On 18th February 2015, BMW Group India introduced the BMW i8 in India, at an exclusive event in Mumbai. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar graced the event with his presence. The first plug-in hybrid vehicle from the sub-brand BMW i, the BMW i8 is now available at BMW i dealerships in Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai as a CBU (Completely Built-Up) unit, at an all India ex-showroom price of INR 2,29,00,000.
Mr. 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 adds, “The BMW 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 i8are 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. With growing urbanization and increasing environmental challenges, the BMW i8 is the perfect solution to the mobility needs of the Indian luxury consumer living in the upcoming megacities of the country. With the launch of the BMW i8 – the most progressive sports car of the twenty first century, the future is here.”
The BMW i8 at a glance
The BMW i8 explores a new paradigm in sports car design that includes the inculcation of aerodynamics features and environment friendly materials. Everything about this car is designed for honed aerodynamics paired with high aesthetic standards.
The interior of the BMW i8 takes its cue from the exterior surfacing, with a reprise of the layered surfaces that underpin the design philosphy of this car. Every feature in the cockpit is systematically focused on the driver. The centre console is angled towards the driver at twelve degrees, putting all displays, instruments and controls in their direct line of sight.
The plug-in hybrid system in the BMW i8 combines the benefits of an electric motor and a petrol engine into an unique driving experience.
The electric drive, a powerful 96 kW (131 hp) lithium-ion battery, is located on the front axle. The rear axle is driven by BMW TwinPower Turbo 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with 170 kW (231 hp) of peak performance. The petrol engine combined with the electrical boost of the hybrid system guarantees typical BMW driving pleasure. Together, the two units deliver a total of 362 hp, accelerating the BMW i8from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds using all four wheels in the process. Running on battery power, it achieves the top speed of 120 km/h with a maximum range of 35 kilometers. In conjunction with the combustion engine, the electric motor takes the e-powered supercar to up to 250 km/h, and depending on driving style the driving range can be up to 600 kilometers. The results are a record low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, at an average of 47.45 km/l and emission of 50.36 g/km.
The BMW i8 was conceived from the very beginning to meet the demands of a hybrid sports car. A feature conceived exclusively for BMW i is the LifeDrive vehicle architecture which significantly contributes towards weight optimisation. It includes the Life module comprising passenger cell made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and the Drive module comprising an aluminium frame for the combustion engine and electric motor, the battery pack and the suspension. With BMW eDrive, the new BMW drive technology, the battery can be charged from any mains socket with a BMW i Wallbox or while driving. A standard accessory, the BMW i Wallbox enables the high-voltage battery to be recharged in less than two-and-a-half hours using a conventional 220 V mains socket.
The four-wheel drive system in the BMW i8 can deploy the power reserves through all four wheels for added traction and control. It uses the high-torque output of the electric motor and the performance of the petrol engine, which arrives via the specially modified six-speed Steptronic transmission. At any time, in any gear, the transmission collaborates perfectly with the engine, enabling it to develop its full power and efficiency.
The Intelligent Energy Management and the driving modes have been tuned perfectly to offer the driver a choice of five different driving modes: the ‘D’ transmission setting in COMFORT and ECO PRO mode, the SPORT mode and the eDRIVE mode for all-electric driving (with a choice of COMFORT or ECO PRO). The vehicle always starts in COMFORT mode, with a balance between sporty and efficient driving styles. Move the gear lever to SPORT mode, and the car automatically becomes more dynamic while when driving in ECO PRO mode, the driving range increases thanks to a particularly efficient driving style that optimises the energy use of both power sources.
According to the manufacturer, the BMW i8 embodies BMW EfficientDynamics in its purest form, thanks to lightweight design, superior aerodynamics and a plug-in hybrid drive system with BMW eDrive.
Under BMW ConnectedDrive solutions, the BMW i8 includes the next generation of BMW iDrive (the on-board Driver Information System) with touch controller and handwriting recognition, BMW Navigation Professional (integrated Global Positioning System – GPS) with 8.8-inch colour display, 3D maps, full-colour BMW Head-Up Display; Connectivity through Bluetooth and USB devices and Harman Kardon Surround Sound system. Park Distance Control (PDC) rear and front along with rear view camera come as standard features.
Courtesy: BusinessWire India
Images – Chirag Mondal
