BMW i8 priced: the world’s coolest hybrid is £100,000
Well a sleek, sporty coupé that does 113mpg was never going to be cheap, was it?
BMW has put a price on its eminently desirable i8 plug-in hybrid: £99,845 on the road.
It’s hardly a pittance, even by BMW standards – but then this is a car that’ll save you plenty on money on petrol without skimping on performance: how many hybrids can do 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds and boast 113mpg efficiency? A Prius this ain’t.
Charges from a standard AC socket
The i8 is powered by a 1.5l three-cylinder turbocharged engine working in tandem with an electric motor. The latter can be charged from a standard household electric socket (from 0 to 80 percent takes two hours, according to BMW). It’s an interesting trait for a 362hp car capable of 155mph.
All electric option
With a full fuel tank and charged battery, it has a range of 310 miles, but there’s an “Eco Pro” option for all-electric operation if you wish – this will only switch to the petrol engine if the battery drop below a given level or you give the throttle a “sudden intense” application.
If you like the idea of owning such a vehicle, you can pre-order an i8 from later this month. It will go on sale in the UK in July 2014.