Car companies are recognizing the need to introduce electric alternatives on their current vehicle rosters and designs such as the BMW i8 prove that this direction will in no way affect their brands. Of course, that is assuming they all turn out like the BMW i8. A radically innovative sports car, the BMW i8 is the company's first plug-in hybrid, and it ushers in an exciting new territory.
Test driven by Michael Mraz earlier this year, he describes the BMW i8 enthusiastically, "It’s a freak of technology. A four-wheeled disrupter. This carbon-fiber-bodied-sportscar has the potential to forever change the way automobiles are built." A sleek two-door design, the BMW i8 boasts impressive figures as well as materials. It is the first mass-produced car to features manufactured carbon-fiber reinforced plastic.
Plug-In Sportscar Hybrids
The Radically Innovative BMW i8 is a First for the Car Company
Trend Themes
1. Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles - The success of BMW's i8 proves that introducing electric alternatives will not negatively affect a car's brand identity, opening up opportunities for more plug-in hybrid vehicles.
2. Carbon-fiber-reinforced Plastic - The BMW i8's use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic in a mass-produced car opens the door for more lightweight, high-performance, and eco-friendly materials in the automotive industry.
3. Innovation in Sports Car Design - The BMW i8's design combines sleek and futuristic styling with advanced technology, paving the way for more innovative and disruptive sports car designs in the future.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive Industry - Car companies can explore the potential in producing plug-in hybrid vehicles and eco-friendly materials to create more advanced, high-performance, and competitive models.
2. Technology Industry - There is an opportunity for the technology industry to develop more efficient and sustainable power systems for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, fueling the future of clean transportation.
3. Carbon Fiber Industry - The automotive industry's shift towards using lightweight carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic in car designs presents growth opportunities for the carbon fiber industry to innovate and produce more sustainable and cost-effective materials.