After three weeks at the box office, Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol is still dominating first place in the charts – and with the film’s continued success comes a healthy heap of promotion for BMW’s new i8 hybrid-electric vehicle. In the latest film, Ethan Hunt and his IMF (that’s Impossible Mission Force) team save the world by scaling the Burj Khalifa, chasing bad guys through sandstorms, and seducing an Indian playboy. Among their many gadgets and gizmos is BMW’s sexy new plug-in i8 EV – and it’s outfitted with the finest futuristic technology that Hollywood has to offer.
While Tom Cruise’s version sports features that won’t be available to the common man (such as the high-tech 3D holographic GPS heads-up display), the futuristic successor to the Vision EfficientDynamics sports car was a major star in the film – it even accompanied the actors to the assorted premières.
Product placement is not new in the movie business, but it’s refreshing to see cinematic heroes using environmentally-friendly products. In Ghost Protocol, the i8 is shown speeding around the streets of Mumbai, which are lit up by the car’s LED and laser headlights. Laser lights are the next generation of automobile lighting – they use less than half the energy of an LED and have 1,000 times the light intensity.
As a plug-in hybrid concept, the i8 is powered by a three-cylinder turbodiesel engine supported by two electric motors. It has a top speed of 250 kilometers per hour (250 mph) and can do 0-100 kilometers per hour (0-60 mph) in 4.8 seconds.
“We are thrilled to be involved again in another Hollywood blockbuster,” said Ian Robertson, BMW AG Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “The BMW Group leads the way in developing future mobility with a focus on sustainability. One great example is the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car. With its futuristic design and large glass surfaces, the car offers a fascinating perspective on the future of sheer driving pleasure. Also with BMW ConnectedDrive technology, it is the perfect car for Ethan Hunt to outsmart his pursuers through narrow streets and busy city traffic.”
The i8 isn’t the only BMW vehicle to show up in the movie – keep your eyes peeled for the recently launched 2012 BMW 6-Series Convertible. Here hoping this is a start of a trend in action films. I wonder if James Bond will be using a hybrid Aston Martin in Skyfall?
+ BMW
