BMW i8 super-hybrid a sell-out

BMW has pre-sold the first year’s build of its i8 plug-in supercar.

While the company remains quiet on the numbers involved, it has announced it’s taken 10,000 orders for its i3 city EV, with and without its optional range-extender engine.

Deliveries of the i3 commenced in Germany last week; the car goes to market in the second quarter of 2014 in the US and in the third quarter in Australia.

Local pricing is expected to start at around $60,000, topping out at around $80,000 for a top-spec model with the REx range-extender engine.

The i8 is scheduled for local arrival shortly after, in the fourth quarter.

Exact pricing and local availability of either BMW i model is yet to be firmed up, but the i8 is expected to cost more than $200,000.

Deemed by BMW to be its most technically advanced car yet, the i8 combines a 170kW/320Nm 1.5-litre petrol three-cylinder engine and a 96kW/250Nm electric motor inside a super-light carbon-fibre body to weigh just 1460kg.

The upshot is a win-win: BMW claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.5 seconds, amking it quicker than the outgoing M3, and Toyota Prius hybrid-beating combined fuel consumption of just 2.5L/100km.

BMW Australia spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher told motoring.com.au order books haven’t been opened yet, but expressions of interest suggest the i3 will be the first car to defy the local trend of sluggish acceptance of EVs.

“We’ve had more than 2800 of what we count as serious expressions of interest in the BMW i range as a whole,” she said, adding that demand is likely to outstrip supply.

“And that includes a surprising number looking at the idea of one of each (i3 and i8). Those kinds of numbers this early point to the possibility of supply not matching demand. We’ll know more when our supply’s clearer.”

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