BMW unveils the production i8, a hybrid supercar a real challange Porsche and Ferrari

The Frankfurt show sees the unveil of the BMW i8. Like that other endlessly teased petrolelectric supercars, the Porsche 918, we've seen concepts, driven prototypes, and now get the real thing. It's coming in April, at about £95,000. And it's claimed to have on-road performance to match an M3 or base 911

BMW has pulled the wraps off of the highly anticipated production version of its i8 hybrid supercar, and we're thrilled to report that many of the qualities that made last year's concept so exciting, so aggressive, and so sleek are still in place. The strikingly cool gullwing doors remain, as do the radical spoilers built into rear window and rear fenders of the car. The blue highlights on BMW's signature kidney-shaped grill and beneath the doors are held over as well, as is the i8's wicked hood scoop.

The interior's also strikingly different from mainline BMWs. It runs glass-cockpit all-screen instruments and very thin, light seats to emphasise the featherweight engineering that's needed to keep the weight under 1500kg despite the battery.