BMW i8 Protonic Red limited edition announced; gets dual-tone red and grey metallic interiors with red exterior paint job and uprated tyres
BMW has announced a limited edition version of the i8 supercar with minor exterior changes and thematic modifications on the inside. The exclusive Protonic Red edition comes with dual-tone red and Frozen metallic grey accented unique interiors.
It gets beefed up BMW W-spoke 470 light-alloy wheels painted in Orbit Grey metallic wrapped around by 215/45 R20 front and 245/40 R20 rear tyres with aluminium matte wheel hubs . The front grille is finished in black whilst unlike the standard i8 hybrid supercar, the limited production-run version will feature carbon fibre and ceramic trim with contrast red leather double stitching on seats and red highlights everywhere.
It will be manufactured at the German luxury car maker’s production facility in Leipzig from July 2016 onwards. Unchanged mechanically as expected, the 2+2 revolutionary hybrid model has carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell for highest degree of in-car protection. Alongside the full-body bright red treatment, the i8 can sprint from 0-100 kph in just 4.4 seconds with 49 g/km CO2 emitted.
Set to be unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in March, the world’s best selling hybrid sportscar exceeded sales expectations last year with global retailing figure of 5,456 units. The combined sales of BMW i3 and BMW i8 were up by 66% in 2015 compared to the previous year with a total sales figure of 29,513 units.
Launched in our domestic market last year, the i8 hybrid supercar is sold exclusively through i-dealerships established by BMW at a starting price of Rs. 2.29 crore (ex-showroom price). The BMW i8’s powertrain is a combination of a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol unit with a powerful lithium-ion battery powered electric motor. The petrol engine is capable of giving out a maximum 231 PS of power output and 320 Nm of peak torque whilst the electric motor develops 131 PS and 250 Nm.
Therefore, the total output generated by the i8 is 362 PS of power and 570 Nm of peak torque. In full-electric mode, the i8 can get to a top-speed of 120km/h with a 35 km maximum range.
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