"Mosqvich" (mosqvich)
08/06/2013 at 21:35 • Filed to: BMW i8
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"Mosqvich" (mosqvich)
08/06/2013 at 21:35 • Filed to: BMW i8 | 1
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Fresh off revealing the production i3 electric car, BMW is now releasing more details on the i8's drivetrain. The drivetrain itself will be known as the LifeDrive (remember the Palm LifeDrive? I have one in a drawer somewhere), while the Life Module is where you and I go. The car will bring back the Ultimate Driving Machine to the BMW i line of cars.
The LifeDrive will feature BMW's TwinPower Turbo engine, more on that in a moment, and the eDrive electric motor. The i8 was "designed from the outset as a plug-in hybrid sports car, with the emphasis on agile performance and outstanding efficiency." Not either/or, but both performance and efficiency. We'll cut to the chase here are the estimated performance numbers:
So zero to 60 in around 4.5 seconds is pretty good. The car is capable of going up to 75 mph in electric mode, and tops out at 155 mph from the gasoline engine. The 231 hp (170 kW) gasoline engine sends its power to the rear wheels, while the 131 hp (96 kW) electric motor powers the front wheels. Oh, about the engine. It is a 3 cylinder model that actually pumps out more power per liter than any other engine out of BMW. According to the firm "the resulting specific output of 154 hp (113 kW) per liter of displacement is on a par with high-performance sports car engines." This is the debut of this engine.
The engine employs direction injection with high-precision injectors in between cylinders. BMW claims that "like a six-cylinder engine, the three- cylinder unit is free of first and second order inertial forces. The low roll torque, a typical feature of a three-cylinder design, is further reduced by a balancer shaft, while a multi- stage damper integrated in the automatic transmission ensures very smooth and refined running at low rpm."
The electric motor is an in-house affair, built entirely by BMW. It will deliver 131 hp (96kW) producing 236 pound feet of torque from a standstill. As we've seen in the Tesla, the power on tap is available immediately. As stated above, this engine can run the i8 on its own, but more importantly, to this audience at any rate, is that it works in tandem with the TwinPower engine to motivate the car to 60 at 4.5 seconds from a stop.
All of this sits in the LifeDrive in a near perfect 50/50 weight distribution. BMW will ensure this setup offers the precise handling we've come to expect. The gasoline engine drives the rear engine and the electric motor drives the front wheels, so this is an all-wheel drive vehicle. Putting power down to the road should be pretty responsive. In town, if full-on eco mode the car will be front-wheel drive, but out on the open highway at speed, it'll be powered by the gasoline engine to rear wheels. BMW tells us that "variable front-rear power splitting in line with changing driving conditions makes for excitingly dynamic cornering. On entering the corner, the power split is biased towards the rear wheels to improve turning precision. For more vigorous acceleration out of the corner, the powertrain controller returns to the default split as soon as the steering angle becomes smaller again."
The complexity doesn't stop there. A 6-speed automatic transmission drives the rear whiles, while a 2-stage automatic transmission drives the front wheels.
Between the LifeDrive and the Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) passenger cell, the i8 weighs in at 3,285 pounds. The wheels are standard-fitted 20-inch forged aluminum wheels combing aerodynamic design with weight savings. "Lightweight design strategy extends to aluminum screws and bolts, which are around 45 percent lighter than corresponding steel components, with the same strength and functionality." It stands to reason that some of these techniques and technologies will eventually trickle down to standard BMW models. Adding lightness would certainly increase performance and efficiency across the entire line.
BMW claims the i8 will achieve 95 MPG (US) while at the same time being able to hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and take you all the way to 155 mph. Will the i8 will be BMW's less stratospheric answer to the 918 and the LaFerrari, providing high performance using incredible technology to motivate the vehicle? We won't know until the car is in production and driven by those outside the company. BMW will be wrapping the passenger compartment using materials that will hopefully find their way to lesser BMWs and maybe even a Mini or two. Will it work? Only time will tell.
Autolegend86
> Mosqvich
08/06/2013 at 21:38 |
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This post bored me to hell.
So i went to look at sparky.
John Brooks 1998
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Mosqvich
> Autolegend86
08/06/2013 at 21:42 |
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I'll take that as a compliment based on looking at a lot of your comments. You're the proverbial "Get off my lawn" kind of guy. And that's okay with me.
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Autolegend86
> Mosqvich
08/06/2013 at 21:45 |
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Sorry watching a Braves game and making useless posts atm.
Check this post to what i type when i'm in a less basebally mood.
http://jalopnik.com/the-porsche-90…
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
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Mosqvich
> Autolegend86
08/06/2013 at 21:47 |
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I mean it, it's cool with me. And that was an excellent response. Technical posts aren't too exciting, though it's interesting seeing the pictures of the guts of a car come out before the roll out of the final body design.
Leadbull
> Mosqvich
08/06/2013 at 21:59 |
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Or they could give it a 462hp I6.
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Mosqvich
> Leadbull
08/06/2013 at 22:03 |
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Of course we say that about each of these types of cars don't we? However, the real story is the use of advanced materials. BMW also knows there is an audience out there for these cars that in essence will cover some of the investment. The rest will hopefully be recovered through trickling the tech down.
One more thought comes to mind: the world was very antagonistic towards automakers in the various oil scares we've seen. I think they are all making moves to ensure they don't get caught with their pants down again.
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Leadbull
> Mosqvich
08/06/2013 at 22:08 |
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BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
> Mosqvich
08/06/2013 at 23:30 |
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as opposed to death by accident ruptured, lithium-fueled inferno, right?
'lifedrive'... ridiculous.