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.
In This Article...
ACTIVE MODE (Automatic and Manual)
The BMW i8’s potential is unlocked in SPORT Mode. It’s at this point that a sports coupe’s unrivaled driving pleasure becomes apparent. To provide the greatest torque, speed, and stability, combustion and electric engines are coordinated to their fullest capabilities.
In SPORT mode, the electric engine can help the combustion engine by supplying additional power enhancements. It enhances power and acceleration while the battery recharges during braking and acceleration.
Either Automatic Drive “D” or Sequential Manual gear can start the SPORT mode. The gearshift in a manual transmission can be changed using the gearshift stick or the paddle shifter on the steering wheel.
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.
The BMW i8 has gears, right?
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.
Are BMW i8s 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.
The BMW i8 is it AWD?
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.
Is the BMW i8 a daily driver?
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.
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.
The BMW i8 is manual or automatic.
Let’s start with the design, which hasn’t altered but probably didn’t need to because the i8 is still startlingly stunning when it’s stopped and even more impressive when the dihedral doors are opened upward.
Although the i8 blends this interior design with the typical levels of BMW functionality, the cabin also offers a sense of the future. It even includes two tiny rear seats for kids since it is a 2+2. In addition, there is a luggage compartment located behind the engine, however it is somewhat small due to the storage of two charging wires.
The outside is stunning, and the interior is also really remarkable. However, the really intriguing technology is hidden behind the skin.
A plug-in hybrid is the i8. This implies that it has a gasoline engine that is linked to a six-speed Steptronic transmission and an electric motor that is driven by a lithium-ion battery and has a two-speed automatic gearbox. The lithium-ion battery’s energy capacity has increased from 20Ah to 34Ah in the most recent model of the i8, and the electric motor’s maximum power has improved by 12hp to 143hp.
You could assume that the ‘traditional portion’ of the i8’s powertrain is similar to a BMW 6-cylinder, 3-liter gasoline engine based on the vehicle’s appearance. But instead, a 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder petrol engine that came from a MINI is sat behind the passengers. a supercar powered by a 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder gasoline engine? Really? But keep in mind that the 231 horsepower of the gasoline engine is complemented by a 143 horsepower electric motor, giving the system a total power output of 374 horsepower. Now that you mention it, it makes more sense. It’s also important to note that the gasoline engine now has a particle filter.
The i8’s ability to transfer its power to the road is another concern. The front wheels receive power from the electric motor while the rear wheels receive it from the mid-mounted gasoline engine. All-wheel drive is created when these two propulsion methods are combined.
The i8 features two powertrains but only 1,535 kg of total weight thanks to its carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell.
How much is a BMW i8?
You belong to a distinct cat breed. Hard-working. unconventional thinking Some people could even describe you as revolutionary or rebellious. Your spirit animal in the guise of a luxurious hybrid sports automobile may be the 2021 BMW i8. It’s a forward-thinking, unorthodox Coupe and Roadster. Sports hybrid vehicles are no longer so unique. But this one is special because it was designed specifically to harness amazing hybrid power and was expertly made to provide a driving experience unlike any other. With plenty of visual sex appeal due to its hardtop coupe or convertible roadster’s opening dihedral doors. Additionally, it has a powerful plug-in powertrain that is quicker than weaker hybrids. All of these factors combined to provide a comfortable, interesting, and user-friendly driving experience. The 2021 i8 offers brilliance for your daily life or that once-in-a-lifetime cross-country road trip, starting at $147,500. You can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and top out at 155 mph. Choose a convertible if you like to drive with the top down. It has just one motor and comes standard with all-wheel drive. Every model comes standard with heated front seats, a head-up display, a Harman/Kardon audio system, and Apple CarPlay compatibility. That certainly qualifies as a non-standard list of standards. The Tera World option, which adds ceramic controls, black brake calipers, blue seatbelts, and a special brown interior, may be just what your rebel needs to turn the heat up even higher. We know you don’t do things halfway or conventionally.
Call our sales staff at 760-469-4242 if you are looking for a new BMW i8 Model in Palm Springs, California, want to lease one, or have questions regarding price. Alternatively, if you’re ready for a test drive, stop by our BMW Dealership. In addition, we have customers from cities like Ontario, Riverside, and Murrieta, California. No matter where you’re from, BMW of Palm Springs will make you feel at home.