With BMW having already announced to the world the creation of its new �i� sub-brand, through which the Bavarians intend to market a line of stand-alone hybrid, range-extended and full-electric plug-in vehicles, the company is now concentrating on the development of the first cars to wear the i logo.
In this series of spy videos, we see the test driver sub-brand�s halo car, the i8 hybrid sports coupe, which is based on the 2009�s Vision Efficient Dynamics concept model, undergoing cold weather tests in Northern Europe.
Up until now, it was believed that the i8 would keep the concept model�s mechanical hardware with a 163HP 1.5-liter three-cylinder diesel engine located behind the back seats, and two electric motors, one positioned between the diesel engine and the six-speed double clutch transmission, and the other in the front of the vehicle.
But while the electric motors will remain, in a recent interview with Autocar, BMW R&D chief Klaus Draeger revealed that the diesel unit will be replaced with a gasoline engine in the production model. �We want to sell it all over the world. Diesel is only really relevant to Europe,� Draeger was quoted as saying.
The i8 plug-in hybrid sports car is scheduled to arrive in the market along with the i3 small hatchback (previously known as the Megacity) in 2013.
Source: Bimmerpost
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