The BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid sports car that’s designed for both performance and efficiency. It features an electric drivetrain that provides up to 15 miles of all-electric range as well as a turbocharged three-cylinder gas engine that works with the electric motor to accelerate the i8 from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, according to BMW. All-wheel drive is standard, and the gas engine powers the rear wheels while the electric motor drives the front wheels. Total system output is 357 horsepower and 420 pounds-feet of torque.
Like the BMW i3 city car, the i8 features a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic body atop an aluminum chassis for the drivetrain. The car’s 2+2 arrangement provides seating for four, but the rear seats are designed for small children. New for 2016 BMW Laser Light high-beam headlights are a new $6,300 option. BMW says the lights are 30 percent more efficient than LEDs and have a range of nearly 2,000 feet, about double that of conventional headlights. Significant Standard Features
129-hp electric motor drives the front wheels
Lithium-ion battery pack
228-hp, turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder gas engine drives the rear wheels
Six-speed automatic transmission
Adaptive suspension system
Swing-wing doors
LED headlights
20-inch light-alloy wheels
Navigation system
Head-up display
Surround view camera system
Forward collision warning with pedestrian recognition and braking function
Required in every new car: front airbags, antilock brakes and an electronic stability system
