Before we start talking about this amazing BMW, I have to
admit you something. There isn't a gearhead, besides the trio who ran old Top
Gear and now The Grand Tour (Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May),
who hates electric cars more than me. I guarantee you that. I see them as a
threat to amazing, awesome, extraordinary petrol engines. They are like Green
Goblin to my Spiderman, General Zod to my Superman, Joker to my Batman. I just
can't deal with the fact that electric and hybrid cars are the future of car
industry. But. There is always a but. There is one car that could change my
view on electric and hybrid cars. The BMW i8. Before BMW introduced i8 just by
mentioning electric cars I would get urge to vomit. And as days went by I was
more and more open-minded about electric cars. The very first moment I saw i8 I
was like „Wow, maybe this car won't suck that much“. And I was right. It shaked
the world of cars. Its like tsunami went by and leaved nothing behind. Today, I
wouldn't mind owning one in my dream garage. Lets see progress of developing of
this car and how it influenced the car industry.
BASIC FACTS
The BMW i8, first introduced as the BMW Concept Vision
Efficient Dynamics, is a plug-hybrid sports car. It was part of BMW's „Project
i“ and was being marketed as new brand, BMW i. The design is heavily influenced by the BMW M1 Hommage Concept which looks
astonishing. I could say that we need more cars from BMW that will be
influenced by this concept. Or why stop there? Why BMW wouldn't make production
car from that concept?
Performances of this car are equally amazing as the looks of
it. Acceleration 0-60 MPH (100 KMH) is
4.4 seconds and it will go up to 155 MPH (250 KMH).
The initial turbodiesel concept car was introduced at the
2009 International Motor Show Germany. The production version was introduced at
the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. It's worth mentioning that i8 holds record for
best selling electric car ever produced.
HISTORY
BMW VISION EFFICIENT DYNAMICS 2009
BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics concept car is a plug-in
hybrid with a three cylinder turbodiesel
engine. Additionally, there are two electric motor with 139 HP. It was capable
of doing 155 MPH (250 KMH) and it needed 4,8 seconds to reach 60 MPH (100 KMH).
Estimated all-electric range is 50 km (31 mi) and the 24-liter petrol tank extend the total
vehicle range up to 700 km (430 mi). Numbers worth admiring. What's interesting
it has drag coefficient of just 0,26.
BMW i8 CONCEPT 2011
This concept car included an electric motor located in front
axle powering the front wheels and it rated 96 kW (129 HP) and 250 Nm of
torque, a turbocharged 1.5 liter three cylinder gasoline engine powering rear
axle and it was rated 164 kW (220 HP) and 300 Nm of torque. Combined that gives
349 HP and 550 Nm of torque. A lot of new technologies were put inside the car
and that's why this car made such difference among other cars. It has
regenerative braking which means as the cars brakes it charges its batteries and
thus providing bigger range. The position of battery enabled lower gravity
center, enhancing its dynamics. It was electronically limited to 155 MPH (250
HMH) and its acceleration was 4,6 second 0-60 MPH (100 KMH). The position of
electric motor and engine provided optimum 50/50 weight distribution.
BMW i8 CONCEPT SPIDER 2012
This is another cool concept in developing phase of this
car. It included shorter wheelbase and overall length, carbon-fiber reinforced
plastic LIFE module, drive modules were primarily from aluminium, 8,8 inch (22,4
cm) screen play. It won Concept Car of the Year award.
BMW i8 COUPE PROTOTYPE 2013
It was based on the BMW i8 concept car. It had 1.5 liter
TwinPower turbo gasoline engine with BMW eDrive technology used in the BMW i3
which develops 170 kW (154 HP) and acceleration 0-60 MPH (0-100 KMH) is 4.5 seconds.
Three driving mods were offered: SPORT, COMFORT and ECO PRO. SPORT mode offers
manual gear selection and very sporty suspension. COMFORT mode offers a balance
between sporty performance and fuel efficiency. ECO PRO mode programs
electrical convenience functions, such as the air conditioning, seat heating
and heated mirrors to operate at minimum power consumption but without
compromising safety.
PRODUCTION VERSION
The production version is based on all concepts that were
introduced before it went into production. Its 1.5 liter petrol engine develops
228 HP and 320 Nm of torque and its electric engine develops 129 HP and 250 Nm,
giving total of 358 HP and 580 Nm of torque. Top speed is electronically
limited to 155 MPH (250 KMH). Acceleration 0-60 MPH (100 KMH) is 4,4 seconds
and it is capable of doing 80-120 KMH (50-75 MPH) in just 2,6 seconds.
This car is true world shaker and BMW showed that you don't
have to have petrol engine to have fun with the car and connect with the car.
It created a totally another way people look on electric cars. At least it did
tome. Now I will leave you with pictures of this masterpiece to admire it. I
know I will.
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