BMW says that the i8 is an icon of progress. BMW also says that the i8 is more than just innovation, it’s a revolution. There is no denying that the i8 represents the future of electric mobility while preserving the classic emotions of freedom exhilaration that customers just expect from a BMW. So, does BMW really stand by what it says? Let’s find out.
The BMW i8 is a hybrid luxury sports car. It comes in two body styles, a Coupe, and a roadster. The styling of the i8 outrageous and surrealistic and it looks as if it has come straight out of a video game. The car simply looks scintillating and sexy with its low-slung shape and multiple lines that flow across its body. 2019 BMW i8 price starting at $147,500
Up front, you get the signature kidney-shaped BMW grills except for the fact that those aren’t grills but only fiber panels (because this car doesn’t need to suck in air from the front because there is no engine there and there are batteries only) that protrude out of the front lip to mimic the kidney grill. On the side, you get those wild flip-up doors that open upwards because side opening doors are so mainstream. The Coupe model gets a hard top just like you’d expect in every other Coupe while on the roadster you have the convertible soft top. At the rear, you have the combustion engine and also a trunk.
Coming to the most interesting part of the i8 now, the hybrid powertrain. There are an AC synchronous electric motor and an 11.6 kWh battery that sits up front and 1.5-liter, twin-turbo, 3-cylinder gasoline engine that fitted at the rear. The combustion engine makes 228 horses and 236 lb.-ft of torque while the electric motor develops 141 hp and 184 lb.-ft of torque. The hybrid systems deliver a combined output of 369 horsepower which isn’t humongous but fairly decent by sports car standards.
Incomplete EV mode, the i8 can go for 20 miles which isn’t all that really great but it is still better than its rivals like the Acura NSX and the Porsche 918 Spyder. The 2018 BMW i8 can hit the 60-mph mark in about 4.2 seconds which honestly not the best for a sports car this price point. Top speed also isn’t the most impressive at 155 mph.
Driving dynamics of the car is the most impressive part of the i8. The car is very flickable and it just loves to take quick turns and dive in at sharp corners. The steering is light like it is in most sports cars these days and is great fun to drive. The suspension set up is also pretty neutral and just provides the right amount of confidence will diving into the corners.
The i8 also comes with 4 driving modes. The comfort mode, as the very name suggests, is to be used when you just need to ride comfortably around the city and putting the car in this mode will slow down the throttle response and acceleration. The Sport mode is, however, to be used when you need a sporty driving experience. This mode churns a maximum amount of juice from the combustion engine and the electric motor. The ECO PRO mode is when you feel like caring about the planet. It provides maximum fuel efficiency and optimizes the powertrain for a more efficient drive. Finally, there’s the drive mode which basically the EV mode. The engine is decoupled and the car is propelled by the electric motor only but the max speed is restricted to 75 mph and the range is limited to 20 miles only.
Interiors depend largely on what body styles you choose. If you get the Coupe version, you get 4 seats while if you buy the roadster version, you only get 2 seats. However, the rear two seats offered in the roadster are redundant and barely any adult can fit into them. On the inside, you find extensive use of carbon fiber, premium leather, and soft touch plastic. You get power adjustable seats and also a power adjustable sporty steering wheel. The front seats are nicely cushioned and have the sporty bucket seat like the shape and do the job of holding you in place well when you throw it across tight corners.
The car offers a fully digital driver information console with crisp graphics and it does provide all the kind of information you might just need while driving. The central infotainment display is pretty intuitive and is simple to use. The 8.8-inch touchscreen display is the gateway to all the settings and system changes that you might need to make in your car. Cargo space on offer is however disappointing credit to the rear mounted combustion engine. No more than 2 bags can fit into the trunk and so practicality takes a big hit in the i8.
The i8 was one of the very first electric hybrid sports cars to enter the market. It changed the way people perceived electric and hybrid vehicles. The i8 proved that a hybrid can also be great fun to drive. The i8 also showed the world that hybrid vehicles too can look aggressive and intimidating with its revolutionary design. That’s exactly why we think that the i8 is the most electrifying BMW ever made.