When BMW unveiled the i8 in 2009 on the Frankfurt Auto Present after which later in 2012, it appeared like an idea automobile had damaged out of the auto present ground and in some way made its means onto public roads. It was not like something the model had constructed earlier than: a wedge-shaped, carbon-fiber-bodied spaceship with butterfly doorways, electrical drive, and a three-cylinder engine that sounded extra at dwelling in a compact metropolis automobile than in a six-figure sports activities automobile. And but, this unorthodox machine went on to grow to be one of the daring and forward-thinking autos in BMW’s trendy historical past.
Initially priced at $137,450, the i8 entered the market as BMW’s technological flagship, a rolling laboratory for the BMW i’s electrification technique. However now, just some years after manufacturing resulted in 2020, the i8 has discovered a second life as one of the accessible unique plug-in hybrids cash should buy. Current examples have bought for below $40,000—lower than a brand new Toyota Camry XSE. For that value, you’re getting a carbon-tub chassis, head-turning design, and efficiency figures that also impress.
Powered by a 1.5 Liter Turbo Engine
BMW constructed the i8 to interrupt the mildew of conventional efficiency vehicles. As an alternative of stuffing in a thunderous V8 or a silky inline-six, Munich went with the B38 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine borrowed and modified from the MINI. That engine, mounted over the rear axle, labored in tandem with an electrical motor on the entrance axle to ship all-wheel drive and a mixed 357 horsepower (later elevated to 369 hp within the i8’s later years). It could sound modest on paper, however the i8 might dash from 0 to 60 mph in simply 4.2 seconds because of the moment torque from the electrical motor and the automobile’s light-weight construction. It didn’t have to be the quickest; it simply needed to show a degree: that efficiency and sustainability might coexist.
With an EPA-rated all-electric vary of about 15 miles when new, the i8 wasn’t a long-range EV, but it surely was by no means attempting to be. It gave drivers the choice to cruise silently by means of the town on electrical energy alone, then summon gasoline-fueled propulsion for longer freeway journeys or extra spirited drives. The 2-speed gearbox for the electrical motor, an innovation not often seen in hybrids on the time, additional enhanced the i8’s versatility and driving dynamics.
A Design Like No Different BMW Earlier than
However the efficiency was solely half the story. The design of the i8 was jaw-dropping. Low-slung and sculpted, it wore its aerodynamic priorities proudly: floating rear buttresses, laser headlights and a sloping roofline that gave it the presence of a hypercar. Its scissor doorways—hinged on the A-pillar and rising theatrically—solely added to its futuristic vibe. This wasn’t a automobile attempting to mix in, and it definitely by no means did.
Beneath its carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic pores and skin was a intelligent structure: a Life Module cabin driving atop a Drive Module chassis. This “i” sub-brand philosophy of modular development was shared with the i3 and stays influential in BMW’s future electrical autos, together with the upcoming Neue Klasse era. Inside, the i8 delivered a high-tech surroundings with BMW’s iDrive infotainment, a head-up show, and a digital gauge cluster. The supplies have been sustainably sourced, a nod to its eco-conscious mission, although practicality was restricted. The i8 technically had 4 seats, however the rear ones have been greatest reserved for youngsters or additional baggage.
Not A Big Vendor In The Finish
Regardless of its avant-garde pitch, the i8 discovered an honest following. BMW bought over 20,000 models throughout its six-year manufacturing run—an honest quantity for such a distinct segment, forward-looking sports activities automobile. That manufacturing quantity, together with depreciation typical of high-end hybrids, is a part of the explanation why the i8 is now such a compelling used purchase. Only in the near past, two examples bought for $37,000 and $33,000 on fanatic public sale website Vehicles & Bids.
It’s arduous to overstate what sort of worth proposition that presents. This was as soon as a $150,000 automobile when nicely optioned. It’s made from carbon fiber, accelerates quicker than most trendy scorching hatches, and appears like an idea automobile made actual. All for the worth of a mid-trim household sedan.
The BMW i8 might not have lived as much as the hypercar heights of its contemporaries just like the Porsche 918 Spyder or McLaren P1, but it surely wasn’t alleged to. It was the anti-supercar: lighter, smarter, greener. Looking back, it predicted the hybrid way forward for efficiency extra precisely than most of its friends. And because the trade now pivots more durable into electrification, the i8 feels much less like a detour and extra like a blueprint.
For these trying to personal one thing actually completely different—one thing stunning, quick, and surprisingly livable—the i8 nonetheless stands as one of many coolest and most reasonably priced entries into the world of unique electrified vehicles. And one of the best half? You don’t want six figures to get behind the wheel anymore.
Possession Concerns: What to Know Earlier than You Purchase
Whereas the BMW i8 is mechanically dependable in comparison with many unique or high-performance hybrids, potential consumers ought to nonetheless remember of some key possession elements. First, though the three-cylinder engine and electrical motor are usually reliable, repairs may be costly as a result of automobile’s distinctive development and hybrid complexity. The carbon-fiber tub, for instance, limits who can work on the chassis, and alternative physique panels may be pricey.
Battery degradation isn’t a widespread difficulty but, however as with every plug-in hybrid, older fashions might even see a diminished all-electric vary. Happily, BMW designed the i8’s high-voltage battery to be modular, and replacements or refurbishments have been sooner or later obtainable by means of licensed sellers. Routine upkeep is easy—oil modifications, brake service, and coolant flushes—however not each impartial store is provided to work on this type of drivetrain. Make sure to discover a BMW specialist or dealership aware of the i8’s distinctive setup.
