When BMW unveiled the i8 in 2009 on the Frankfurt Auto Present after which later in 2012, it regarded like an idea automotive had damaged out of the auto present flooring and in some way made its method onto public roads. It was in contrast to 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 house in a compact metropolis automotive than in a six-figure sports activities automotive. And but, this unorthodox machine went on to turn into some of the daring and forward-thinking autos in BMW’s fashionable 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, only a few years after manufacturing led to 2020, the i8 has discovered a second life as some of the accessible unique plug-in hybrids cash should purchase. Current examples have bought for underneath $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 mould of conventional efficiency automobiles. As a substitute 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 may dash from 0 to 60 mph in simply 4.2 seconds because of the moment torque from the electrical motor and the automotive’s light-weight construction. It didn’t have to be the quickest; it simply needed to show some extent: that efficiency and sustainability may 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 making an attempt to be. It gave drivers the choice to cruise silently by way 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 automotive making an attempt to mix in, and it actually by no means did.
Beneath its carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic pores and skin was a intelligent structure: a Life Module cabin using atop a Drive Module chassis. This “i” sub-brand philosophy of modular building 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 finest reserved for youngsters or additional baggage.
Not A Enormous Vendor In The Finish
Regardless of its avant-garde pitch, the i8 discovered a good following. BMW bought over 20,000 items throughout its six-year manufacturing run—a good quantity for such a distinct segment, forward-looking sports activities automotive. 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 Automobiles & Bids.
It’s laborious to overstate what sort of worth proposition that presents. This was as soon as a $150,000 automotive when nicely optioned. It’s fabricated from carbon fiber, accelerates sooner than most fashionable sizzling hatches, and appears like an idea automotive made actual. All for the value of a mid-trim household sedan.
The BMW i8 could 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 imagined 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 business 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 really completely different—one thing stunning, quick, and surprisingly livable—the i8 nonetheless stands as one of many coolest and most inexpensive entries into the world of unique electrified automobiles. And the most effective 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 patrons ought to nonetheless bear in mind of some key possession components. First, though the three-cylinder engine and electrical motor are typically reliable, repairs will be costly as a result of automotive’s distinctive building and hybrid complexity. The carbon-fiber tub, for instance, limits who can work on the chassis, and substitute physique panels will be expensive.
Battery degradation isn’t a widespread subject but, however as with all plug-in hybrid, older fashions may even see a diminished all-electric vary. Luckily, BMW designed the i8’s high-voltage battery to be modular, and replacements or refurbishments have been in some unspecified time in the future accessible by way of licensed sellers. Routine upkeep is simple—oil modifications, brake service, and coolant flushes—however not each impartial store is supplied to work on this type of drivetrain. Be sure you discover a BMW specialist or dealership acquainted with the i8’s distinctive setup.
