With the growing popularity of hybrid and e-Drive vehicles it is no wonder that almost all of the major car manufacturers out there are throwing their own versions into the ring. Hybrid and electric drive vehicles run the gamut from entry level like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt to the Mercedes Benz S Class Plug-in Hybrid and the Tesla Model S. Of course we have had the Toyota Prius on the worldwide market since 2000. It is no wonder that there would of course be a luxury segment as well, i.e., the aforementioned Tesla Model S and Mercedes. But what about the sport segment? Where is the hybrid/electric drive version that puts you into the back of your seat when you press the accelerator to the floor? Obviously the Model S has the Insane Mode that was besting Challenger Hellcats off the line, but it is still a luxury car. That is where the BMW i8 comes into play. The BMW i8 has 100% racing in it's DNA. With a zero-to-sixty time of just 4.2 seconds the i8 will definitely leave a huge smile on your face.
When the BMW i division went to work creating this work of art the main focal point was the aerodynamics of it. Every design aspect was used to create the most aerodynamically capable vehicle possible. What BMW managed to create was a vehicle with a low drag coefficient of 0.26. The BMW i8 is covered throughout with small vents. The i8 uses Efficient Dynamic ventilation to actively open and close the vents to provide additional cooling, reduce coefficient drag, and improve overall aerodynamics. Regardless of how functional the exterior design of the i8 is, there is no denying how good it looks.
All though the BMW i8 can be driven in all electric mode it is, at it's very core, a hybrid vehicle. At the front of the vehicle is an electric motor that puts out 131 horse power. Located at the rear of the vehicle powering the rear wheels is a turbo charged 1.5-liter 3 cylinder engine putting out 226 horse power giving the i8 a combined horse power of 357 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. The power is distributed to the wheels with an Aisin F21-360 FT EOP transmission which is a transmission designed specifically for transversely mounted engines.
The BMW i division continued their engineering genius inside by using a combination of Aluminum and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) to create the two part structure. The choice of materials id due to it's rigidity and extreme lightness compared to steel. Because of the materials used and the constant attention to every aspect of the vehicle both inside and out the BMW i8 has a near perfect 50:50 weight distribution.
Entry to the cockpit is through the rather unique set of scissor style doors. Once inside the interior is quite comfortable yet still let's you know that this is not a luxury car, but rather a sports car with some luxury added in. As far as interior option go there is only 3 different option to choose from, and of course you can always opt to buy the Louis Vuitton luggage set designed specifically for the i8, but you have to go to the LV store and provide proof of i8 ownership first.
Driving the i8, you have 4 modes to choose from.
- Comfort mode, which give the driver a balance between sporty and comfortable fuel efficiency.
- Sport mode will give you the ultra-intense boost function provided by the electric motor.
- Eco-Pro is optimized for maximum efficiency whether you are in hybrid or all electric mode.
- e Drive is a purely electric mode with a range of 15 miles and a top speed of 75 MPH.
Pricing for the BMW i8 starts at $140,700.00 and with few options to customize will top out around $155,000.00 depending on which interior you go with and whether you added on the laser headlights or not.
Special thanks to Bobby Rahal BMW for allowing me to photograph inside of their showroom.
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