BMW I8 Reviews

Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid supercar in the Targa Tour class at the 25th Targa Tasmania, with fuel consumption, specs and verdict.

Richard Blackburn road tests and reviews the BMW i8 and Tesla Model S with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Never have I seen more camera phones pointed at a car than during my two days with the BMW i8.People love the look of the car and what it represents as the first hybrid super-sports car to reach Australia.It has supercar looks and futuristic technology that turns heads and prompts questions everywhere I go, although the $299,000 price tag stops a lot of people cold.There are queries about the bits and bytes that combine a three-cylinder turbo engine in the tail with an electric motor in the nose. Not to mention the aluminium chassis and carbon-fibre body.The i8 is effectively an all-wheel-drive speed machine, with a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.4 seconds, that can cruise as a pure battery car for up to 37km.It has a 2+2 cabin, although the space in the back is only good for a five-year-old, and the usual go-faster bits, from 20‒inch alloy wheels to fully independent suspension and luxury stuff running to aircon, full leather trim, digital instruments and brilliant sound system.The heart of the car is a battery pack that occupies what would be the transmission tunnel in a regular car, while the body is made from 56 individual pieces and sits on top of the chassis.The trickery includes LED lamps at both ends and dihedral doors that tilt up instead of hinging out.Electronic wizardry gives you the best combination of excitement and efficiency to match the driving mode you have chosen.I first encountered the i8 in Los Angeles, its spiritual home with a list of cashed-up greenies that starts at Steven Spielberg, and I was impressed. I could see some flaws but I wanted to try it at home.So now it’s sitting in the driveway, hooked up to mains power to charge the battery pack, which comes with an eight-year/100,000km warranty, and I’m still impressed.I like the way it looks, I like the idea of a super-sports car that is still relatively kind to the environment, and I like the way the i8 works alongside the all-electric stablemate, the i3 city runabout.But... there are plenty of buts, starting with the virtually $300K ticket. One friend, who has the money and likes the idea, is not going ahead with a purchase plan because of that.It goees around corners very well, especially considering its low‒drag tyres, but not the way a keen driving fan will expect of a car that looks like a Porsche 911 beater.In fact, the performance of the car is strong but not outstanding. That will come, I believe, when BMW has a better battery pack in version 2.0 to unleash more go from both the electric motor and the petrol turbo.There are other problems, such as access. It is a struggle to get under the tricky-looking doors and over high side sills at the same time. The luggage compartment in the tail barely holds a couple of backpacks.But I love the electric driving mode that’s nearly good enough for a battery-only run to work; I love the way the syncopated triple-cylinder kicks into action when I ask for flank speed.I love the 5.2L/100km readout during my fun run over some mountain roads and I love the design work and the list of standard equipment including the head-up speedo display.The more time I spend with the i8, the more I like it. Apart from the buts. And I can see that some people will buy one just so they can be the first in their social circle with a landmark car.

Performance motoring now demands a hybrid drivetrain. Electric motors are increasingly used to boost acceleration and enable makers to reduce engine capacity and trim CO2 emissions.The weight disadvantage in lugging around a motor and associated battery pack is offset by the use of carbon fibre and lightweight alloys.Porsche's 918, the McLaren P1 and Ferrari's LaFerrari all follow this formula. The electric motor provides instant torque from takeoff, then a supplemental shove in the back during mid-range acceleration.Now BMW has joined the fray with its stunningly designed i8. With looks straight off a futuristic film set, this is heart-throb Hollywood style with hang-on performance.That is reinforced from the moment the gull-wing door scissors down and the start button fires up the dash - the only indication the car is 'on" - with an electric blue driver's display that references more than a little Tron.This BMW is a car for extroverts who want to show off conspicuous consumption without being accused of constantly consuming prehistoric fauna and flora.The 7.1kW/h lithium-ion battery pack is good for a claimed 37km range. That would make most city drives a stealth commute, where it not for the constant looks and the intentionally engineered faint jet-engine whine as the i8 spools up.Demand more performance and the 1.5-litre engine - from the Mini, no less - kicks in without a hint of drivetrain shudder. If passengers aren't told, they'll never believe the combustion engine nestled behind the 2+2 cockpit is a three-cylinder, such is the work BMW has put into ensuring the sound matches the car's looks (and price).There's a gruff snarl under acceleration, pronounced bark on downshifts and a constant surge of progression at all speeds.In terms of numbers, the 4.4-second trip to 100km/h is good if not eye-watering. Vastly more intimidating - and relevant - is the mid-range acceleration where momentum overwhelms mass to flick the speedo from 80-120km/h in just 2.6 seconds.more a fusion of a sports car and grand tourer than an outright supercarThat'll put the vast majority of sports cars into the rear-vision mirror. The i8 officially uses 2.1L/100km. Drive extended distances at elevated speeds and expect to see that figure jump to about 5.8L/100km. Given the 42-litre fuel tank, that equates to a range of up to 700km.The brakes are first rate, particularly given they help regenerate energy for the battery. Generally such setups have had all the pedal feel of a tractor but the BMW's is a vast improvement.The steering is light, even with the automatic transmission shifted into Sport, which tightens up most inputs. There's no arguing with the precision but it ultimately lacks the feedback and cornering confidence of the likes of an M3.That's a critical point - as capable as the i8 is, it's not an M car and is more a fusion of a sports car and grand tourer than an outright supercar.It's apparent in the way the suspension is set to elevate comfort over cornering. Its pace through a turn is phenomenal but the I car will understeer if pushed hard into an apex.This vehicle rewards backing it off early and powering through the turn. The only area that lets the i8 down is storage space. The glovebox is just that, an area for a pair of gloves and a purse. There are no door pockets, the cupholders reside behind the front seats - and smaller bottles will spill out of the receptacles at reasonable cornering G-forces. The rear luggage compartment, under the glass hatch, won't take much more than a soft-sided overnight bag.Louis Vuitton has developed a set of carbon-fibre luggage specifically for the i8. If you can afford the $299,000 for the car, you can presumably stump up for the LV-branded bags but even then some of the bespoke luggage is intended to reside on the back seat.So in reality this is a two-seater with only a token concession to putting adults aft.That's academic. Most rational adults will refuse to travel beyond 20km in the rear, as the lack of leg and headroom makes it a less than luxurious place in which to appreciate the i8's other charms. Moreover, the owner probably won't want anyone else stealing the attention on a cruise through the inner suburbs.

The 2015 BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports coupe is a striking design that draws attention wherever it goes.