Technical specifications for the new all-wheel-drive 2015 BMW i8 was revealed this week by the automaker almost a month before its official debut.
The new i8 will appear at next month's 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show according to BMW.
BMW lists the new car at 15.4 feet in length and has an estimated curb weight of 3,285 lbs. It will also be the first BMW production model to be powered by a three-cylinder gas engine.
As expected, the i8 is equipped with a turbocharged inline 1.5-L three-cylinder engine, an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery with a max output of 362 hp.
The rear wheels are driven by the gas engine through a six-speed transmission, whereas the front wheels are driven by the electric motor through a two-stage automatic transmission according to BMW.
The i8 has a top speed of 155 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds according to BMW.
BMW expects the new model to compete with the Mercedes-Benz MG SLS E-Cell and the Tesla Model S.
The vehicle can be recharged in under three hours according to BMW.
Expect the second model in BMW's electric-drive I lineup in showrooms sometime in early 2014.
Pricing has yet to be revealed, but the car is expected to go for around $120,000. The EPA has also yet to release official fuel economy estimates for the i8 as of press time.
Check back here next month for more details regarding the BMW i8.
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