There is just one drivetrain to discuss, but because it is so innovative and essential to the i8’s existence, it merits further explanation.
Mid-rear, behind the driver, is a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that, with 228 horsepower, is enhanced to around 100 bhp more than it has in the MINI Cooper. Rear wheels are propelled by it.
The front axle is propelled by an electric motor in front of the driver that has 141 horsepower. The i8 now has all-wheel drive, with the motors able to operate in tandem or separately. During mild driving, clever software makes sure that the electric motor, which is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, helps the gasoline motor use the least amount of fuel feasible.
On the other hand, when driving more forcefully, the two work in unison, with the electric motor providing instant torque for a speedy departure and the i8 receiving its full 369 bhp output.
The newest entry-level Audi R8 makes 562 bhp, so if that output doesn’t sound like much in this perspective, that’s because it isn’t. However, the i8 is relatively light for a hybrid, so it doesn’t need a lot of power.
The i8’s interior has been cleverly tuned to sound somewhat like a Porsche flat-six, especially in Sport mode and at maximum volume for the electronically augmented soundtrack that is played through the stereo speakers.
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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.
Can the performance hybrid from BMW provide the thrills of a traditional sports car?
The three-cylinder TwinPower 1.5-litre engine in the i8 is effectively a substantially modified version of the one found in the standard Mini Cooper, despite the fact that BMW won’t thank us for admitting it.
Because it produces 228 horsepower and 236 lb ft of torque, we think it has been reworked. This is then coupled with a front-axle electric motor to create 129 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.
As if the powertrain weren’t confusing enough, the starter motor produces 11 horsepower of hybrid drivetrain and also fills in for torque when the petrol engine’s turbo is still spinning up.
A transmission that was equally as clever was required given the complex drivetrain. In essence, a six-speed automatic box transmits power from the gasoline engine to the back wheels while a two-stage automatic box at the front controls the electric motor. The six-speed transmission can be operated by the driver either manually or by using the shift paddles on the steering wheel.
The gearbox performs as expected in Eco mode, shifting up precisely when it is needed to maximize efficiency. However, if you go to Sport, it will hold gears much longer. Although not as quick as a double-clutch gearbox, shifts happen quickly enough.
The BMW i8’s engine is produced in Britain, did you know that?
You might not be aware of this, but the BMW i8’s heart is British. all of it, at least. The endearingly called Hams Hall factory, near Birmingham, produces the 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine that is one component of its hybrid powertrain.
Being British-born may make some sense given that the Mini has many tunings of the same engine. Since its opening in 2001, Hams Hall has produced over 4.5 million engines, and in 2017 it was responsible for 11% of the UK’s engine production.
BMW claims that the Hams Hall plant has recently been “extended and upgraded to increase production capability for subsequent high-spec engines,” despite the i8’s three-cylinder producing 227bhp. Therefore, future BMW I vehicles might be equipped with more powerful technology.
World Cup penalty shootouts and cutting-edge turbo engines. What is not possible for our tiny, small nation?
A BMW i8 has an engine, right?
The i8 from BMW has just one available powerplant. A 1.5-liter, three-cylinder turbocharged gas engine is coupled with an 11.6-kWh battery and two electric motors in this vehicle. With their combined 369 horsepower, the trio of engines can move all four wheels. But it’s not the quickest supercar around: In 4.1 seconds, the 2019 i8 roadster we tested could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. The same mild steering we’ve questioned in many recent BMWs is present in the i8. More feedback is preferred, especially in a vehicle designed with sporting purposes. Surprisingly, the ride is smooth, and road imperfections are felt but never sharply.
Is the rear engine of the BMW i8?
The powertrain of the BMW i8 is one of its many distinctive features. A 1.5 liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine combined with an electric motor powers the i8’s back wheels, while a single electric motor drives the front wheels. Together, these two powertrains function as two separate units. The i8 can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in around 4.4 seconds thanks to its 369 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque total system power. It’s interesting to note that the BMW i8 was also the first hybrid or electric vehicle to have a two-speed transmission for the front electric motor.
What kind of motor does an i8 have?
1.5L BMW TwinPower Turbo 3-cylinder engine and eDrive electric motor make up the powertrain. 228 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque are produced by the engine. 141 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque are produced by the eDrive. 369 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque are produced overall.
What is the top speed of the BMW i8?
The i8 has a top speed of 155 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in under 4.4 seconds (like most BMWs). As a result, its straight-line performance is comparable to that of a genuine BMW M vehicle.
The i8’s engine, which BMW expertly designed, is responsible for the power. Unbelievably, the 1.5-liter, three-cylinder MINI Cooper served as the engine’s source. However, it has been altered to provide more naughtiness, producing 231 horsepower while receiving an additional 143 horsepower from an electric motor. The i8 is by no means slow thanks to the innovative hybrid configuration.
As a result, the i8 not only has a sharp appearance but also has the ability to move quickly when necessary, and since it is a BMW, the driving experience is also rather good.
Is Tesla faster than the BMW i8?
A software cap limits the top speed of the BMW i8 at 155 mph. The BMW i8 can be used on a racetrack or a salt flat in the desert thanks to its software. Additionally, the Tesla S incorporates software that caps the highest speed at only 130 mph. As a result, the maximum speed of the BMW i8 is marginally higher than that of the Tesla S.
How many miles are there in a BMW i8?
The i8 is an emissions-focused vehicle, as you might imagine. It can be driven totally on electricity for 22 miles at up to 75 mph, or you may combine the two power sources when the car is in EcoPro mode to provide a total range of 330 miles.
Although 134 mpg of fuel consumption is stated, really, you should anticipate to get closer to 35 to 40 mpg in everyday driving. Since the implementation of new VED laws in April 2017, vehicles with emissions of 49g/km are no longer exempt from the congestion charge and VED.
The i8 will, in general, be more efficient than almost every other conventionally powered vehicle in its class in daily driving, but those claimed economy figures are, at best, fanciful unless you spend most of your time driving about solely on battery power. As a result, the i8 is most advantageous financially and practically when the owner can charge it frequently, maybe both at home and at work.
Is there a V8 in the i8?
The BMW i8 is propelled by a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, coupled with an electric motor, an 11.6-kWh battery, and all-wheel drive, as opposed to a supercharged V8 or a thunderous V12. The i8 is a plug-in hybrid, that’s correct.
How large is the BMW i8’s fuel tank?
Overview. The fuel tank capacity of the BMW i8 is 11.1 gallons. For instance, the 2020 BMW i8 Base Coupe trim’s fuel tank capacity is 11.1 gallons, while the 2020 BMW i8 Base Roadster trim’s fuel capacity is 11.1 gallons.
Is the i8 a three-cylinder car?
The BMW i8 is the company’s first production vehicle to be propelled by a gasoline three-cylinder engine. This powerful turbocharged engine has the most recent BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. It is incredibly small and produces a maximum of 231 horsepower (170 kW)
I8: A supercar or not?
The BMW i8 is a cutting-edge supercar that shows hybrid vehicles don’t have to be dull. In order to give serious performance, a potent turbocharged petrol engine and a cutting-edge electric motor team up, plus some look-at-me style ensures that you’ll stand out wherever from Kensington High Street to a Green Party convention.
The i8 initially went on sale in 2014, but in 2018 it gained an upgraded electric powertrain and increased electric range. Even with the upward-hinging doors splayed wide open, the BMW’s outrageous appearance still looks more dramatic than cars like the Honda NSX and Audi R8.
Although the cabin is less theatrical, it nevertheless features a sophisticated minimalist design with plenty of soft materials and a digital driver’s display as standard instead of traditional dials.
The BMW i8 has four seats, which is unusual for supercars and helps to make it surprisingly simple to live with. The 154-liter boot may not have enough room for a set of golf clubs, but it is larger than the Audi’s load bay, and the front seats in the BMW provide plenty of room for taller passengers to sit comfortably.
The i8 is one of the quietest and greenest supercars available, but it’s definitely not a car for wimps – just look at those ridiculous doors!
The i8 is also more enjoyable to drive than the majority of conventional supercars, in part due to its unnervingly silent electric motor and reassuringly plush suspension. Driving in the city isn’t particularly challenging because of the reasonable visibility and the lack of bothersome wind or tyre noise at freeway speeds.
But when you switch to sport mode, things get a little rowdier. The i8’s speakers broadcast synthetic engine noises into the cabin as the three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine whirrs to life. The BMW i8 will sprint from 0-62mph in a still-pretty-blooming-exciting 4.4 seconds thanks to the quick shove from its electric powertrain, albeit it’s not quite as thrilling as hearing a 5.2-liter V10 screaming away behind you as in a R8. That outruns a Porsche 911 Carrera 4 in speed.
The i8’s extensive use of lightweight carbon fiber maximizes its electric-only range while also making it as maneuverable as feasible on a winding country road. You can travel up to 75 mph for about 30 miles and practically silently on a three-hour charge from a dedicated wall charger. When you run out of electrical power, the gasoline engine automatically kicks in to propel you forward while also recharging the batteries.
This means that, unlike many other electric vehicles, the BMW i8 will never cause you to experience range anxiety. The many safety features you receive as standard, such as automatic emergency braking, which applies the brakes if the vehicle detects an obstruction on the road ahead, also aid in relieving your concerns.
The i8 is a very accomplished sports hybrid and a worthy alternative to models like the more traditional Porsche 911 and the more expensive Honda NSX, even though it isn’t the most thrilling supercar to drive.