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.
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.
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.
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 manufacturer 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.”
Overview
The BMW i8 is a smart mid-engine, plug-in hybrid supercar that was innovative when it was introduced. Although it never claimed to be the fastest or most competent car in its price class, it does provide a distinctive and intriguing take on the supercar in addition to having gorgeous appearance and a small all-electric range. The first plug-in hybrid sports car from BMW was introduced in 2014 and has since gone on to become the most popular performance automobile in the world. The BMW i8 Coupe and i8 Roadster represent the pinnacle of technological advancement for the BMW Group, fusing cutting-edge engineering with a stunning and futuristic design. The i8 is significant to BMW because it set the stage for future electrification of the full lineup of vehicles.
Do you have a BMW i8 plug?
You can effortlessly charge your BMW i8 at home, plug it in when you go to work, or top it off while you’re out and about at places like supermarkets and public parking lots (usually for free!).
Other billing options are also available; speak to our staff for more details. * Standard cost, excluding any grants. For automobiles with either CCS or CHAdeMO connectors, available.
The BMW i8: Supercar or not?
In 2019, the i8 Roadster made an ambiguous debut. In case you forgot, the i8 Coupe made its debut in 2015 and enjoyed strong sales for a few years before declining as competition from Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, and Audi grew more intense. When AMG offered a purpose-built sportscar with a symphonic V8 and north of 500 horsepower, it was difficult to persuade them to purchase a 369-horsepower hybrid. Additionally, the ubiquitous R8 and 911 Carrera did not help.
The i8 may have simply been a little ahead of its time, the argument against it goes. It set a standard, making it different from all other cars in its class. Even though it didn’t technically have supercar performance on paper, it was one of the first production hybrid supercars. It also marked numerous firsts for BMW. And the i8 Roadster enhanced every standard that the coupe had established.
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.
Can the BMW i8 run just on gasoline?
People will stop wherever you go in the i8 to take pictures of it with their iPhones and, if they have the chance, to talk to you. Despite the wide disparity in understanding of the vehicle, everyone agrees that the i8 looks stunning when parked by the side of the road. Since the i8 has a drag coefficient (Cd) of just 0.26, it is obvious that aerodynamics plays a major role in its design. When the gullwing-style doors are opened, the striking appearance causes an even sharper intake of breath.
Once inside, which necessitates some agility due to the relatively small and oddly formed entrance aperture, the interior also exhibits a significant amount of design flare, with numerous curved, layered surfaces. Everything is still where you want it and has the same superior ergonomic design as any other BMW cabin. We haven’t yet discovered a better in-car infotainment control system than BMW’s iDrive controller, but the head-up display is excellent. Importantly, the basic driving posture, like almost all other BMWs, is ideal and offers a wide range of modification.
Surprisingly, there is a good deal of storage space between the seats, in addition to the roomy center tube where the batteries are located. The “2+2” back seats, however, are cramped, and the boot is also quite small.
Things are equally inventive underneath the surface. The i8 is essentially a mid-engined vehicle thanks to its 3-cylinder, 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine, which is located between the rear seats and the rear wheels. The 6-speed automatic transmission used to drive the rear wheels of this power unit, which is based on the engine used in the new MINI Cooper, is lighter than the 8-speed automatic transmission often found in modern BMWs.
However, there is also a 96kw electric motor under the hood that is driven by a lithium-ion battery that runs up the middle of the vehicle. The front wheels are propelled by this electric drivetrain.
The i8 can be powered only by electricity, by gasoline, or by a combination of the two. The car has front-wheel drive if it is only powered by electricity. It has rear-wheel drive if only powered by gasoline. When used gradually, the i8 is all-wheel drive when using gasoline and electricity as power sources.
BMW has made significant efforts, like with the i3, to make the i8 as light as possible. The chassis is made of aluminum, while the passenger structure is made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). The i8 only weights 1490kg despite having 100kg of batteries. Even with all of this complicated packing, BMW was still able to maintain its distinctive 50:50 weight distribution and low center of gravity.
Can you operate a BMW i8 every day?
As a daily driver, the i8 really shines. Comfortable seats, good visibility, and ease of traffic maneuverability are all present. It may throw you around a little on a rough road, but it won’t ruin your trip. The doors are not too bad in terms of quality.