The BMW i8 as a classic of the future | BMW.com

The first BMW plug-in hybrid combined the best of both worlds: it brings together sheer driving pleasure (➜ Read more: The history of the BMW slogan) and excellent driving performance – the two factors that make up the essence of a sports car – with the resource-efficient and environmentally friendly technology of an electric propulsion system. The thing is, there isn’t just one BMW i8 engine – the BMW sports car’s drive unit consists of both a combustion engine and an electric engine (➜ Read more: 12 standout examples of a BMW engine).

The combustion engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology provides power to the rear wheels, while the electric motor drives the front wheels. The result is an all-wheel drive. A high degree of traction is therefore always guaranteed – as well as necessary. Thanks to the 250 Nm torque of the electric engine and the 320 Nm of the combustion engine, the BMW i8 delivers sports car numbers for acceleration. At the same time, if desired, the hybrid sports car can reach speeds of up to around 75 mph (120 km/h) in electric mode, meaning locally emission-free. All told, this cutting-edge performance means the performance of a sports car, with the fuel consumption of a small car. A sports car that can well and truly count itself among the ranks of low emission cars.