Top Gear gives BMW hybrid its 'best' title

BMW's i8 combines nippy performance and energy efficiency. Picture / Ted Baghurst

The BMW i8 has been named as Top Gear UK magazine's Car of the Year.

The plug-in hybrid performance vehicle beat stiff competition from a host of other premium and luxury manufacturers to take the title.

The Top Gear staff commended the BMW i8 for its breadth of abilities. Its 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine combined with an electric motor gives searing acceleration and driver enjoyment, but it is wrapped in a package that takes BMW's EfficientDynamics philosophy to the extreme, giving CO2 emissions of less than 49g/km and a 135mpg combined cycle figure.

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Top Gear UK magazine's editor in chief, Charlie Turner, said: "The BMW is a milestone in the annals of automotive history and a glorious statement for an exciting and positive future.

"The i8 delivers - and then some. It's the kind of car we should celebrate, a beautiful vision of the future, delivered now. It is a resounding success for the BMW i8 and the whole team were unanimous in naming it the Car of the Year."

BMW's management board member for sales and marketing, Dr Ian Robertson, said: "We always knew the BMW i8 was going to be a game-changing vehicle and the strength of orders shows how desirable this car is for customers.

"Awards such as this one from Top Gear magazine prove that it has global recognition within the industry too."