Skip to main content

BMW i8 hybrid sports car engines will be built in the UK

BMW i8BMW’s i8 extended-range electric sports car is inching closer to production. This sexy, eco-minded sports car debuted as a concept at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, and the Bavarian Motor Works promised petrolheads that they would be able to buy it in the near future. That time seems to be approaching, since BMW has chosen a plant to build the i8’s three-cylinder gasoline engine.

The internal combustion component of the i8’s powertrain will be built in Hams Hall, near Birmingham, England. The Hams Hall plant currently builds engines for Mini, as well as the BMW X1, 1 Series, and 3 Series.

Three cylinders doesn’t seem like much, especially in a sports car like the i8, but this engine will primarily be charging batteries. The i8 is an extended-range electric vehicle, like the Fisker Karma and Chevy Volt, so it uses fossil fuels only when its batteries are drained. The i8 will also be able to recharge its batteries by plugging in to a charging stand.

The results should be impressive performance and fuel savings. The three-cylinder may only displace 1.5 liters (and produce 223 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque) but, the i8’s combined output (including electric motors) will be a respectable 393 hp and 406 lb-ft. BMW claimed a 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) time of 4.6 seconds, and an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph, for the i8 concept.

However, the i8’s eco-worthiness should really set it apart from other sports cars. The i8 will be able to operate as a front-wheel drive electric car, a rear-drive sports car, or a four-wheel drive hybrid. BMW says it will have an electric-only range of 20 miles. The company expects the production i8 to return 33 to 47 mpg in real world driving, and up to 87 mpg when driven by a hyper-mile hero.

The i8 will also have a sophisticated chassis, called the “Life Module,” that consists of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. The engines, transmission, and suspension are bolted to aluminum subframes. BMW is using the same design on the smaller i3 city car.

With engines churning out of Hams Hall, production of the i8 should begin in 2014. In addition to the 2+2 coupe first shown in Frankfurt, there will also be a convertible Spyder. If the i8 is really as exciting, and green, as BMW says it is, it can’t arrive soon enough.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
BMW will launch an electric version of one of its most popular models in 2020
bmw ix3 electric car specifications prototype

BMW released the first details of an upcoming electric version of its X3 crossover. The automaker previously showed a concept version of the model, called iX3, but is only now discussing specifications. The iX3 starts production in 2020, and will be sold alongside the existing gasoline X3 in the United States.

The iX3 will have BMW's fifth-generation electric powertrain, which will also be used in the upcoming i4 sedan. A key improvement of the new powertrain is the way electric motors, the transmission, and related electronics are grouped together for more efficient packaging. The iX3's motor design also eliminates the need for rare earth metals, BMW claims.

Read more
BMW’s electric i4 will make its debut in 2021 with 530 hp, 300 miles of range
bmw i4 electric car launching in 2021 with over 300 mile range report camo 1118 2

 

BMW beat its rivals to the electric car segment when it released the i3 in 2013, but the city car was far too quirky to gain mass appeal. As i3 production continues, the Munich-based company is developing a battery-powered sedan named i4 it hopes will locks horns with Tesla, among other competitors. BMW released the model's preliminary specifications.

Read more
Faraday Future appoints BMW i8 exec as new CEO
faraday-FF-91

The story of embattled electric-car startup Faraday Future has taken another turn. Carsten Breitfeld, who previously ran BMW i, will take over as CEO from Jia Yueting, the company said in a statement. The Chinese entrepreneur will become Faraday's "chief product and user officer," according to the company. Faraday said it is also seeking a new "global chairman."

Breitfeld is no stranger to electric cars. As head of BMW i, he oversaw launch of the BMW i3 and the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car -- two radical designs from one of the auto industry's biggest players. Breitfeld also helped start Chinese electric-car startup Byton, and most recently served as CEO of another Chinese firm, Iconiq Motors. But he has his work cut out for him at Faraday Future.

Read more