Can a lighter, underpowered hybrid sportscar take on the flagship supercar from Audi? A BMW i8 plug-in hybrid was pitted against the Audi R8 in a drag race with no rolling start.
The previous generation V8 R8 is powered by a 4.2 liter engine producing 430 horsepower and 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) of torque. The power is sent to all four wheels via a 7-speed gearbox giving the supercar a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration time of 4.3 seconds.
BMW’s most advanced car built to date is powered by a hybrid system producing 362 horsepower and 570 Nm (420 lb-ft) for a 0 to 100 km/h of 4.4 seconds.
With its advanced lightweight construction, the i8 is significantly lower than the R8 (our estimation say around 110 lbs), but is that enough to beat the Audi R8?
