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. 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. 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.
In This Article...
EV Performance, Power, and Motor
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.
Next month, BMW will stop making the i8 electric sports car.
The manufacture of the BMW i8, the best-selling plug-in hybrid sports car, will finish next month after producing around 20,000 units.
Today, the German automaker declared:
“The last stretch before reaching the “Hall of Fame” for BMW sports cars: The BMW i8’s product life cycle concludes six years after it was first introduced to the market. The plug-in hybrid sports cars will have long since cemented their place among the company’s milestones by the time manufacture of the BMW i8 Coupe ends. The BMW i8 was a groundbreaking combination of futuristic design and cutting-edge technology that launched its global success story. The first plug-in hybrid vehicle from the BMW Group set the way for driving enjoyment that was both exciting and environmentally friendly, and it quickly rose to the top of the fascination with driving using electrified drive technology. The plug-in hybrid models offered by the BMW Group today are made possible thanks to it. At the same time, the BMW i8 evolved into the most popular sports car with an electric drivetrain in the world. Since 2014, it has sold more than 20,000 units, outpacing all of its rivals in this market sector combined in sales.”
The BMW i8 concept was initially presented at the 2009 Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA).
The production model made its premiere with the BMW i3 four years later, and many people predicted that it would be the first of many new electric vehicle debuts for BMW.
The BMW i3 is still the only all-electric model offered by the German carmaker, although the BMW i8 spurred the development of numerous plug-in hybrid variants of other models.
As it affirms that production of the i8 will finish in April, BMW now claims that it is turning into a “classic automobile.”
A BMW i8 is it entirely electric?
Experience Driving a BMW i8. With no emissions from the tailpipe, the BMW i8 has a range of up to 34 miles when driven around town in electric only mode. To prevent the i8 from starting its gasoline engine, press the EV button.
Why was the BMW i8 withdrawn from sale?
The BMW i8’s production run has come to an end, almost six years after the plug-in hybrid sportscar initially debuted on foreign markets. The i8’s production was supposed to expire in April 2020, but the German automaker was forced to delay it since one of its factories was shut down by the coronavirus outbreak.
The last BMW i8 has just gone off the assembly line, and it is a roadster with a Portimao Blue paint. Additionally, this i8 is allegedly the sole one with that color as a factory option. A 1.5-liter, three-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine and an electric motor are connected in the sports car’s mid-engine configuration to produce a combined 374 horsepower.
BMW has turned its focus to a new line of custom electric vehicles, including the iX3 compact SUV, i4 sedan, and iNext SUV flagship, despite the i8 leaving the BMW product lineup. Within the next five years, a new sportscar based on the BMW Vision M Next concept that was unveiled last year is anticipated.
The BMW i8 sportscar was introduced in India in 2015 at a cost of Rs 2.29 crore, and it was just recently dropped from the brand’s lineup there. Despite never introducing the i8 Roadster in our market, the automaker again displayed the model at the 2018 Auto Expo.
How is a BMW I8 fueled?
The BMW i8 Hybrid is an amazing car. Few modern cars can match its exotic styling, and even fewer can claim to offer the same level of comfort for the driver and passengers. The BMW i8 leads the pack in several of these categories, but it is not without its flaws. The sticky gasoline door that can leave you trapped at the pump is one particular oddity that aggravates both vehicle owners and renters.
In an effort to create “The Ultimate Driving Machine,” BMW compressed the i8 hybrid’s whole fuel system. “Preparing To Refuel” will be shown on the dashboard when you press the fuel door release button on the driver’s door. Rarely, the door won’t open and the notification will remain on the dash. Follow these easy methods to swiftly open the fuel door if this ever occurs to you.
- On the driver’s side door, push the button to open the fuel door.
- Look at the dashboard to see the message “Preparing To Refuel.” There will probably be a percentage with this message.
- If this process doesn’t finish on its own after 30 seconds, wait some more.
- The car’s trunk should be opened. There is a trunk release on the driver’s side door as well.
- the vehicle’s passengers side access panel should be removed.
- Release the green tab.
- To release the gasoline tank door, press it.
The BMW i8: 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.