This eye-catching two-seater is propelled by a plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines an unidentified four-cylinder engine with electric motors to produce a total of 591 horsepower (600 PS / 441 kW). According to the company, the vehicle has two driving modes: an all-electric mode, in which only the rear wheels are powered, and an all-wheel drive mode, in which the gasoline engine is running and all available power may be utilized.
Additionally, it states that the pure-electric range in the investigation is 100 kilometers (62 miles). This one-charge range, according to the automaker, is “more than enough to complete the majority of journeys purely on electric power,” and it allows the vehicle access to urban areas where many local governments are considering enforcing EV-only zones or imposing high taxes on internal combustion-engined vehicles.
The automobile is completely autonomous in the first mode, Ease, which enables the driver to unwind and take pleasure in the ride. With Boost, the driver has complete control; with Boost+, the car’s entire power and handling potential are released.
As part of its Laser Wire lighting technology, which BMW describes as using “glass fibers coated with phosphorous to build headlamp elements with a new, super-slim and incredibly accurate form,” this design also introduces new illumination breakthroughs. With the use of this technology, BMW was able to reproduce its classic four-eyed headlight design while giving it a more contemporary twist. You can tell a BMW by its headlights, but you can also tell there’s something a little different about the way they seem. The rear light clusters use the same technology, but it seems less spectacular than what they did for the front.
In This Article...
The i8 is still stunning five years later.
Even with its flaws, the BMW i8 is a pleasure to drive. It attracts attention as it follows the road. Few cars can reach this level of exhilaration without speed, so it’s thrilling. Although it is swift, it won’t break any speed records or set quarter-mile records. Driving simply feels wonderful.
According to the calculations, purchasing a $164,000 BMW i8 Roadster seems unnecessary. Need speed? Purchase a Nissan GT-R for $112K, a Corvette ZR1 for $123K, or a Porsche 911 Turbo for $161K. Aesthetics of supercars? Spend $157K and get an Acura NSX. Want everything to be electric? Purchase a Tesla Model S. All are more affordable and faster than the BMW i8.
In the history of BMW, the i8 is merely a stepping stone. an anomaly. It’s a special model that lets you test out cutting-edge technology. I believe BMW never promoted the i8 as a best-seller or the market leader. It was a playground for engineers. My favorite.
Watch the BMW iX autonomously navigate Poland’s congested roadways.
At first appearance, it appears paradoxical for a BMW to be able to drive itself. After all, if the car does everything for us, how can we truly enjoy “the ideal driving machine”? But what fun can there be in being delayed in traffic and moving at a snail’s pace? The Bavarian automaker has elevated its driver assistance technologies with the new iX.
YouTuber 1001cars tested the Driving Assistance Professional while using the iX on Poland’s congested roadways. Except for the brief moments when he had to touch the steering wheel, the majority of his journey was completed without his involvement. So that the car knew he was still paying attention, he had to do it. This system is still just at Level 2, after all.
Although we are still a long way from having Level 5 autonomous driving systems in production automobiles, BMW is making good progress. Over-the-air updates will help the iX’s technology improve over time. The system already meets Level 3 criteria, according to the German luxury brand. However, by obtaining a global Level 3 certification for the S-Class and EQS, Mercedes has beaten BMW to the punch.
The new 7 Series (G70), which will make its debut later this year, will be the first BMW to receive a higher level of autonomy. According to logic, the completely electric i7 will also have it. However, because the regulations haven’t caught up yet, the technology won’t be made available in the US. The iX, on the other hand, is already very sophisticated because it supports 5G and can process 20 times as much data as current models.
There are 12 ultrasonic sensors, 5 radar sensors, and 5 cameras in all. In the accompanying video, we can see the sophisticated hardware and software-supported driver aids in action. A crucial component is the front-mounted radar sensor, which scans the road up to 300 meters in advance. Even though there was a lot of traffic and it was late at night, the electric SUV operated autonomously for roughly 20 minutes.
BMW i8
BMW created the plug-in hybrid sports automobile known as the BMW i8. The i8 was marketed under the BMW I subbrand and was a member of BMW’s electrified lineup. The BMW i8 production model debuted at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show and went on sale in Germany in June 2014. In August 2014, deliveries to retail consumers in the US started. In May 2018, a roadster variation was released. June 2020 marked the end of production.
The 2015 BMW i8 featured an electronically regulated peak speed of 250 km/h and could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.4 seconds (155 mph). A 7.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack allowed the 2015 model year i8 to have an all-electric range of 37 kilometers (23 miles) on the New European Driving Cycle. The range in EV mode was 24 km when tested using the U.S. EPA cycle (15 mi). In 2018, BMW upped the battery capacity of the i8 Roadster and Coupe to 11.6 kWh, extending the NEDC electric range to 55 km (34 mi) for the coupe and 53 km (33 mi) for the roadster.
Under the NEDC test, the BMW i8 coupe’s fuel economy was 2.1 L/100 km (134.5 mpg-imp; 112.0 mpg-US), with carbon emissions of 49 g/km. The i8’s combined fuel efficiency was assessed by the EPA at 76 MPGe (3.1 L gasoline-equivalent/100 km; 91 mpg-imp gasoline-equivalent) and 29 miles per gallon (6.7 L/100 km) while it was operating in pure gasoline mode.
The BMW i8 became the most popular plug-in electric sports car in the world by March 2020, with global sales of all variants topping 20,000 units, outpacing the combined sales of all rivals in its sector.
How is the BMW i8 propelled?
Multiple driving settings for an exceptional experience: COMFORT, ECO PRO, SPORT, and the eDrive button tailor the vehicle characteristics of your BMW i8 to the driving circumstance. For driving outside of town, an incredibly agile sports car is also an option, with a range of up to 37 km*. The petrol engine and electric motor continuously show that their technical synergy is never a compromise, giving users the best of both worlds. The BMW i8 may be converted for all-electric drive by pressing the eDrive button. The COMFORT and ECO PRO modes allow for this. The BMW i8 operates in the COMFORT mode with eDrive without assistance from the internal combustion engine up until the battery is almost completely depleted. With eDrive, drivers may go up to 120 km/h entirely on electricity. The combustion engine starts up at 60 kilometers per hour if the button is not depressed.
* Based on consumption analyses conducted internally at BMW. The driving range depends on a number of variables, including: individual driving habits, the route chosen, the weather, the use of heating and cooling systems, and preconditioning.
Once you start driving, you have all the power you require. The fully charged BMW i8 starts electrically when in the COMFORT setting. Up to 65 km/h, pure electric vehicles are capable of moving forward through traffic signals and passing other vehicles. The combustion engine is also turned on at higher speeds, ensuring maximum driving comfort.
The BMW i8 can showcase its efficiency in ECO PRO mode. To maximize efficiency, the heating and cooling systems, the transmission, the accelerator, and so on are all adjusted. Up to 65 km/h, driving solely on electricity is conceivable. Additionally, the combustion engine is turned on when traveling at a high speed or when the battery charge falls below a predetermined minimum.
The driver can switch to SPORT mode using the gear lever in addition to the transmission setting “D” for automatic driving. The gearshift or the steering wheel paddles can be used for manual gear selection in this mode as well. Additionally, the SPORT mode activates driving preferences tailored specifically for sporty driving. The acceleration characteristic line is programmed to respond instantly, the electric motor’s boost function is fully utilized, and the combustion engine and electric motor unleash their driving torque with maximum dynamics. The SPORT option also allows for maximal energy regeneration during the thrust and brake phases to guarantee that there is always enough energy available.
Can a BMW operate on its own?
BMW has been developing autonomous driving technology for many years, but in all of their commercial offers, they prioritize consumer value and safety. BMW currently offers a Driving Assist Professional package for all of its vehicles, however the 5 Series, X5, iX, and other more recent models come standard with the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS).
Level 2 autonomy is the most recent BMW autonomous technology. Although a Level 2 autonomous vehicle has capabilities to support the driver, the driver must still keep an eye on the car and the surrounding area at all times. Having said that, semi-automation can improve driving performance by alerting the driver and giving them momentary support. A A
The most sophisticated Driving Assistance Professional Package is available for any higher-end BMW that already has Active Driving Assistant as a standard feature. These are this technology’s main characteristics: A
Emergency braking assist, which can stop the car completely if necessary and alerts the driver to an impending collision.
A
On the highway, distance control, commonly known as adaptive cruise control, includes autonomous braking and acceleration.
A
With some restrictions and at speeds under 40 mph, lane-centering and steering assistance are offered, along with a hands-free alternative.
The car isn’t officially self-driving, according to critics of the most recent Driving Assistance Professional package, which is a fair evaluation of Level 2 autonomous vehicles. Since automated steering can only be used if you’re traveling at speeds under 40 mph, for some people, the additional cost doesn’t make sense to justify the slight upgrade from conventional safety features. A
However, other drivers who frequently encounter stop-and-go traffic like the improved experience the additional Extended Traffic Jam Assistant technology provides. Because the car can maneuver hands-free and autonomously at lower speeds, the technology feels less like glorified cruise control and more like high-level autonomous driving capabilities. A
Key Learnings The majority of high-end BMW cars are Level 2 autonomous, which means the driver must constantly keep an eye on the car as it steers, accelerates, and brakes. A
Technically speaking, the BMW 2022 iX has an unofficially classified Level 2+ autonomous system. Most businesses are stuck in a Level 2+ murky area when it comes to consumer and commercial safety because of regulatory and legal concerns around Level 3 systems, as is the case with Extended Traffic Jam Assistant technology.
However, in order to advance this transitional stage into the following level of autonomous driving—Level 3—BMW is working with Qualcomm and Arriver. BMW intends to provide Level 3 capabilities by the second half of 2025, enabling drivers to take their hands off the wheel and their eyes off the road for longer periods of time when traveling on specific highway conditions.
The BMW i8 can it charge by itself?
The procedure begins automatically as soon as the car is linked to the Wallbox through the charge cable, but it can be stopped at any time by pushing the stop button. The BMW i8 charges in a maximum of two hours with the BMW I Wallbox Pure for home installation.