English: from, wikipedia

The BMW i8, first introduced as the BMW Concept Vision Efficient Dynamics, is a plug-in hybrid sports car developed by BMW. The 2015 model year BMW i8 has a 7.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that delivers an all-electric range of 37 km (23 mi) under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). Under the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cycle, the range in EV mode is 24 km (15 mi) with a small amount of gasoline consumption. The design is heavily influenced by the BMW M1 Hommage Concept (which is itself, a retro concept of the original M1).

The BMW i8 can go from 0–100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). The BMW i8 has a fuel efficiency of 2.1 L/100 km (134.5 mpg_‑imp; 112.0 mpg_‑US) under the NEDC test with carbon emissions of 49 g/km. EPA rated the i8 combined fuel economy at 76 equivalent (MPG-equivalent) (3.1 L gasoline equivalent/100 km; 91 mpg-imp gasoline equivalent) and '29 miles per gallon' when running in pure gasoline mode (after the battery is drained empty).

The initial turbodiesel concept car was unveiled at the 2009 International Motor Show Germany. The production version of the BMW i8 was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. The i8 was released in Germany in June 2014. Deliveries to retail customers in the U.S. began in August 2014. Global cumulative sales totaled almost 7,200 units through December 2016. The top selling markets are the United States, the UK and Germany.

History

Because the BMW M1 (1978) was deemed a commercial flop (only 453 were produced), BMW was extremely hesitant at producing a new mid-engined production car. Concept cars like the ItalDesign BMW Nazca C2 (1992) kept public interest in a mid-engined BMW, though BMW only decided to build the BMW M1 Hommage in response to the retro-craze. The renewed public-interest, convinced BMW to re-pursue the ''mid-engined'' idea, and BMW unveiled the VED Concept to an enthusiastic public.

The i8 is part of BMW's "Project i" and it is being marketed as a new brand, BMW i, sold separately from BMW or Mini. The BMW i3, launched for retail customers in Europe in the fourth quarter of 2013, was the first model of the i brand available in the market, and it was followed by the i8, released in Germany in June 2014 as a 2015 model year. Other i models are expected to follow.^[1][2][3]

The initial turbodiesel concept car was unveiled at the 2009 International Motor Show Germany,^[4] In 2010, BMW announced the mass production of the Concept Vision Efficient Dynamics in Leipzig beginning in 2013 as the BMW i8.^[5] The BMW i8 gasoline-powered concept car destined for production was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.^[6] The production version of the BMW i8 was unveiled at the 2013 International Motor Show Germany.^[7] The following are the concept and pre-production models developed by BMW that precedeed the production version.