Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
BMW launches first plug-in EV sports car
Models showcases i8, BMW’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), during a launch event at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Thursday. The luxury PHEV sports car that appeared in the movie Mission Impossible 4 is priced at 199.9 million won. Over 100 people have already preordered the car. / Yonhap
By Park Jin-hai
By Park Jin-hai
BMW Korea unveiled the i8 ― a futuristic plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sports car that appeared in the movie “Mission Impossible 4” ― in Korea on Thursday.
The i8, priced at nearly 200 million won and comes with scissor doors, is the German carmaker’s first PHEV launched here. It is also the second of the German auto group’s lineup looking to gain a foothold in the environmentally-friendly car segment here after its i3 electric vehicle.
The car was launched in advance of being displayed during the Seoul Motor Show early next month.
The car, which runs either on a gasoline engine or on battery, showcases the company’s determination to lead in the burgeoning PHEV market.
The i8 plug-in sports car can run 37 kilometers with a fully charged electric motor, and goes as far as 600 kilometers if it uses both the motor and the engine, the company said.
"The i8 shows off the strong driving performance you can find only in a sports car, while at the same time providing the fuel efficiency that matches a small vehicle. This appeals to customers who don’t just want fun driving, but efficiency as well," a BMW official said.
The initial response has been better than what has been expected. More than 100 people preordered the high-end PHEV, accounting for more than half of its annual target sales of 180 cars the company had for this year.
Carbon fiber reinforced plastics reduced its overall weight, while it has a maximum of 362 horsepower. It has a maximum speed of 250 kilometers per hour on its gasoline engine, and 120 kilometers per hour when it is battery-powered.
BMW has been expanding its presence in the environmentally friendly car market.
The company established 200 charging stations across the country last year, including on the southern resort island of Jeju, to help customers more conveniently charge their electric vehicles. It plans to increase that number to about 400.
The launch of the i8 is expected to spark competition in the environment-friendly car market here, as other automakers are poised to unveil their own models.
Hyundai Motor, the nation’s top carmaker, also plans to roll out a PHEV in June. Audi will unveil its own model during the upcoming Seoul Motor Show and start selling it from the second half of this year.