SST HOST RICK WALKER WITH BMW i8 SPECIALIST MAX RIOUX
OTTAWA GATINEAU INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW:
The BMW i8 is making a splash at the Ottawa Gatineau International Auto Show this weekend. The hyrbid supercar is on the third level turning heads with its futuristic styling. It was also chosen as this year's Hyrbid of the Year during the Auto Show's awards ceremony at the VIP Gala hosted by the Ottawa New Car Dealers Association.
The I8 makes use of both an electric and a three cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine. It is priced at about 140-thousand dollars, which means the style and technology can be yours for about half the price of a Lamborghini.
BMW i8 SST / OTTAWA GATINEAU INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
HYBRID OF THE YEAR 2017
Just a few years ago putting the words supercar, or practical into the same sentence as the word hyrbid didn't make sense, but today they blend, with BMW ating as an industry and segment leader with the I8. BMW debuted the I8 a few years ago in the Hit Sience Fiction film "Ghost Protocol with Tom Cruise. Now the car is a reality and is available at BMW dealers in Canada and the Untied States.
The i8 uses a huge battery to power the front two wheels while the small and efficient gasoline engine taken from a MINI Cooper powers the rear – that makes the i8 all-wheel drive. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds while providing a combined 362 hp and 420 lb-ft via two separate transmissions controlling each power source.
BMW i8 IS LOCATED ON LEVEL 3 THIS WEEKEND AT SHAW CENTRE
The use of aluminum and carbon fibre make the car very light, and very fast.
The brakes use regeneration technology to recharge the battery while you are stopping.
The I8 is not a regular car, and its design proves that. The back seat is small and cramped. The doors swing wide making it difficult to park in tight places. The step over is high because the car sits so low. However these are traits that come with a car built for performance, not convenience. Regardless the i8 is a technology leader, and it takes hybrid vehicles to a whole new level. You could take it for groceries, but it is really built for speed and performance. It's a technology flagship for BMW.
The i8 is located at the top of the third level beside the escalator at this week's Ottawa Gatineau International Auto Show, at the Shaw Centre downtown. A BMW product specialist is there answering questions.
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