The i8 is a low-slung, all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid sports car. The front wheels are driven by a 129-hp electric motor, and the rear wheels are propelled by a rear-mounted, 220-hp, 1.5-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine.
According to BMW, the 357 horsepower combined output is sufficient for a lightning 0-60 mph run in 4.2 seconds.
The i8 has a 20-mile all-electric range before the gas engine engages, but it may be used as much as necessary for maximum performance.
According to reports, charging takes roughly 1.5 hours at 240 volts and 3.5 hours at 120 volts.
The i8 weighs less than 3,500 pounds and is also built of carbon fiber like the i3.
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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.
It is what?
The i8 still feels like it arrived on earth via a spacetime rift four years after launch. But now, this is what we humans refer to as a facelift. The face hasn’t really changed, though. The beautiful Roadster version is the main story. Many of the same under-the-skin adjustments are also made to the Coupe, helping to improve both its handling and effectiveness.
The i8 seems quite radical. Aesthetically, crowd-pleasing flamboyance is skillfully incorporated with minimal-drag shape-work for efficiency.
As unconventional and daring as the aesthetics are the drivetrain and the structure. A large 143 horsepower electric motor powers the front wheels, while a compact, mid-mounted 231 bhp gasoline engine propels the vehicle’s rear wheels using a six-speed automatic transmission.
That makes three different types of propulsion possible. When in sports mode, the AWD sports car driving performance is comparable to that of the M4 from BMW. The hybrid mode is quite effective and serene. Alternatively, it can use the plug-in battery reserve to travel up to 75 mph only on electricity.
Whether the energy is generated by gasoline or electricity, the car may fine-tune its driving style to consume the least amount.
Low drag and little rolling resistance are both components of that; just have a look at their tyres. Another is its lightness. The 1,535kg Coupe weighs. Even the Roadster weighs less than 1,600kg—less than a 911 with 4WD, an automatic transmission, and an electric top. How did they manage that? utilizing a carbon fiber tub with lightweight external panels and aluminum subframes.
However, it was such a moonshot when it was first developed that its engineers prudently took some precautions. With the advantage of experience, they have also boosted the main traction motor and battery, which now hold 70% more energy than previously. Electric range, hybrid performance, and fuel efficiency all benefit. Now, it should have a practical electric range of 20 to 25 miles, and the Coupe’s stated CO2 emissions are as low as 42 g/km.
Additionally, by employing revised front damper calibration and a stronger rear anti-roll bar, they have reduced the original’s front understeer. These modifications are made to the Roadster, and the coupe ups the sportiness a level.
The Roadster is more than just a seasonal spyder. The three-layer electrified cloth roof is soundproof and fully weatherproof. Thus, it gives this incredible car a new dimension. You feel enchantingly close to the streetscape as you softly cruise through a town in electric mode with the roof down. However, you still have the coupe’s ability to be a true all-weather ground coverer with the roof up and in 4WD sports mode.
Review of the BMW i8
The i8 Coupe (and the newer Roadster) are finishing their product life cycles with the 2020 model year, six years after its market debut. Both all-wheel-drive variants are propelled by a hybrid 1.5-liter three-cylinder gas engine with 228 horsepower and a hybrid synchronous electric motor from BMW. While the electric motor drives the front wheels with a two-speed automatic gearbox, the power from the engine is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. In the end, a hybrid-specific AWD system is produced. In comparison to the i8 Roadster, the i8 Coupe can reach 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds. The top speed of both variants is 250 km/h. For the i8 Coupe and i8 Roadster, the electric range is 55 km and 53 km, respectively. The aerodynamically enhanced bodywork of the two-seat Roadster has model-specific gullwing doors and a soft-top roof. The open sky or an all-season fabric soft top with enhanced soundproofing are both options for passengers inside. While the car is moving at up to 50 km/h, the electrically controlled convertible top opens and closes in less than 16 seconds.
Is the BMW i8 a wise purchase?
Highs Unconventional design that feels swift and light and is comfortable enough for daily wear. Lows Not at all practical, not as swift as it seems, and the interior has too many plastic components. Verdict The i8 is a stylish and economical substitute for genuine exotic sports cars.
Is the i8 4WD?
It’s not your normal sports car, the BMW i8. With the low nose, striking color combinations, and crazy buttresses giving it a genuine wow factor, you can tell as much just by looking at it. Furthermore, the i8 is aging very well for a design that is fairly avant-garde. The drama of this unquestionably wild-looking car was only heightened by a minor update in 2018 that also included a convertible Roadster version. It lasted until 2020, when BMW decided to concentrate on building a brand-new lineup of electrified vehicles.
The same can be said for the technology found within, which is, of course, the other feature that sets this vehicle apart from sports car competitors like the Audi R8 and Porsche 911. This is due to the i8’s 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, 228bhp engine, which is positioned behind the passenger compartment and powers the back wheels, being used in place of a powerful gasoline engine. The 129bhp electric motor that drives the front axle is connected to it, giving the i8 four-wheel drive. It has a six-speed automatic transmission.
Why did BMW discontinue the i8?
On Thursday, the final i8 to be produced rolled out of the Leipzig BMW facility. Actually, the PHEV’s manufacturing was scheduled to stop in the middle of April. However, because of the factory’s closure due to the coronavirus outbreak, manufacturing was delayed until June.
Since manufacturing on the i8 began six years ago, exactly 20,448 vehicles have been sent from the factory. According to a press release from BMW, the final vehicle was an i8 Roadster in “Portimao Blue” and it was sold to a buyer in Germany.
The i8 was the first plug-in hybrid vehicle in the whole BMW Group when it made its debut in 2014. The hybrid sports car was never successful outside of its specialized market due to its intricate carbon body and six-figure base price. The i8 “embodies the departure into electric mobility like no other car,” according to Hans-Peter Kemser, head of the BMW plant in Leipzig. The model served as the inspiration for the current variety of plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Currently, one shift of production for the Leipzig-based BMW i3 produces 116 units per day. Hans-Peter Kemser, the plant manager, claims that if demand for e-cars in Germany increases, production of the i3 might be expanded to two shifts and thus boosted to 250 units per day.
There won’t be a straight replacement for the i8. In the interim, there have been rumors that the 2019 Vision M Next concept car may be produced in large quantities. The BMW board of directors reportedly decided against the 441 kW sports car, also against the backdrop of the Corona crisis, primarily due to “costs and the volume,” according to media reports. However, the hybrid sports car (this time with a four-cylinder petrol engine instead of the three-cylinder in the i8) did not get beyond the planning stage.
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.
How far can a BMW i8 travel?
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.
Does the BMW i8 allow for in-car charging?
Although you can plug in the i8 to fully charge the battery, if you drive in EV mode and completely drain the battery, you can recharge it while you’re on the road. This is especially noticeable in Sport mode.