Affordable is a relative term, but because this car is up to 8 years old, it may be purchased for a much lower cost.
Depending on mileage, a late 2019 model will typically cost you approximately $100,000, but if you’re prepared to settle for an early 2014 or 2015 model, you can purchase an i8 for as little as $55,000, saving you $80,000 off the initial minimum retail price.
You still get the advanced aerodynamics, carbon fiber exterior, butterfly doors, and laser lighting for an early model.
Once you get past the appearance, the drivetrain—which has a 130 horsepower electric motor and 184 pound-feet of torque—and a 230 horsepower, three-cylinder, gasoline engine with 236 pound-feet of torque combine to provide a respectable 360 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque.
With the electric motor driving the front and the gasoline motor driving the back, this effectively had all-wheel drive. The entire configuration allowed for a 4.4-second 0-60 mph pace and more over 100 mpg combined.
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10/10 The appearances are fantastic.
The i8 looks amazing, without a doubt. With its curved exterior and inside, it seems incredibly futuristic. Six years later, it still resembles a UFO and still appears stunning. Many other concept automobiles, notably the Efficient Dynamics in 2009 and the i8 concept in 2011, were used in the design of the I8, which was featured in the 2011 movie Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol.
It looks like a poster car, it definitely turns heads wherever it travels, and it is unquestionably one of the best BMWs of the past ten years.
Carbon-Fiber Buildings Deserving of Supercars
Over 20,000 units have been sold globally since 2014. The i8 was formally unveiled at the 2013 IAA Frankfurt, and the market launch occurred later that year, in 2014. The 2009 Vision EfficientDynamics idea served as the primary source of inspiration for the plug-in hybrid design. And at this point, the BMW i8 models represent a significant period in BMW’s history and are destined to become timeless automobiles.
Since the i8 is primarily built of carbon fiber, rust is not a concern, hence location is less crucial when choosing the ideal i8. The integrity of the carbon fiber would be preserved if the car’s history was free of significant collisions, which is what we would prefer to emphasize. Those who are interested in frequently operating on pure electric power should monitor the battery capacity as well to observe how it degrades with time.
You should also take a brief look at the BMW i8 recalls, particularly if you have any concerns about their safety records. A 2019 NHTSA notice said that “a shut down of high-voltage electrical power would result in a loss of propulsion, increasing the danger of an accident,” which prompted the most recent significant recall. While reliability doesn’t appear to be an issue either, it’s important to note that we just looked through a small number of online car forums. Although you may always purchase a BMW Extended Warranty for your own peace of mind, some people were reporting problems with the fuel tank sensors.
What Causes the BMW i8’s Rapid Decline in Value?
Some expensive cars have a low resale value for unexplained reasons. Whether it’s a BMW, Audi, or Mercedes-Benz, after a few years, some of these companies’ new models may be found for a much less money on the used car market.
The i8 is now the BMW model that has been most negatively impacted by devaluation. The price of a brand-new i8 at the starting level, after taxes and dealer fees, is about $145,000. The automobile is therefore unquestionably pricey. But just a few years later, the cost is less than half of what it was originally. Between $70,000 and $80,000 will get you a 2015 or 2016 model with fewer than 30,000 miles on it. Given the high resale value of manufacturers like Toyota, Honda, Jeep, and Porsche, such a sharp decline is unexpected.
What makes the BMW i8 unique?
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.
Why did BMW stop producing 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.
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.
Who would purchase an i8?
The i8 achieves excellent MPG since it is a sportier version of the Prius. With just energy, it can travel over 20 miles, giving you an MPG of 35 to 40. That’s fairly decent, considering how attractive the car is. It is cozy as well, more so than a Grand Tourer.
The I8 is much more useful because it has four seats as well. Even though the seats are not the largest, they can accommodate two children, making it ideal for transporting youngsters to school.
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.
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.
What is the top speed of the BMW I8?
The BMW i8 provides all the driving enjoyment you’d anticipate from a premium sports vehicle, despite its remarkable fuel economy ratings and pure-electric driving range. This deviates as much as it is possible from the conventional perception of an electric vehicle.
Drivers of the BMW i8 can select between Eco Pro, Comfort, and Sport settings. The i8 is set up for long-distance cruising in Comfort, while the first setting attempts to make the car as economical as possible, offering the best fuel economy.
However, Sport is the one to choose if you want to drive the automobile a little bit faster. When you choose it, the electric motor and gasoline engine are ready to give maximum acceleration, and the dashboard dials become red. The BMW i8 can go from 0 to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds while maintaining a top speed of 155 mph when fully used.
By choosing Sport mode, the car’s suspension is stiffened, the steering is made heavier, and the ingenious brake-energy-regeneration system, which slows down the vehicle and charges the batteries everytime you depress the accelerator, is activated fully.
You’ll hear right away that the 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine sounds nothing like the V10 engine found in an Audi R8, for example. Performance, though, is similarly astonishing. The BMW reacts immediately when you push the accelerator, regardless of speed, thanks to the electric motors. Things get even fiercer when Sport mode is activated, and the engine sound like that of a miniature Porsche 911, despite having half as many cylinders.
The automatic gearbox is enjoyable to use (as are practically all BMW automatics), and acceleration is essentially flawless.
The BMW i8 feels incredibly agile and has lots of traction in turns thanks to its four-wheel drive system. Body lean is minimized, and the car’s handling encourages confidence in tight turns.
Despite its distinctive charm and brutal acceleration, the i8 falls short of the Porsche 911’s wholesome, energizing sports-car experience. The BMW i8 feels more like an astounding technical feat than a performance thoroughbred, in contrast to how the Porsche 911 feels like a genuine sports vehicle.
Is the i8 worth purchasing?
The BMW i8 has no significant competitors because the company put all of its effort into developing it. The i8 is a highly sought-after vehicle due to the engineering that went into its creation, the way it drives, the available performance, and the low fuel consumption. The i8 is one of the most technologically advanced vehicles to ever on the road, despite the fact that it is rather expensive. Although the i8 is pricey to purchase, operating costs are acceptable given the performance. It is also demonstrating its dependability, with only a small number of serious flaws revealed.
BMW is known for producing no-compromise automobiles, but many questioned if the German company would ever put anything so outrageous into production when it debuted the i8 concept in 2011.
But only three years later did we see the i8 Coupe, which resembled that demonstration car very little. The i8 was quintessentially BMW with its futuristic look, cutting-edge technology, and spectacular handling, yet this was a vehicle with economy at its core.
To do this, a twin-turbo 1.5-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine tuned to produce 228 horsepower provided the majority of the power. The front wheels were propelled by a 129 horsepower electric motor, while the rear wheels were propelled by this. The end result was 357bhp with official fuel economy of more than 100mpg and CO2 emissions of just 49g/km. incredibly impressive