If you are wondering just what was the car driven by Tom Cruise (in his role as Ethan Hunt) in the latest Mission Impossible movie, it was a BMW i8 Concept which was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Specifications include a 7.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that allows an all-electric range of 35 km. Its top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (160 mph) and is expected to go from 0 to 100 kph in 4.6 seconds. Under normal driving conditions the i8 is expected to deliver 80 mpg-US (2.9 L/100 km). A full charge of the battery will take less than 2 hours using 220V.
Mission Impossible.
The i8 combines the electric drive system of the BMW i3, with a 96 kW electric motor located in the front axle powering the front wheels and at the rear is a turbocharged 1.5 liter 3 cylinder gasoline engine producing 164 kW and 300 Nm of torque. The result is a combined output of 260 kW. All four wheels provide regenerative braking. The location of the battery pack in the energy tunnel gives the vehicle a low center of gravity, enhancing its dynamics. Together with the positioning of the motor and engine over the axles, the result is an optimum 50/50 weight distribution.
In the movie, Cruise drives it through the streets of Mumbai in India, and it does look sensational. Reputedly it will be available at your next door BMW dealership in 2013, but will it come to Thailand? I doubt it.
