Click it and Unblock the Notifications
BMW i8 To Be Unveiled In Frankfurt; Will Sport Gorilla Glass
BMW i8 is a hybrid sports car which belongs to the same family as the recently launched i3 compact car. Revealed first as a concept car at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, the i8 hybrid vehicle has gone through extensive development and testing during the last four years.
Several improvements have been made since its initial stage. For instance, the hybrid diesel powertrain has made way for a petrol hybrid engine. The same turbocharged 1.5 liter petrol engine that will power the 2014 Mini.
High efficiency and sustainability are common characteristics shared by the BMW ‘i' family of cars. Hence, in the i8 we'll see similar weight saving methods which we have seen BMW employ in the i3. Which are, use of aluminium and carbon fiber reinforced plastic.
Just like in the i3, CFRP will be used to build the "Life Module" or the body of the car, while most of the parts underneath it will be constructed from aluminium. BMW i8 will weigh approximately 3,285 pounds (1,490 kg).
BMW i8 will however, Autoweek says, make use of one special material not employed in the i3. That material is Corning Gorilla Glass. This extremely durable, scratch resistant, light breed of glass is commonly used in smartphones, tablets and even laptops. This revelation follows an earlier announcement by Corning's Jeffrey Evenson about Gorilla Glass featuring in a car by a major manufacturer.
When unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show on September 10th, BMW i8 will become the first production car to make use of Gorilla Glass.
Gorilla Glass will be used only for the rear window though, which will help in reducing cabin noise. The Gorilla Glass in the window will still be laminated. A sheet of sound absorbing material will be sandwiched between two panes of glass, measuring 0.7mm thick.
Continue with Google