The i8 is the flagship of BMW's burgeoning eco-friendly i sub-brand. Offered exclusively as a coupe, the i8 uses an advanced plug-in hybrid drivetrain to provide an exhilarating driving experience while returning better fuel economy than even the tiniest economy cars sold on these shores.
The central part of the i8 is a new architecture called LifeDrive that was inaugurated by the all-electric i3 city car. Crafted out of aluminum, the Drive module includes the gas-burning engine, the electric motor, the lithium-ion battery pack and all of the car's electronic components. The Life module is built out of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and mainly consists of the 2+2 passenger compartment Power comes from a hybrid drivetrain consisting of a 231-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine located behind the seats and a 131-horsepower electric motor mounted on the front axle. The gas-burning engine sends power to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, while the electric motor spins the front wheels through a two-stage automatic
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