showcase July 2016 58 The plug-in hybrid drive system powering this eco-friendly model tops its class for the second year running in the world’s leading engine competition. EURO MOTORS SIMPLY THE BEST sends its power to the front axle. In the non-electric driving modes, the highvoltage battery is charged directly by the petrol engine. Most energy is fed into the battery in SPORT mode, and during acceleration and braking. If you are driving in eDrive mode, the highvoltage battery is charged exclusively through brake energy regeneration. This bespoke plug-in hybrid system enables a range of up to 37 kilometres in the EU test cycle and a top speed of 120kmph on electric power alone. The higher-output of the two power sources drives the rear wheels and uses the electric boost from the hybrid system while, at the same time, offering improved levels of efficiency. The sprint from 0 to 100kmph takes just 4.4 seconds, yet combined fuel consumption – as calculated in the EU test cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles – stands at 2.1-litres per 100km plus 11.9kWh of electricity. The model also boasts a range of driver assistance systems. Using a camera-based support system, the i8 removes all the blind spots from driving. If a person or an obstacle is detected at low speeds, it automatically decelerates. If you’re at risk of a rear-collision at higher speeds it warns you. Surround view and side view camera systems make parking easy. Plus, the high beam assist and speed limit info help make every journey safer, so you can see every situation, from every angle, all the time. Following its overall victory and two class wins in last year’s International Engine of the Year Awards, the drive system powering the BMW i8 has won in its class – the 1.4-litre to 1.8-litre displacement category. The BMW Group’s success in the awards proves the performance potential of the Efficient Dynamics technology package, which, since 2007, has been cutting fuel consumption and emissions. The International Engine of the Year Awards is judged by 63 motoring journalists from 31 countries and selects the best examples in numerous categories. The plug-in hybrid drive system powering the BMW i8 combines the performance of a sports car with the fuel economy of a far smaller model, its makers say. The three-cylinder combustion engine in the BMW i8 develops 231bhp and drives the rear wheels, while the 131bhp electric motor draws its energy from a lithium-ion battery, which can be charged from a conventional domestic power socket and
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