The BMW i8 hybrid sportscar will come to the market in 2014. This two-door, sporty hybrid with gullwing doors, and an honest to goodness luxury sport car design will only weigh 1450 kilograms because of extensive carbon fiber use. It will be powered by a 170 horsepower electric motor that drives the front-wheels, plus a 1.5 liter 3-cylidner turbocharged petrol engine deliver an additional 223 hp. It also features an intelligent transmission that can go from a front-wheel drive vehicle to a rear-wheel drive, or even an all-wheel drive setup. It can run for 20 miles in full electric mode. Using all the 393 ponies will achieve 0 to 62 mph in just 4.9 seconds, which is very close to a naturally-aspirated-powered M3.
Car Magazine UK reports that any plans of creating an M version of the i8 with a V8 or V10 engine have been scrapped by BMW. M enthusiasts will no longer see an M version, but we’ll see if the German automaker changes their mind.