BMW's i8 coupe, the second model from the German automaker's i brand, is scheduled to be on sale here next April. We jumped at the chance to get behind the wheel of a prototype.
The i8's styling has evolved during its four-year development, though the basic shape is the same (a roadster is coming in 2015). There's a lot of carbon fiber and aluminum to offset the heavy driveline. Suspension is double wishbones up front and five-link rear—the latter is mounted directly to the aluminum subframe that supports the combustion engine and the rear electric motor.
A turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine (228 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque) provides primary propulsion, driving the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. The front electric motor (129 hp and 184 lb-ft) is mounted in the front axle assembly and drives the front wheels through a two-speed automatic gearbox. A smaller rear electric motor (13 hp and 81 lb-ft) provides additional drive to the rear wheels but mostly acts as a generator to top off the battery and as an alternator to collect kinetic energy during braking and trailing throttle. BMW quotes a combined 357 hp and a 420 lb-ft combined torque peak. The car can be recharged in two hours on high voltage.
The i8 has comfort, sport and eco-pro driving modes, all involving a combination of electric and gasoline propulsion with different throttle, steering and damping mapping. Driving it is definitely new world. You enter through butterfly doors hinging skyward from the front and negotiate a large sill before dropping down into the driver's seat. Push the start button, and a chime tells you the car is on. Brilliant graphics altering in color, depending on drive mode, appear in the instrument panel—blue for eDrive and eco-pro, red for comfort and sport.
The default driving mode is comfort. With sufficient battery charge, our first few miles are on electric power. There is some electric motor whine, but, otherwise, refinement levels are great for a prototype. A touch more throttle nudges the speed to 40 mph, triggering the engine and sending drive to the rear wheels, instantly turning the i8 into a four-wheel driver. In sport mode, the front electric motor and gasoline engine provide drive to the front and rear wheels. Acceleration is impressive. BMW claims 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds and 50-75 mph in 4.5—on par with an M3.
We drove the i8 on BMW's Miramas test track in France. On the infield handling course and surrounding roads, it dispelled any doubts about its ability to deliver engaging driving traits. It is agile and responsive. We thought maybe the i8's high-tech driveline and ancillary components would be too complex, too heavy and skewed too much toward efficiency to make it fun. After driving the engineering mule, we're confident the production version will live up to its billing as a sports car, delivering directness and handling prowess.
The i8 is fun. It's plenty fast, and with a few changes to dial out initial understeer, it could be even more fun. And the price? BMW officials hint it will cost about the same as a Porsche Carrera 4S , so figure around $105,000.
2015 BMW i8 Plug-In Hybrid Sports Coupe
Reviewed by BlogCarShow
Published :
Rating : 4.5
Published :
Rating : 4.5
