At the SMMT 2012 International Automotive Summit in London on Tuesday, BMW has confirmed the production version of the i8 concept will feature a new three-cylinder petrol engine, which will be produced exclusively at the brand's Hams Hall plant in the UK, near Birmingham.
Specifications remain a mystery, but the concept is powered by a 220 hp 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine and a 170 hp electric motor, for a combined output of 349 hp. The German carmaker says the plug-in hybrid setup allows the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in less than five seconds, hit a top speed of 250 km/h and travel up to 35 km on electricity alone, with an average fuel consumption in the European cycle of about 78 mpg.
In a statement, Ian Robertson, BMW Board Member, said "Our Hams Hall engine plant, which last week celebrated production of the three-millionth engine since the plant was opened in February 2001, will make an important contribution to the future success of the new BMW i brand and the company's strategy for achieving sustainable mobility. The new 3-cylinder petrol engines will enable our future BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car to set new standards for dynamic performance in combination with industry-leading fuel-efficiency and low carbon emission levels."
