2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept

2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept

The BMW i8 Concept retains much of the theatre and excitement of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept that first previewed the futuristic sports car design at Frankfurt in 2009, and starred at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne last month. Sometimes it is time to leave the city. Escape the restrictions of everyday life. The BMW i8 is an icon of progress. It combines the energizing performance of a sports car with benchmark efficiency.

2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept

Unlike the Vision concept which utilised a diesel engine, the new 2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept adopting a hybrid setup with an electric motor and a 1.5-liter gasoline unit. The 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine produces an astonishing 164kW of power and 300Nm of torque. To give that some perspective, the current BMW 125i is powered by a 3.0-litre inline-six with 160kW of power and 270Nm of torque – double the capacity, double the cylinders, 4kW less power, 30Nm less torque.

The 2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept and the fascinating approach that underpins it embody the vision of a sustainable contemporary sports car brought to life. Its innovative plug-in hybrid concept combines the modified electric drive system from the BMW i3 Concept - fitted over its front axle - wîth a high-performance three-cylinder combustion engine producing 164 kW (220 hp)/300 Nm (221 lb-ft) at the rear.

2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept

The electric motor in the 2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept is a full-capability unit which can also power the car on its own, if required. However, working in tandem allows the two drive systems to display their respective talents to the full, delivering the performance of a sports car but the fuel consumption of a small car.

2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept

Assisting the petrol engine is 96kW/250Nm electric motor, which draws power from a lithium-ion battery. With a combined maximum power output of 260kW and 550Nm, the i8 Concept is capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in just 4.6 seconds (80-120km/h in 4.0 seconds) and will go on to an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept

These impressive features of the German sports car are even greater considering that BMW announced a combined fuel consumption of only 2,7 liters/100 km. In terms of dimensions, the i8 Concept measures 4,6m long, 1,9m wide and 1,2m tall.

2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept

The great power amount offered by the new i8 is also valued by the low total mass of only 1,480 kilograms achieved by using a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) body and an aluminum chassis. The Germans claim that they managed to obtain a 50/50 weight distribution by mounting the engines on each axle, this achievement bringing significant advantages.

2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept

The weight of every component inside the 2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept has been minimised down to the very last detail, allowing the extra weight of the electric drive system and battery to be cancelled out. The 2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept therefore presents the ideal environment in which to sample this very special drive concept on the road. The passengers sit - in typical sports car style - in an extremely low and enclosed position inside the CFRP-constructed Life module (mounted above the Drive module).

2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept

“The sporting character continues into the interior. Boasting a driver-focused environment unmatched by any BMW Group vehicle before it, the 2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept immerses the driver fully in the unique driving experience. The BMW i8 Concept is the sports car for a new generation – pure, emotional and sustainable,” adds BMW.

2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept

Far from just being a performance car, however, the i8 Concept can also be driven in fully electric zero-emissions mode for up to 35km. A full recharge of the battery from a standard power socket takes approximately 105 minutes.

2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept

The navigation system also calculates the best way to manage energy consumption for the trip to ensure that it operates at peak performance and optimal efficiency when required. Under the European driving cycle, the 2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept uses fuel at a rate of just 2.7 litres/100km combined, making it one of the most fuel efficient internal combustion engined automobiles in history.

A production version of the BMW i8 Concept is expected to go on sale in Australia in 2014 with a predicted price tag of $300,000.

2014 BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept

BMW Sport Cars i8 Concept specifications:

# High performance 3-cylinder petrol engine (164 kW) in rear with i3's electric motor (limited to 96 kW) in front

# Total torque of 550 Nm (300Nm petrol engine + 250 Nm electric motor)

# 3 driving modes - electric, petrol, or both engines at once

# 1,480 kg

# 0-100kph (62mph): 4.6 seconds

# Top speed: 250kph (limited)

# 2.7 L/100km fuel economy

# 35km pure electric range

# 4 seater

# 50:50 distribution

# Market Launch: 2014

2011 New BMW Sports Cars Vision ConnectedDrive Concept

2011 New BMW Sports Cars Vision ConnectedDrive Concept

BMW officials has announced that a new Vision ConnectedDrive Concept Vehicle will be showing up at the Geneva Motor Show and that it will “revolutionize driving in terms of comfort, infotainment and safety. The two-door roadster’s "layered" appearance evokes the EfficientDynamics concept from 2009, while its asymmetrical layout brings back memories of 2001’s X Coupe concept. Just as the former previewed a wild, forthcoming production car and the latter ushered in the Bangle design era, the 2011 New BMW Sports Cars Vision ConnectedDrive Concept provides a glimpse of BMWs to come.

2011 New BMW Sports Cars Vision ConnectedDrive Concept

” BMW is only offering up a few details on this concept, but judging by its name, we expect a vehicle that will include the latest car-to-car communication features. It is an efficient and technologically advanced roadster, not sacrificing anything in terms of driving pleasure. It is unclear whether the model is related in some way with rumors of a future BMW roadster, smaller than Z4, or is a natural development of the GINA concept, but the new model is said to predict the future appearance of the BMW series vehicles.

Official BMW representatives said: “In 2011 the automobile industry is celebrating the anniversary “125 yeas of the automobile,” reason enough to not only look back, but also to look forward. Connectivity is one of the key fields of tomorrow’s world. And of course, we at BMW are proud to be among the pioneers of connected driving: for example, with the first on-board internet access in 2008, the first iPod integration in 2004, or the first ultrasound-based park distance control PDC in 1991.”

2011 New BMW Sports Cars Vision ConnectedDrive Concept

“2011 is also the year in which we are setting course for the future. Initial insights are already available to you now in the Future Lab from BMW Vision ConnectedDrive. Or soon right here, with an extraordinary vehicle concept, which will once again revolutionize driving in terms of comfort, infotainment and safety. Exactly as you have come to expect from BMW.”

Some rumors suggest that the model will have a “3D interface” that will relate to the driver, with a futuristic design. The second feature is visible and will go in the direction of future BMW models. Instead, it is unclear how much influence the future creation of the BMW model, since the differences between the current range and the concept presented in Geneva 2011 are quite large, which hampers a rapid transition.

2011 New BMW Sports Cars Vision ConnectedDrive Concept

The layered surfaces are enhanced with fiber-optic lighting effects that highlight the different functions and sections of the 2011 New BMW Sports Cars Vision ConnectedDrive Concept car. It certainly isn't possible to design a car like this with just a few pen strokes. And it is a remarkable and potentially trend-setting approach that is every bit as daring as the one taken by BMW design ten years ago with the X Coupe.

The windshield acts as the medium for a three-dimensional head-up display, and additional information is shown on the monitor behind the steering wheel. Tellingly, the layer that displays relevant driving information is christened the "safety layer," and it is fed by plenty of watchful sensors. A larger zone that also encompasses the passengers is called the "infotainment layer," and it offers movies, music, and internet access. Passengers also get their own display with nav and music info, which can then be sent to the driver’s attention at the press of a finger.

The 2011 New BMW Sports Cars Vision ConnectedDrive Concept design and technology of this spectacular roadster are aimed at making the vehicle an integral part of a networked world. Comfort, safety and the infotainment experience in the vehicle can be precisely optimized by the innovative functionality, individually tailored to suit the requirements of both the driver and passenger. New technologies and design concepts are employed to add even more facets to the unmistakable BMW driving pleasure.

 2011 New BMW Sports Cars Vision ConnectedDrive Concept