here.”

Also read:  BMW evaluates i3 launch in India