BMW unveils i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, the 'most anticipate car in history'

Frankfurt Motor Show 2013, BMW unveiled i8 plug-in hybrid 2+2 sports car. Priced at $135,925 excluding destination handling, BMW touts its car as the most anticipated cars in history. The i8 will be in showrooms in US by the Q2 of 2014, BMW claims. It also equips the vehicle with LifeDrive architecture that was developed specifically for the BMW i series. This includes Life module passenger cell manufactured from carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The drive system uses high-voltage batteries along with structural and crash functions integrated into the aluminum Drive module. Weighing 3285 pounds, i8 has low center of gravity. BMW claims to have designed it such to balance weight distribution. The doors of the i8 open upwards like wings. Its features full LED headlights as standard, though they can be replaced by laser headlights. The plug-in hybrid powertrain uses a three-cylinder gasoline engine with the BMW TwinPower Turbo system. The engine displaces approximately 1.5 L and produces 231 hp along with 236 pound-foot of torque. The engine empowers the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. The drivetrain also has a model specific hybrid synchronous electric motor producing an additional 131 hp and 184 pound-foot of torque. Electronic output from the electric motor goes to the front wheels through a two-stage automatic transmission. The lithium-ion batteries offer usable capacity of 5 kWh. The vehicle offers a variety of driving modes with elect...
Source: All Kidney News - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Kidney News Source Type: blogs