BMW i8 Hybrid Supercar Coming

We’ve already told you about BMW’s new electric developments, a series of vehicles that will use the “i” designation. This will include the i3, which has been previewed by the ActiveE concept, as well as the i8, the production incarnation of the Vision EfficientDynamics concept. We are here now to focus on the latter.

The vehicle promises to be one of the first members of a new, three-hugging, supercar breed that not only promises to deliver a top level of performance while protecting the environment, but also to offer an excellent fuel efficiency.

“The BMW i8 is based on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept study. Its plug-in hybrid drive blends the sporting ability of a high-performance machine with the fuel consumption and emissions of a small car,” stated the press release.

One of the assets that the i8 will rely on to achieve the aforementioned goals will be a new construction concept, which is called LifeDrive architecture. This uses an aluminium chassis to house the powertrain, with the passenger cell being made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP).

“Both cars [i3 and i8] have been designed specifically for their respective alternative drive systems. We used the innovative architecture and CFRP to cancel out practically all of the extra weight added by the batteries. For our customers this means superior driving dynamics combined with significantly increased range using electric power,” explains Klaus Draeger, BMW Board member responsible for development.

The i8, together with the i3, will come to the world via BMW’s Leipzig plant in Germany, with the company set to invest around EUR400 million and add 800 jobs to the site by 2013.