After years of concept reveals and leaked photos – BMW has finally revealed what the production i8 will be and look like. The setting was the Frankfurt Motor Show, where the first BMW i8 concept was first introduced only four years ago.

The BMW i8 is considered one of the most anticipated cars in the history of BMW as it gives us a glimpse of the future with a lightweight plug-in hybrid (3,284 lbs.) that also acts as a sports car. The best of both worlds!

The i8 is BMW’s first venture into the plug-in hybrid world. It features a 2 + 2 seating arrangement that’s surrounded by a carbon-fibre reinforced passenger cell. Its hybrid system has a rear-mounted 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder TwinPower turbo engine that’s mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. It also has an electric motor that works through the front wheels as part of a two-stage process. The electric motor gets its energy from a 5 kWh lithium-ion battery. 

Complicated it is, but the two-part engine process provides a combined 362 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque that can go from 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds. BMW has made assurances that both engines are perfectly in-sync and can allow for all-wheel drive capability.

The BMW i8 comes with an option of five different drive modes and can run on pure electricity for up to 35 kms at 120 km/h with an overall combined range in comfort mode of 500 kms. BMW claims that it can reach fuel economy numbers of 2.5L/100km, which is extremely impressive, but we will have to see how much pure electric driving needs to be done to achieve that number.

As for the styling, the i8 has been toned down as is the case of many concepts turned production vehicles. The doors still open upwards and they have kept the curvy low nose and tail, but gone are the see-through doors and the LED lights have been toned down.

The suggested retail price in the United States is stated to be $135,925 and when converted into Canadian that will be a touch above $141,000.