Retrospective

At the end of April 2020, BMW ended production of its iconic hybrid i8 sports car after six years.

A trailblazer in many ways, the BMW i8 combined the traditional BMW driving experience with the aerodynamically-efficient design of a 2+2 sports car, pioneering hybrid technologies, and groundbreaking greentech production methods.

In this piece - co-authored with the BMW experts from Hexagon Classics of London - Dyler.com takes a look at the history of the i8 and considers whether BMW’s sports hybrid will be considered a modern classic car.

From Hybrid Concept to Hybrid Reality

The BMW i8 started life at the 2009 Frankfurt Motorshow as the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car.

Blending innovative efficiency with the performance of one of the Munich manufacturer’s powerful M Cars, this aesthetically compelling BMW concept car captured the attention of everyone who saw it. Its striking aerodynamics combined with a layered design effect opened up a fascinating glimpse into the future of ultra-sleek, highly aero-efficient automobiles.

The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics stood out as an automotive tour de force in terms of interior and exterior automotive design, and many components of the vehicle were visible as the BMW sought to showcase the virtues lightweight technologies.

The chassis and suspension of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics were made completely of aluminium, whilst the outer skin on the doors were made almost completely of a special polycarbonate glass, which darkened as when light shone upon the car.

Powered by a three-cylinder turbo diesel engine and an electric motor on each axle, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics was able to run completely under electric power, with the power of the turbo diesel engine alone, or through a hybrid combination of the three power sources.

Read the article in full here at Dyler : https://dyler.com/posts/549/bmw-i8