Centurion
Apex Apex Predator
Hello everyone
BMW UK lent me an i8 for 72 hours. Hungry for delicious fish and chips I drove it down to cliffs of Beachy Head and Hastings on the southern coast of England, where I enjoyed fresh air and twisty roads. Here's my BMW i8 review.
What is it?
A hybrid GT(Yes a GT, not supercar) with a 228hp 3 cylinder petrol engine at the rear and a 129hp electric motor at the front. They develop a combined 570nm at 320nm and 250nm respectively.
How does it drive?
Have you ever played a video game with fictional cars that have perfect physics? Well, the i8 drives like one of them. It’s fast, has no body roll and grips like it’s on rails.
The star of the show is without a doubt the drivetrain. Whether you are driving relaxed in bumper to bumper traffic or breezing through country roads, the drivetrain never misunderstands your intentions. It knows when to only engage the electric motor and when to keep the turbo spooled and ready to punch. BMW have absolutely nailed the software that governs the interplay between gearbox, petrol engine and electric motor.
Only when flooring it from standstill do you notice a split second step at around 40mph when the electric motor starts to run out of breath and the petrol engine catches up. Except for that, the drivetrain is so step-less to the point that unless you have read the specs, you wouldn’t be able to guess what’s powering the car.
It’s an amazing drivetrain!
The bad bits
The good bits.
Does it attract a lot of attention?
The exterior has the appearance of a movie prop from a Tom Cruise Scifi and attracts curiosity. A typical comment is “It’s electric right?, as if the public is unsure about whether it’s a car of the future of not. Thankfully, the i8 is available without silly blue accents all over the exterior. It’s a head turner but not a showstopper or attention magnet like a Lamborghini. Inside, all sort of beeps and boings can be heard when on ignition. It’s akin to preparing for take off in a spaceship.
Is it better than the Tesla Model S?
In electric drive, the i8 has a range of 25 miles and loses breath at 40mph while the Tesla has a range up to 380 miles and can do 0-62mph in 2.8sec. While the i8 is a taster of the future, the Tesla is the future, has 4 seats and is available to buy not in year 2020 or 2030 but today in 2017.
Who is it for?
At £109,000/$140,700/€130.000,00 the i8 is a very expensive car. The the AMG GT, 911 GTS, M6, R8 V10, Model S and S Class coupe cost as much but are more practical GTs or offer the drama and exhilaration expected of a supercar. While the i8 has many qualities to appreciate, it’s a master of none.
Put that drive train in a 4-Series and there’ll be plenty of people who will be happy to leave the famous BMW straight 6 in the past. The i8 is not the electric BMW the world has been waiting for.
BMW UK lent me an i8 for 72 hours. Hungry for delicious fish and chips I drove it down to cliffs of Beachy Head and Hastings on the southern coast of England, where I enjoyed fresh air and twisty roads. Here's my BMW i8 review.
What is it?
A hybrid GT(Yes a GT, not supercar) with a 228hp 3 cylinder petrol engine at the rear and a 129hp electric motor at the front. They develop a combined 570nm at 320nm and 250nm respectively.
How does it drive?
Have you ever played a video game with fictional cars that have perfect physics? Well, the i8 drives like one of them. It’s fast, has no body roll and grips like it’s on rails.
The star of the show is without a doubt the drivetrain. Whether you are driving relaxed in bumper to bumper traffic or breezing through country roads, the drivetrain never misunderstands your intentions. It knows when to only engage the electric motor and when to keep the turbo spooled and ready to punch. BMW have absolutely nailed the software that governs the interplay between gearbox, petrol engine and electric motor.
Only when flooring it from standstill do you notice a split second step at around 40mph when the electric motor starts to run out of breath and the petrol engine catches up. Except for that, the drivetrain is so step-less to the point that unless you have read the specs, you wouldn’t be able to guess what’s powering the car.
It’s an amazing drivetrain!
The bad bits
- Looks can be deceiving. Despite the supercar design, the i8 drives like a GT. The steering has a small dead zone and is not sharp nor communicative enough for you to feel “one with the car”.
- Although fun, the fake engine note can feel unnecessary in sport mode as it’s not as erotic as satin underwear or the thunder and crackling of a Maserati GranTurismo.
- Because of the obtrusive monocoque, getting in and out of the car is a clumsy task. Facing away from the car you slide the bum into the seat, close your legs together and swing them 90 degrees into the car. If the car is wet, your calves will touch the side skirt and get soiled. I kept my white Dockers in the wardrobe for this one.
The good bits.
- Grand tourers are typically heavy and clumsy, but the i8 isn’t. Leave it in auto and the low centre of gravity and smooth drive train offer a comfortable and effortless cruise. Performance is easily accessible and traction is difficult to break. Best of all, it is nimble and feels small around town and in parking lots.
Does it attract a lot of attention?
The exterior has the appearance of a movie prop from a Tom Cruise Scifi and attracts curiosity. A typical comment is “It’s electric right?, as if the public is unsure about whether it’s a car of the future of not. Thankfully, the i8 is available without silly blue accents all over the exterior. It’s a head turner but not a showstopper or attention magnet like a Lamborghini. Inside, all sort of beeps and boings can be heard when on ignition. It’s akin to preparing for take off in a spaceship.
Is it better than the Tesla Model S?
In electric drive, the i8 has a range of 25 miles and loses breath at 40mph while the Tesla has a range up to 380 miles and can do 0-62mph in 2.8sec. While the i8 is a taster of the future, the Tesla is the future, has 4 seats and is available to buy not in year 2020 or 2030 but today in 2017.
Who is it for?
At £109,000/$140,700/€130.000,00 the i8 is a very expensive car. The the AMG GT, 911 GTS, M6, R8 V10, Model S and S Class coupe cost as much but are more practical GTs or offer the drama and exhilaration expected of a supercar. While the i8 has many qualities to appreciate, it’s a master of none.
Put that drive train in a 4-Series and there’ll be plenty of people who will be happy to leave the famous BMW straight 6 in the past. The i8 is not the electric BMW the world has been waiting for.
