Capable of mixing supercar-like performance with the fuel economy of a proper city-dwelling hybrid, the BMW i8 could really go down as one of the most iconic vehicles in history.

But that’s for our kids to decide. We, on the other hand, have no choice but to consider how good of a competitor the i8 is in today’s automotive world.

Performance-wise, it’s got a total of 362 PS, helping it get from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.4 seconds. In terms of efficiency, BMW says you can average 2.1 liters/100km (112 mpg) in this thing (with the use of the electric motors), which on paper, pretty much bests any small diesel hatchback out there.

Of course, when it comes to the i8, what it can do on the road isn’t everything. There’s no way around the fact that it remains one of the most unique cars to look at, and in the case of this Austin Yellow model, on display in Abu Dhabi, you’ve even got a whole bunch of AC Schnitzer bits to enjoy.

We’re talking about things like the carbon front spoiler elements, carbon side skirts and sure enough, the carbon fiber blacked-out fixed rear wing – which in turn gives the car a more aggressive look.

PHOTO GALLERY