The BMW Group has a busy schedule ahead of it this year, as their Leipzig plant prepares to roll out the i8 hybrid supercar. The development work has been done and the final preparations for its production are underway. The delivery of the first cars will commence from June this year and the European markets will be among the first to see them on the road. While production of the i8 is set to start in April, the company had started taking pre-orders for the car eversince mid 2013.
First unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motorshow, we have seen the i8 slowly move towards the production stage. Who can forget Tom Cruise reveling in the glory of this car in 'Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol'and finally it made its debut in India at the Auto Expo.
The hybrid engine comprises a 231bhp, 320 Nm, churning three-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor which delivers another 131bhp. The eDrive system also includes lithium-ion-high voltage battery but BMW has been able to keep the weight down to a modest 1485kgs thanks to the extensive use of carbon fibre components.
The i8 will also be equipped with laser headlights, which BMW claims are around 30% more energy efficient than the standard LED headlights. Indeed, the laser lights are optional and will be available only by the end of this year.
We will see this car in India soon. Infact it was Philipp von Sahr, President of India Operations, BMW India, who mentioned that the i8 will be available in India as soon as the end of this year. We can't wait for the car to come on Indian roads and especially get behind the wheels of it and take it out for a spin!
