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BMW i8 Review : Muffled Munition

Words and images : Akis Temperidis (twitter.com/theworldoffroad)

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I was really excited on the road to Milan, Italy as one of the journalists who were invited to drive the brand new BMW i8. This was the car I wanted to test more than any other in 2014. Why? Because the i8 is unlike any other sports car on the planet today. BMW promotes it as the “most progressive sports car”, which is an understatement: the BMW i8 is the sports car of the future!

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In essence, the i8 is a plug-in hybrid sports car with fuel consumption and emission levels of a city car. The i8’s construction involves a carbon fibre capsule bolted on an aluminum/magnesium chassis. However, the drive train is a nod to the future- a 3 cylinder turbo-charged engine driving the rear wheels and an electric motor at the front generates a combined power output of 362 horsepower. The car is designed from scratch -a proof of BMW technological excellence and a firm answer to ambitious new players in the automotive business, like Tesla.

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The i8 brings in its class a new term: sustainability. The German maker chose Milan for the presentation of the car for a reason. The industrial and financial capital of Italy is getting prepared for the Expo 2015 and aims directly to the future, exactly like the new BMW sports car. Journalists were accommodated in Porta Nuova, a new, futuristic district in downtown Milan, where sustainable skyscrapers are mixed with bio food joints and Italian “haute couture”. The test drive route would lead us from Milan to Iseo lake where, some of the best Franciacorta wines are produced.

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Our hosts wanted us to taste a postmodern, stylish, eco-friendly but high class lifestyle, the essential values for the potential i8 buyer. They didn’t need to do that much, given the specs of the car. Even if they had decided to present the i8 during the Munich Octoberfest among thousands of big, totally inebriated Germans, their message would have been delivered the same!

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The BMW i8 looks like a concept car that escaped from the Frankfurt motor show floors. The car was born as a concept car actually. Do you remember the Vision Efficient Dynamics concept that BMW launched in 2009? The production version is exactly the same, except the transparent doors and a few other fancy details the concept featured. But the doors open marvelously, like scissors.

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Designed by French designer Benoit Jacob, the i8 is a splendid study on aerodynamics and futurism. It is the first car in the world featuring laser lights that are 30% more powerful than LED lights. Drag coefficient is only 0.26, an impressive value for a sports car. BMW designers worked hard to get there making some courageous choices in order to simulate the perfect aerodynamic shape produced by nature: a drop of water. They created a sculptured; three dimensional rear end to let the air dance nicely on the back. Thanks to this and to all the external features the car is a real head turner on the road.

 Next page for Chassis, Performance and Handling>>>

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