The Gentleman Magazine Issue 20 | April 2020 | Page 55

km; combined power consumption: 14.6 – 14.0 kWh/100 km;
combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) and MINI Cooper SE (fuel
consumption combined:0.0 l/100 km; power consumption
combined: 16.8 – 14.8 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions:
0 g/km), plug-in hybrid models are available in all relevant
segments, from the compact and mid-size class, through the
BMW X models, to sports cars and luxury sedans. The BMW
Group plans to expand its range to include 25 electrified
models by 2023, more than half of which will run on electric
power alone.
As a pioneer and flagship for driving pleasure with plug-in
hybrid technology, the BMW i8 was the ideal vehicle for the
job right from the start. And this not only applies to its role
as Safety Car in the FIA Formula E Championship, which it
already took on in 2014. The BMW i8 is the world's first sports
car that had been developed with sustainability in mind right
from the outset. In particular, new paths were forged with the
BMW i specific vehicle architecture and the plug-in hybrid
system. The combination of a passenger cell made of carbon
fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) with an aluminium chassis was
just as revolutionary as the intelligently controlled interaction
of the combustion engine and electric motor. The vehicle
concept of a 2+2-seater, the aerodynamically optimized design,
the intelligent lightweight construction and the innovative
drive concept were aimed at resolving the contradiction
between dynamics and efficiency that prevails in conventional
automotive engineering. As a result of this innovative
approach, the BMW i8 offers the driving performance of a top-
class sports car - combined with average fuel consumption at
small car level.
The control of its plug-in hybrid system was designed both for
dynamic power delivery and for the most efficient interaction
of the two engines. The combustion engine with BMW
TwinPower Turbo technology transfers its power to the rear
wheels. The electric motor drives the front wheels. The result
is a hybrid-specific all-wheel drive with a noticeably positive
influence on traction, agility and driving stability. This, and
the spontaneous power delivery of the electric motor with
a maximum torque of 250 Nm available immediately from
standstill, means that the sporting character of the BMW i8
also comes into its own in purely electric and therefore locally
emission-free driving. Up to 120 km/h can be reached in pure
electric driving mode. The combined drive torque of both
engines unleashes inspiring performance characteristics in the
style of a high-performance sports car.
Driving dynamics and efficiency are also enhanced by the
LifeDrive architecture typical for BMW i. The design principle
of the BMW i8 was completely and exclusively geared to a
plug-in hybrid drive from the ground up. The body structure
and powertrain were developed as a conceptual unit, which
helped the BMW i8 achieve the authentic character of a
trailblazing sports car. The passenger cell (life module) made
of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) and the drive module
made of aluminium, which in addition to the engines, power
electronics and chassis also includes the structural and crash
functions, not only enabled a DIN empty weight of less than
1 500 kilograms, but also a balanced axle load distribution in
the ratio 50 : 50. And since the high-voltage battery was placed
centrally and low in the vehicle, the centre of gravity was
shifted far down.
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