A 98kw electric motor installed by BMW in the I8 only produced 131 horsepower on its own. The little 1.5L inline 3-cylinder engine used in some slower Mini Cooper automobiles didn’t seem to impress many people, either. The 3-cylinder engine only generated 228 horsepower, which is not particularly spectacular for what many people would consider a contemporary supercar.
Up to the 2018 model year, the engine and electric motor worked together to produce 357 horsepower. Power was then slightly increased to 369 horsepower. No of the year, you can anticipate receiving a startling 420 lb-ft of torque.
But just how quick was the BMW I8? Although many drivers are aware that performance is more than simply power and that there are certain fairly common comparison tests, we can get a broad notion of how the automobile will perform when we talk about horsepower. The I8 typically finished the quarter-mile race in 12.1 seconds and at a speed of 116 mph. Its electronically controlled top speed is 155 mph. Our final test is the 0 to 60 mph test, which naturally takes the longest and results in an amazing 3.6 seconds.
Although it lacks the absurd horsepower of the new 3-cylinder hybrid that the new Koenigsegg Gemera boasts, drivers note that the I8 handles remarkably well and that the given torque allows it an amazing launch from a complete stop. When in sports mode, the supercar offers a thrilling but comfortable ride; when in eco mode, the car entirely transforms and offers a tranquil and relaxing experience.
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Like many of us, I thought the BMW i8 needed a little more power, so after doing some research, I called a nearby shop in SFLO called Velos Designwerks Performance Tuning Autosalon.
Check out the 0-60 mph time below on 21-inch wheels, which Velos was able to achieve with the first tuned BMW i8 in the US at the time.
That definitely isn’t slow at all! What matters most to me is how quickly the automobile feels between 30 and 90 mph.
I’m coming from a full bolt on gtr, so I doubt that 0-60 dead stop feels the same. LOL
Your point is not clear to me. The GT-R complete bolt on can accomplish 2.9 – 3.2 sec 0-60 so yeah… it’s faster so it doesn’t feel the same. First, no one was comparing the GT-R to the i8.
They gave me a discount on the price because my car was the first one, but call Velos and speak with Steven; they will take care of you.
Opinion: This is how BMW wasted the potential of the i8.
With a vehicle that had so much potential, how did BMW manage to goof up so badly? Well, the business has had trouble living up to its own slogan.
Since the iconic M1, which made its debut in 1978 and established the M sub-brand as the pinnacle of performance vehicles inside a company that proudly manufactured “The Ultimate Driving Machine,” the i8 was BMW’s first mid-engined supercar. The i8 may have revolutionized the auto industry with its primarily carbon fiber structure, futuristic design, and early hybrid-electric sports car powertrain with all-wheel drive.
In some ways, it was, but only in the sense that it served as motivation for other manufacturers to create vehicles that were ultimately more potent, spectacular, and attractive than the i8. And now the i8 has been discontinued after eight years of disappointing sales. Even the i3 commuter vehicle appears to be more well-liked!
With a vehicle that had so much potential, how did BMW manage to goof up so badly? The i8 was another entry into the firm’s steady downfall, which has occurred for a variety of reasons, and the corporation has been failing to live up to its own slogan for almost two decades now.
Is the BMW i8 quick?
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.
Does the BMW i8 outperform the M4 in speed?
Similar footage of the BMW i8 racing against prestigious sports cars have been seen before, testing the three-cylinder hybrid’s competitiveness. It’s a well-liked theory because, despite having a 1.5 liter, three-cylinder engine and being a plug-in hybrid, the i8 is actually a pretty quick vehicle. It moves surprisingly quickly, outpacing some of the top sports vehicles on the market.
In fact, Top Gear has done just that by pitting the BMW i8 against the BMW M4, its own sibling. Given that the BMW i8 has a total of 357 horsepower and the M4 has 425 horsepower, the competition initially doesn’t appear to be fair. The i8 only has three cylinders, while the M4 also boasts a six-cylinder engine. The i8 only has one turbocharger, compared to the M4’s two. Therefore, it appears that the M4 is clearly in the lead. It does, however, balance out because the i8 has all-wheel drive to aid with the launch off the line and is about 200 pounds lighter than the M4. The BMW i8 also benefits from the use of electric motors, which deliver all of their torque at zero revolutions per minute. As a result, the i8 can fire off the line with terrifying authority.
But a drag race only includes a small portion of the launch. Total horsepower is used throughout the period of a quarter mile. As long as the i8 doesn’t get a big head start, the M4’s added power may help it grab the lead. Additionally, the dual-clutch transmission of the M4 will assist in limiting power during the race, in contrast to the torque converter automatic used by the i8.
The race begins as we anticipated after navigating the M4’s challenging launch control (why do so many people struggle with that?). The i8 accelerates quickly off the mark whereas the M4 struggles to gain grip with to its all-wheel drive traction and immediate torque. However, the M4 begins to overtake the i8 thanks to its additional power and rifle-shot upshifts. The i8 barely beats the M4 across the finish line at the end of the race. In the end, the 425 horsepower purebred sports car loses to the little three-cylinder hybrid. For this video, these guys also make an attempt to harness their inner Clarkson, but it falls flat.
How quickly does a BMW i8 reach 60 mph?
The BMW i8 accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.2 seconds. The i8 Coupe achieved that remarkable time, but the i8 Roadster isn’t far behind with a time of just 4.4 seconds.
What makes the BMW i8 unique?
Benoit Jacob was the designer of the BMW i8 in production. 2013 Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez was followed by the 2013 International Motor Show Germany, where the production model was unveiled. The BMW M1 Homage concept car, which itself pays homage to BMW’s last mid-engined sports car in production before the i8, had a significant effect on its design.
Butterfly doors, a head-up display, rearview cameras, and partially fake engine noise were all features of the BMW i8. Customer car series production started in April 2014. The two-speed electric drivetrain was created and manufactured by GKN. As opposed to LED headlights, it was the first production vehicle using laser headlights.
The i8 had a low drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.26 and a vehicle weight of 1,485 kg (3,274 lb) (DIN kerb weight). The top speed of the BMW i8 in all-electric mode was 120 km/h (75 mph). The i8 achieved a midrange acceleration from 50 to 75 mph (80 to 120 km/h) in 2.6 seconds when in Sport mode. 250 km/h was the electronically controlled peak speed (155 mph).
In December 2019, one of the restricted Ultimate Sophisto Edition models, the 20,000th i8, was created. On June 11 of 2020, the final i8 left the factory. 20,465 vehicles were made in total, with 16,581 coupes and 3,884 roadsters.
Is there a V8 in an 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 long does a battery in a BMW i8 last?
In general, hybrid batteries have a lifespan of 6 to 10 years. There are anomalies in both ways, and warranties frequently provide coverage when products don’t live up to expectations. Although the batteries cannot be serviced by the average customer, it does provide warning signs that a repair or replacement may be forthcoming.
Why doesn’t BMW have a supercar?
According to the product manager for BMW North America, the German automaker doesn’t feel the need to produce a supercar and rather to manufacture practical vehicles that people can use on a daily basis, such as executive and drivers’ cars.
The i8 isn’t a supercar.
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.