Keeping a secret in the automotive world is no easy feat and one has to go through multiple hurdles to make sure that a secret stays that way. Like how Ford had successfully developed the new GT without anyone noticing, BMW had also managed to do the same with their i8 hydrogen fuel cell research vehicle.
This special i8 was largely completed back in 2012 and was only recently revealed to the public during the BMW Group Innovation Days 2015. The underpinnings of this particular i8 is the same one as all the other i8s, but instead of having the plug-in hybrid setup this stealthy-looking i8 adopts a hydrogen fuel cell setup.
So instead of a three-cylinder 1.5-liter turbo hybrid, this car is powered by cryogenically-stowed hydrogen inside a cylindrical tank placed down in the centre line of the vehicle’s platform and also from the oxygen coming from cooled air. This fuel stack also provides the electricity for the rear-mounted electric motor and this whole setup produces a total output of 242BHP.
Aside from the unique hardware setup, this i8 is significantly different from the hybrid version where it looks more sinister with the more angular front fascia and a simpler rear end. The whole look is finished with a coating of matte black paint and some blue highlights. BMW said that the tank can store enough hydrogen for the car to have a driving range of about 482km (300 miles).
