The BMW i8 is the most advanced high-performance machine the Bavarian car maker currently offers as part of their product range. The vehicle is a stepping stone in BMW’s product evolution that will eventually yield a fully electric battery-powered high-performance mode. The BMW i8 is both a production model and a test bed. It’s a vehicle that matches an impressive futuristic design with impeccable performance. It combines awe-inspiring handling, great performance, and impressive fuel economy in one, thus creating a vehicle that is popular all across the board.
The BMW i8 is powered by a hybrid powertrain, allowing the driver to fill it up in mere minutes while producing low-end torque and impressive off-the-line performance in one package.
BMW developed this powertrain specifically for the i8. It uses a combination of a 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine and a set of highly efficient electric motors, powering all four wheels of this vehicle. The combustion engine develops 170 kW/231 hp and drives the rear wheels of the BMW i8. The 96 kW/131 hp electric drive, on the other hand, joins in the power generation and provides traction for the front wheels. Together, this combination yields a power rating of 374 hp and 570 Nm of torque. In turn, this combination allows for an all-electric range of up to 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).
Performance wise, the BMW i8 will have no problem with most performance cars it encounters on the roads today. The i8 will sprint from 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in just 4.2 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 155mph (250km/h), all the while, having company stated NEDC-equivalent values for fuel consumption at 1.8l/100km and power consumption of 14.0kWh/100 kilometers. This equates to CO2 emissions of up to 42 g/km. In comparison, the Tesla Motors factory figures state that the Model S P90D has a 20.0 kWh/100 km rating, joined by a 2.2l/100km equivalent fuel consumption. The company figures for CO2 emissions state that a Model S produces 28g of CO2 per kilometer.
For our authorized dealer form South Africa, Race!, this provided the perfect foundation for an aftermarket build for one of their customers.
The build started off with a carbon fiber body kit from Vorsteiner. Their VR-E body kit consists of consists of a front splitter, a rear diffuser, and a boot lid. All of the parts are built from the finest autoclaved pre-impregnated carbon fiber. In turn, this allows these parts to achieve superior stiffness, aerospace strength, and durability compared to traditional hand-laid carbon fiber composites.
Next in line was some wrapping. The BMW i8 features a 3M matte black roof, hood, and rear window wrap, giving this vehicle an even more customized look.
Finally, the most impactful touch comes in form of a set of ADV15R Track Speck SL Series forged wheels. The wheels are sized 22×9 and 22×10.5 in the front and rear, respectively. The wheels feature a unique finish combination, matching the vehicle’s exterior finish combination perfectly. The wheels feature Matte Gunmetal centers and a Polished Matte Blue finish. Furthermore, the customer chose a Hidden Hardware option, perfecting the looks of these directional wheels perfectly. You can grab a detailed view of this build in the media gallery right below.
For any information about ordering a set of ADV.1 wheels, lead times or fitment information, please don’t hesitate to contact us right away. Our sales team will gladly provide you with any information you may need.
