When BMW presented the i8 2009 at the Frankfurt Auto Show and later looked like this in 2012 when he had broken a concept car from the car show floor and somehow reached public roads. It was different from everything the brand had built before: a wedge -shaped, carbon -fan -fan spaceship with butterfly doors, electric drive and a three -cylinder engine that sounded more at home in a compact city car than in a six -digit sports car. And yet this unorthodox machine became one of the brave and most forward -looking vehicles in the modern history of BMW.
The i8 cost a price of $ 137,450 and entered the market as a Technological flagship from BMW, a rolling laboratory for the electrification strategy of the BMW I. But now, just a few years after the end of production in 2020, the i8 has found a second life as one of the best accessible exotic plug -in hybrids that can be bought. The latest examples were sold for less than 40,000 US dollars – less than a new Toyota Camry XSE. For this price you will receive a carbon tub chassis, a head traffic design and the performance figures that are still impressive.
Driven by a 1.5 liter turbo engine
BMW built the i8 to break the form of traditional performance cars. Instead of filling in a thundering V8 or a silky inline-six, Munich ended with the 1.5-liter turbo turbo engine from the Mini with the B38 turf-thread engine. This engine, which was mounted above the rear axle, worked together with an electric motor on the front axle to deliver all -wheel drive and a combined output of 357 hp (later in the later years of the i8 to 369 hp). It may sound modest on paper, but thanks to the immediate torque of the electric motor and the light structure of the car, the i8 could sprint from 0 to 60 km / h in just 4.2 seconds. It didn’t have to be the fastest; Only one point had to prove: this performance and sustainability could coexist.
With an EPA-rated all-electricity of about 15 miles, if it is new, the i8 was not a long-term EV, but it never tried to be. The drivers gave drivers the opportunity to pass through the city alone via the city and then summon the drive of petrol with petrol for longer motorway rides or more spirited drives. The two-speed gearbox for the electric motor, an innovation that is rarely seen at that time in hybrids improved the versatility and driving dynamics of the i8.
A design like no other BMW beforehand
But the performance was only half of the story. The design of the i8 was stunning. Low sinful and shaped, it proudly wore its aerodynamic priorities: floating rear efforts, laser headlights and a sloping roof line that gave him the presence of a hypercar. His scissor doors, which have been increased on the A-pillar and rising cheatrically-only to his futuristic atmosphere. This was not a car that wanted to fit in, and it certainly never.
Under his carbon fiber reinforced plastic skin there was a clever architecture: a life module cabin that rides on a chassis of the drive module. This “I” Sub-Brand Philosophy of Modular Construction was shared with the i3 and remains influential in the future BMW electric vehicles, including the upcoming new class generation of new class. Inside, the i8 provided a high-tech environment with the Idrive Infotainment from BMW, a head-up display and a cluster for digital measuring devices. The materials were sustainably related, an allusion to their environmentally conscious mission, although the practicality was limited. Technically, the i8 had four seats, but the rear were best reserved for children or additional luggage.
In the end not a big seller
Despite its avant-garde place, the i8 found a decent follow-up. During its six-year production run, BMW sold over 20,000 units-a decent number for such a niche, future-oriented sports car. This production volume together with depreciation, which is typical of high-end hybrids, is part of the reason why the i8 is now such a convincing purchase. Recently two examples were sold for 37,000 US dollars and 33,000 US dollars on the auction page of enthusiasts Cars & commandments.
It is difficult to overestimate what kind of promise of value presents this. This was once a 150,000 dollar car if it was well selected. It consists of carbon fiber, accelerates faster than most modern hot hatches and looks like a real concept car. Everything for the price of a family sedan with medium trim.
The BMW i8 may not have lived the Hypercar Heights of its contemporaries such as the Porsche 918 Spyder or McLaren P1, but it shouldn’t. It was the anti-supercar: lighter, intelligent, greener. In retrospect, it predicted the hybrid future of performance more precisely than most of its colleagues. And since the industry now penetrates the electrification harder, the i8 feels less like a detour and more like a blueprint.
For those who want to have something really different – something nice, fast and surprisingly livable – the i8 is still one of the coolest and most affordable entries into the world of exotic electrified cars. And the best thing about it? You no longer need six numbers to get your wheel.
Reflections on ownership: what to know before you buy
While the BMW i8 is mechanically reliable compared to many exotic or powerful hybrids, potential buyers should still know some important possessions. Although the three -cylinder engine and the electric motor are generally reliable, repairs can be expensive due to the unique construction and the hybrid complexity of the car. The carbon fiber tray, for example, limits that can work on the chassis and replacement body panels can be expensive.
The battery deterioration is not yet a widespread problem, but as with any plug-in hybrid, older models can see a reduced all-electrics. Fortunately, BMW developed the high -voltage battery of the i8 modular, and the replacement or renovation was available at some point through certified dealers. The routine maintenance is uncomplicated – oil change, brake service and coolant flushing – but not every independent shop is equipped for this type of drive train. Be sure to find a BMW specialist or dealer who is familiar with the unique setup of the i8.
