Ravi Ramanathan

The power of engineering – a salute to nature It is not given to every concept to successfully complete the transformation from concept to a completed product that wows. One that has successfully completed this is the BMW i8. It was one of the Vision Efficient Dynamics system cars and was first showcased in the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009. A production version was first launched in 2014, and the Indian model was launched in February 2015. It is a sports hybrid and is indeed a luxury car to dream or even drool about. The i8 has been built with super high performance as its core theme. As if building on ideas from James Bond, or Star Wars, or maybe even Harry Potter, the i8 manages to extract 47.5 kilometers from a liter of petrol. Of course, this is made possible by loads of technology, backed by 2 power sources. The first is a lithium-ion battery-powered electric motor which produces a power of 131PS and which powers the front wheels. The second is a 1499 cc 3-cylinder petrol engine, producing power of 231 PS which powers the rear wheels. Together they provide 362 PS power! The electric motor is charged on the go when the petrol engine is in use. Otherwise, it can be charged in under 3 hours, from a normal electrical outlet. The electric motor by itself has a range of 35 km and a maximum speed of 120 km/h. With power from both the electric motor and the petrol engine, the i8 can reach speeds of up to 250 km/h. All that, of course, is under the hood, so to speak. Externally, every line and every curve in the i8 is designed to make it run more smoothly, as if simply gliding through the air. The i8 is a marvel of applied aerodynamics. The car is constructed of a mix of lightweight material, which aid in gaining speed, and keeping the ride smooth. The i8 sports a very sporty look, like any other modern BMW. It has the signature kidney grill and u-shaped LED headlights. At the rear, the roof meets the sweeping rear LED lights, merging into a rear spoiler. It is loaded with safety features – airbags, ABS, dynamic braking stability and a host of others. The petrol engine and the electric motor are placed as low as possible, greatly improving the center-of-gravity of the car. Internally also, the i8 is fully loaded with excellent features. It has got an all- digital instrument cluster. Its steering wheel incorporates the multimedia controls and also has the cruise control. It has got the BMW Professional navigation system, backed by Google maps. It has got an excellent sound system with great speakers. Front and rear parking cameras are standard. Likewise, Bluetooth and USB connectivity is a given. All in all, the BMW i8 is a model to emulate, a model of what engineering and technology can produce. It is a perfect blend of power and performance while paying attention to environmental concerns.