MOTOR RIVALS

The Acura NSX was created to revolutionize supercar performance, delivering a more vivid, immediate and intuitive dynamic experience with instant acceleration, ultra-powerful yet easily controlled brakes, and exceptional handling—making the most of the driver's capabilities in every type of driving environment and rewarding the most skillful drivers with its extraordinary at-the-limit dynamic capabilities. The all-new NSX has a cutting-edge structure: its multi-material body and space frame utilize new materials and construction methods to create a structure with unprecedented dynamic rigidity. The new Acura NSX "advanced sports package" is a design philosophy that seeks to optimize the design and packaging of all major vehicle systems to lower and center the mass of the vehicle for optimal handling and dynamic response. The new NSX has the lowest center of gravity (CG) among its core competitors.

Powertrain

• Sport Hybrid SH-AWD uses torque vectoring-enhanced vehicle dynamics
• Instantaneous torque response via its three electric motors—the Direct Drive Motor and front Twin Motor Unit.
• Twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine - 500 hp and 406 lb.-ft. of torque - mid-mounted, 75-degree, DOHC V6 engine with dry sump lubrication
• New 9-speed dual clutch transmission
• Peak total system output is 573 horsepower—500 horsepower from the gasoline engine and 73 horsepower from the front TMU and Direct Drive Motor.
• EPA combined fuel economy rating of 21 mpg (20 mpg city/22 mpg highway)
• California Air Resources Board ultra-low emissions vehicle (ULEV)
• Intake and exhaust variable cam timing (VTC)
• Twin-turbo system - maximum boost pressure is set at 105 kPa (1.05 bar, or 15.23 psi).
• Compression ratio of 10.0:1
• Specific power output of more than 140 horsepower per liter of engine displacement
• Direct injection is the primary means of fuel delivery within each cylinder, while port injection is used for additional power output in high-performance driving situations.

Chassis

• Front double wishbone and rear multi-link suspension systems
• An advanced double-joint front suspension design eliminates torque steer and steering kickback.
• Third-generation magnetorheological (MR) dampers - continuously adjust damping forces in fractions of a second
• Forged light alloy wheels
• 245/35ZR19 front and 305/30ZR20 rear tires
• Standard high performance summer tires (Continental Conti-Sport Contact)
• Electric power steering (EPS) system with a variable gear ratio
• The NSX Integrated Dynamics System provides the driver with four selectable dynamic modes—Quiet, Sport, Sport+ and Track.
• Mechanically-based limited-slip differential (LSD).
• All-aluminum front suspension includes:
o All-aluminum, forged double wishbone/cast aluminum knuckle design
o Double ball joint lower control arm to mitigate torque disturbance from the front Twin-Motor Unit (TMU) torque vectoring
o No unwanted steering kickback
o Third-generation active MR dampers
• Rear Suspension featuring lightweight all-aluminum components includes:
o All-aluminum, forged multi-link/cast aluminum knuckle design
o High lateral rigidity
o Third-generation active MR dampers
• Brembo braking system features large six-piston mono block calipers with 14.5-inch ventilated brake rotors up front
• Four-piston mono block calipers with 14.0-inch rotors at the rear
• Carbon ceramic brake rotor package (15.0-inch rotors up front/14.0-inch rear), available as a factory option
• Electric Parking Brake (EPB) - engage the parking brake by simply pulling on a rocker switch located on the center console

Technology

• 8.0-inch Dynamic Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) gauge cluster
• Digital speedometer readout and full-color customizable Multi-Information Display (MID)
• The MID displays a graphic representation of Integrated Dynamics System component systems—powertrain, SH-AWD, VSA, suspension and steering.
• Display Audio touchscreen
• 7-inch high-resolution WVGA capacitive Display Audio touchscreen
• Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control System with Humidity Control and Air Filtration
• Seating options include four-way power-adjustable heated sport seats with 4-way power lumbar and 2-position memory (driver) in either full leather or leather with Alcantara inserts.
• Valet lock-out switch - driver lock the glovebox to prevent access to the locked rear cargo area
• Additional storage is offered by the glovebox, which also includes a 1.0-amp USB interface port that can be used for audio devices such as MP3 players.

Safety

• Single-stage driver and dual-stage passenger multiple-threshold front airbags (SRS)
• Driver knee airbag
• Side airbags
• Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor
• Three-point seatbelts with a load-limited equipped automatic tensioning system
• Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist
• Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Location and Pressure Indicators
• LED Daytime Running Lights

The BMW i8 plug-in hybrid 2+2 sports car is unlike any car ever introduced. First plug-in hybrid vehicle from the BMW Group and world’s most forward-looking sports car. BMW i stands for the creation of pure-bred vehicle concepts, sustainability throughout the value chain, complementary mobility services and a fresh understanding of premium defined squarely in terms of sustainability. With this revolutionary concept and the emotional appeal of its aerodynamically optimized body design, the 2+2-seater paves the way for an engagingly dynamic and futuristically efficient take on BMW’s hallmark driving pleasure. The BMW i8 was conceived from the ground up as a plug-in hybrid sports car boasting agile performance attributes and extraordinary efficiency.

Powertrain

• Three-cylinder 1.5-litre combustion engine develops 170 kW/231 hp and torque of 320 Newton meters (236 lb-ft).
• Specific output of 113 kW/154 hp per liter of displacement
• Electric motor - 96 kW/131 hp and torque of around 250 Newton meters (184 lb-ft)
• The rear wheels of the BMW i8 are driven by the gasoline engine via a six-speed automatic transmission
• Front wheels receive their power from the electric motor via a two-stage automatic transmission
• Combined maximum output of 266 kW/357 hp and combined peak torque of 570 Newton meters (420 lb-ft) provide all-wheel-drive performance
• Electric power range in everyday driving of up to 35 kilometers (approx. 22 miles) and a top speed of 120 km/h (approx. 75 mph)
• Everyday driving range of the BMW i8 on a full fuel tank and with a fully charged battery is over 500 kilometers (310 miles) in COMFORT mode.
• 0 to 60 mph - 4.2 seconds
• Average fuel consumption –equivalent of 94 miles per US gallon
• Electronically controlled top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph)
• Plugging the car into a standard 110 v power outlet returns the empty high-voltage battery to full charge in 3.5 hours
• Using the BMW i Charging Station completes the process in 1.5 hours.

Chassis

• Low overall weight (3,285 lbs/1,490 kilograms)
• Drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.26
• Aluminum double-wishbone front axle and a five-link rear axle
• Standard Dynamic Damper Control - electronically operated dampers
• DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) stability system includes the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Brake Assist, Brake Standby, Start-Off Assistant, Fading Compensation and the Brake Drying function.
• CFRP wheels reduce weight in critical areas.
• Near perfect 50 : 50 weight distribution

Technology

• Fitted with powerful and energy-efficient full-LED headlights
• BMW ConnectedDrive and 360° ELECTRIC: Intelligent connectivity.
• 360° ELECTRIC portfolio focuses on home charging, charging at public charging stations, keeping drivers on the road and integration into innovative mobility concepts.
• Standard with an integrated SIM card - provides the intelligent connectivity required to use the mobility services from BMW ConnectedDrive.
• Navigation services –Range Assistant with dynamic range map, Concierge Services information facility, Intelligent Emergency Call function and Online Entertainment music-on-demand service.
• BMW i Remote app - share information with their car at any time using their smartphone.
• Standard Navigation system links up with a version of the proactive drivetrain management system - the drivetrain management is configured to ensure the electric motor is employed as extensively as possible and as wisely as possible from an efficiency point of view.
• Navigation system also contains a dynamic range display which uses a spidergram (range map) to show the area the car can cover on electric power alone, location of public charging stations,
• Cruise control system with braking function
• Rain sensor including automatic headlight activation
• Park Distance Control (PDC) with sensors at the front and rear of the car
• BMW ConnectedDrive driver assistance package available as an option - High Beam Assistant, a rear view camera, Surround View, Speed Limit Info including No Passing Info display, and Collision Warning with pedestrian recognition and braking function.
• Optional BMW Head-Up Display - projects important driving data onto the windshield
• The charging process can be monitored on a graphic display in the instrument cluster of the BMW i8, as well as via the BMW i Remote app on a smartphone.

Safety

• CFRP passenger cell - lightest available material that can be used in the construction of a car body without compromising on safety.
• LifeDrive architecture – conceived to maximize occupant protection.
• The crash-activated aluminum structures at the front and rear end of the Drive module provide additional safety.
• Less body deformation occurs compared with comparable steel bodies. Furthermore, the doors can be opened without any problem and the interior remains largely free of intrusions.
• Standard electronically controlled restraint systems
• Front airbags and side airbags integrated into the seat backrests, plus head/curtain airbags for both rows of seats, are all standard, as are three-point inertia-reel seatbelts including belt stoppers, belt tensioners and belt force limiters for all seats.
The BMW i8 will arrived in US showrooms in spring of 2014 with a base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $135,700 plus destination and handling.