Even if you're not a super spy sent on a mission your superiors deem impossible, you should still be interested in the upcoming 2014 BMW i8. Besides showing off its extremely exotic styling, the i8 features a plethora of exciting technology that's put to use to provide a compelling and sure-to-be-exciting driving experience.
Not only that, it's capable of doing all of this while spitting out zero emissions because it's a plug-in hybrid-electric car. It wasn't always going to be solely an electric machine, however, as there was talk of an M-variant that would change the car from silently mean and green to wicked loud and gasoline swilling.
Rumor had it that the i8 M, M8, 8M, ...car would feature either an eight or ten-cylinder engine. Now though it seems any plan for a fuel-only version has been put to rest, according to CAR.
Still, there's a whole lot to get excited about with the 2014 BMW i8. Yes it will be offered with a torque-vectoring powertrain, but the i8 driver will also be able to switch between a zero-emissions front-drive mode, a rear-wheel-drive mode, or an all-wheel-drive mode. If you want to cruise along silently, you can run the BMW i8 for up to 32km without requiring help from the 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine.
A more electrifying idea is to run both the electric and gasoline engines at the same time. This way you make full use of the available 293kW and 450Nm. Mash the throttle in this mode and the run from 0-96km/h should happen in well under five seconds. Keep that go-pedal pushed and you will eventually run into the 250km/h top speed.
