Behind the wheel of BMW’s upcoming i8 on a frozen lake

Not unlike the McLaren P1, BMW’s upcoming i8 is destined to redefine what gearheads think of when they hear the phrase “sports car.”
Set to go on sale in 2014, a year before Acura’s reincarnation of its iconic NSX, the i8 is still in its prototype stage. But recently, BMW invited EVO Magazine‘s Harry Metcalfe on a test drive … on a frozen lake.
While still decked out in camouflage, the i8 boasts three driving modes. EVO‘s ride starts out with BMW’s head of chassis development Yos Van As behind the wheel in Hybrid mode. Much like a conventional hybrid, the electric motor assists at low speeds before the three-cylinder gas engine kicks in.
When the gas engine kicks in, Mr. Metcalfe likens its rumble to an early Porsche 911. Of course. Mr. Van As let it be known that they’re working on refining the engine and will include a sound enhancement system similar to the current BMW M5.
While the interior was still kept under wraps, BMW says the i8 will be powered by three engines. The first engine will be a three-cylinder gasoline engine driving the rear wheels, producing 220 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The second engine drives the front wheels, putting out 128 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.
Finally, the third engine sits between the gas engine and the transmission, acting as either a starter motor, generator or providing more power, depending on the driving style. After crunching the numbers, the i8 will produce a grand total of 348 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque.
Weighing in at 1,480 kilograms thanks to carbon fibre, aluminum and composite materials used throughout the chassis, the i8 is even lighter than the M3.
Check out EVO Magazine‘s test drive below, which includes plenty of frozen lake powerslides.