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.
In This Article...
Its first hybrid vehicle would have been the Alpina i8.
In June 2020, the BMW i8’s manufacture came to an end after a little over six years. Alpina lost the opportunity to produce its first hybrid or electric vehicle by abandoning the i8 project. BMW doesn’t intend to create a precursor, but it will soon broaden its selection of hybrid vehicles, opening the door for Alpina to someday enter this market.
Since 1965, Alpina has been in business. In the beginning, the company focused on tuning BMW engines for racing, but in the 1980s it changed into an automaker. Alpina has altered several models of the BMW 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, and 8 Series over the years, but it also created a limited-edition Z8 roadster variant.
Now available at BMW dealerships, Alpina models include the B7 and XB7, based on the 7 Series and X7, respectively, in the U.S. lineup.
Advertised Links
The company’s first plug-in hybrid was the BMW i8. It was a stunner when it first appeared on the event circuit as a concept car, and the final product was shockingly comparable to the original. The innovative setup of a lithium-ion battery and a three-cylinder engine, which could accelerate the vehicle from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in only 4.4 seconds, was concealed by the sleek contours of the chassis. But in April, the BMW factory in Leipzig, Germany, will stop producing the brand’s best-selling sports car after six years of success.
For BMW, the i8 functioned as a model. While the i8 was undoubtedly above the means of even most luxury automobile fans, the features and technology underlying the car gradually made their way to other models in the company’s lineup. However, BMW adapted its hybrid drivetrain for more economical versions. Its high-end specifications contributed to the legitimacy of the idea of a powerful sports automobile that is also environmentally friendly.
Considering the $147,500 starting price, BMW has sold more than 20,000 i8s since 2014. According to the manufacturer, the model outsold every rival in its class combined. Having said that, the i8 is becoming outdated. Due to its obsolete core technology, the corporation is switching to more modern models, such the all-electric i4. Given all of this, it is hardly unexpected that BMW is ending one of its most illustrious success tales.
BMW stopped producing the i8 when?
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 the BMW i8 being replaced?
The successor to the i8 may borrow design elements from the M1, and we anticipate that it will go on sale in 2023 for about $160,000. The performance of the new BMW i8 hybrid sports car will be prioritized more. A potent plug-in hybrid powertrain with up to 600 horsepower will be used.
Does the BMW i8 draw interest?
Even with its flaws, the BMW i8 is a pleasure to drive. It attracts attention as it follows the road. Few cars can reach this level of exhilaration without speed, so it’s thrilling. Although it is swift, it won’t break any speed records or set quarter-mile records. Driving simply feels wonderful.
According to the calculations, purchasing a $164,000 BMW i8 Roadster seems unnecessary. Need speed? Purchase a Nissan GT-R for $112K, a Corvette ZR1 for $123K, or a Porsche 911 Turbo for $161K. Aesthetics of supercars? Spend $157K and get an Acura NSX. Want everything to be electric? Purchase a Tesla Model S. All are more affordable and faster than the BMW i8.
In the history of BMW, the i8 is merely a stepping stone. an anomaly. It’s a special model that lets you test out cutting-edge technology. I believe BMW never promoted the i8 as a best-seller or the market leader. It was a playground for engineers. My favorite.
Are BMW i8 vehicles dependable?
i8 BMW’s dependability BMW placed 27th overall in the 2020 edition (down two spots from 25th in 2019), with 20.4% of owners reporting one or more problems within the first year of ownership.
Is Tesla faster than the BMW i8?
Still, when measured in terms of 0-60 mph, Tesla annihilates the i8. It completes the dash in roughly 3.2 seconds as opposed to 4.2 seconds for the BMW. But the BMW is unquestionably superior in several areas.
What will take the place of i8?
Similar to the i8, the Vision M NEXT is a plug-in hybrid vehicle that blends electric and small-displacement gasoline power. With an electronic front axle and a supercharged four-cylinder engine, a total of 592 horsepower is produced. BMW claims it can reach 186 mph and accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in three seconds.
Will the i8 come back?
For the 2024 model year, the i8 M—or whatever name BMW chooses for its upcoming hybrid sports car—will be completely new. As we come closer to the car’s release date, which is anticipated to be somewhere in 2023 as a 2024 model, we anticipate learning more.
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.
A i8’s lifespan is how long?
It’s also important to note that the battery is protected for eight years or 100,000 miles in addition to the i8’s usual three-year, unlimited-mileage guarantee from BMW.