A Look At The BMW i8 Plug In Hybrid Sports Car This Morning

Waiting for my hire car today at the dealership I got a chance to have another look at the BMW i8.

It's a light weight plug-in-hybrid sports car utilising carbon components and recyclable interior components. It's eye catching, sitting very low and wide on the road.

I remember the days when ride height was firmly in the "lower is better" category and I've got to admit that it looks great but somewhat ill-suited if practically is important to you... but who's after practical when considering a car like this?

It's a smart design too with even lighting being considered as something to refine. BMW's "laser light technology" fitted to the i8 apparently "increases the range of the high beam and enhances its illumination, using a fraction of the energy of conventional headlights".

It's AWD too. The electric drive is located on the front axle, while the 3-cylinder petrol engine works the rear. "All four wheels can thus be powered simultaneously by two engines, and – depending on the driving situation – this utilises the advantages of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive".

0 to 100 is quoted at 4.4 seconds and who can go past those doors?

You'll pay for it however, after all the tax grabs including GST, LCT and the nefarious registration fees you're looking at over 300 large Australian. For that I'd be pricing up a Tesla!

Anyway, a sexy piece of hardware and worth a squiz if you get the chance.