New 2015 BMW i8 launched in India at Rs 2.29 Crore

BMW has launched the new 2015 i8 hybrid sportscar in India at a price of Rs 2.29 crore. The i8 will become the first ‘I’ cars from the BMW stable to enter India. The i8 will be sold as a CBU and will be offered in very limited numbers as the i8 has high demand across the globe, so much so that BMW can’t produce enough cars to cater to the demand with a waiting period running into several months.

Although essentially a plug-in hybrid on the inside, the amazing and futuristic carbonfibre body combined with a set of butterfly doors makes the i8 as desirable as the latest Ferrari or Lamborghini. In fact, in some countries the demand for the i8 far exceeds that for its Italian rivals and BMW dealers seem to be cashing in on this demand with a premium of over $100,000.

The BMW i8 has a plug-in hybrid powertrain that consists of a 1.5-litre TwinPower Turbo three-cylinder engine, an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. This enables the model to have a combined maximum output of 370PS, which allows it to accelerate from 0-100kmph in 4.4 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 250 kmph. The i8 is built largely out of carbon fibre and that means despite a large battery pack and a engine, the car weighs just 1490kg, and it has a very low centre of gravity.

The mid-engined sportscar with its rear wheels driven by a petrol engine and the front driven by an electric motor, is said to have an almost exact 50:50 weight distribution so expect it to handle like on rails. The i8 emits only 59g/km of CO2 according to BMW. The plug-in hybrid has a range of 37km in pure electric mode and can go up to a top speed of 120kmph before the petrol engine kicks in.

All in all, internationally, the BMW i8 hybrid goes up against the likes of the Porsche 911, Audi R8 and the Jaguar F-Type amongst others. Although BMW will most certainly sell their quota of i8s for India, what we really look forward to is i3 hatchback that will soon make its way to our shores.