BMW i8 I12 Sports Car (2013-2020)

54% Neofiliac68% External
Keywords: awdbmwcoupedouble-wishbonehybridmid-sizemulti-linkphevsports-carturbocharged

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Product Overview

BMW i8 (chassis code I12) is a PHEV sports car in production from 2013 to 2020. It was powered by tiny turbocharged inline-3 engine that displaced 1.5 liters paired to a small lithium-ion battery-powered electric motor.
With a flagship price tag, the i8 has a rather miserable displacement. It is supposed to save fuel, but the owner certainly is not saving money. The BMW i8 is limited to inline-3, which has horrible NVH performance and durability, a legacy of modern-day regulations. The car's complex drivetrain is also unreliable, making it the worst of both worlds.
On the positive side, the i8 has a styling that reminds one of supercars. Still, one could purchase real supercars with honest drivetrains for less, making the entire "woke sports car" concept exceedingly ridiculous.
BMW has made a good effort in aerodynamics, with a decent 0.26 coefficient of drag to show for it. The official fuel economy rating is exceptionally rosy, though it may cast more doubts on the trustworthiness of the regulators and perhaps the owner's own sanity than it relates to reality. Utility-minded owners will likely need to keep an alternative for hauling things around, as the tiny cargo space is almost surely insufficient.
Drivers who appreciate handling will be pleased to know that the BMW i8 comes with double-wishbone at the front and multi-link at the rear.

Ratings

What we found**

Neofiliac score 54% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
  • Supercar-like styling
  • Good 0.26 drag coefficient
  • Low official fuel consumption
Cons
  • Only available with tiny engines
  • Very little cargo space
  • Gigantic reliability concern

What external reviewers found***

External score 68% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
  • Excellent standard equipment
  • Decent fuel economy
  • Comfortable to drive
  • Class-leading performance
  • Stylish looks
  • Powerful electric motor
Cons
  • Lack of space in the second row
  • Not as fun to drive as rivals
  • Not as economical as rivals
  • Pricier than rivals
  • No timing belt
Read More

Find Related Products

Specifications

374PS374PS Euro6d362PS

Capacity

Cargo Capacity154 L / 5.4 cu-ft
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 L / 4.5 qt
Fuel Capacity30.0 L / 7.9 gal
Passengers4
Payload370 kg / 816 lbs385 kg / 849 lbs370 kg / 816 lbs

Chassis

Brakes | FrontVentilated discsVentilated discsVentilated discs, 340x29.2 mm
Brakes | RearVentilated discsVentilated discsVentilated discs, 340x19.2 mm
Power SteeringElectric Steering
Suspension | FrontDouble-wishbone
Suspension | RearMulti-link
Tire SizeFront wheel tires: 195/50 R20 Rear wheel tires: 215/45 R20
Turning Circle12.3 m / 40.3 ft

Construction

Battery | Capacity11.6 kWh (gross) | 9.4 kWh (net)11.6 kWh (gross) | 9.4 kWh (net)7.1 kWh (gross) | 5.2 kWh (net)
Battery | TypeLithium-ion
Battery | Voltage355.0 V
Body Style2-door plug-in hybrid Coupe

Dimensions

Ground Clearance117 mm / 4.6 in
Size | Height1293 mm / 50.9 in1291 mm / 50.8 in1298 mm / 51.1 in
Size | Length4689 mm / 184.6 in
Size | Width1942 mm / 76.5 in | 2218 mm / 87.3 in (mirror unfolded)
Track Width | Front1644.0 mm / 64.7 in
Track Width | Rear1721.0 mm / 67.8 in1721.0 mm / 67.8 in1715.0 mm / 67.5 in
Weight1535.0 kg / 3384.1 lbs1535.0 kg / 3384.1 lbs1485.0 kg / 3273.9 lbs
Wheel SizeFront wheel rims: 7J x 20 Rear wheel rims: 7.5J x 20
Wheelbase2800 mm / 110.2 in

Performance

Acceleration | 0 - 100 km/h4.4 sec
Acceleration | 0 - 60 mph4.2 sec
CO2 Emission42 g/km42 g/km49 g/km
Coefficient Of Drag0.26
Electric Range55.0 km / 34.2 mi55.0 km / 34.2 mi37.0 km / 23.0 mi
Fuel Economy1.8 L/100km / 130.7 MPG (combined)1.8 L/100km / 130.7 MPG (combined)2.1 L/100km / 112.0 MPG (combined)
Top Speed250.0 km/h / 155.3 mph, 120.0 km/h / 74.6 mph (EV mode)

Powertrain

Drivetrain LayoutRear-engine (transverse), All-wheel drive
Emission StandardEuro 6Euro 6d-TEMPEuro 6
EngineB38K15T0
Engine | Bore82.0 mm / 3.2 in
Engine | Compression Ratio9.5:1
Engine | Displacement1.5 L / 91.5 cu-in / 1499.0 cc
Engine | Power231.0 hp / 172.3 kW @ 5800 rpm + 143.0 hp / 106.6 kW @ 4800 rpm (electric motor)231.0 hp / 172.3 kW @ 5800-6000 rpm + 143.0 hp / 106.6 kW @ 4800 rpm (electric motor)231.0 hp / 172.3 kW @ 5800 rpm + 131.0 hp / 97.7 kW @ 4800 rpm (electric motor)
Engine | Specific Output154.1 hp/L / 2.5 hp/cu-in
Engine | Stroke94.6 mm / 3.7 in94.6 mm / 3.7 in94.5 mm / 3.7 in
Engine | Torque320 Nm / 236.0 lb-ft @ 3700 rpm + 250 Nm / 184.4 lb-ft
Engine | TypeTwin-scroll turbocharged direct-injected petrol inline-3 engine with 4 values per cylinder
Transmission | Gears6-speed
Transmission | TypeAutomatic

Production

Availability2017 ~ 20182018 ~ 20202013 ~ 2017

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Launch Comparison
Clear List

3rd-Party Review Videos

External Reviews

autocar[1]

Reviewer score 68%
Reviewers from autocar have found the following***:
BMW has increased the energy capacity of the i8’s lithium ion battery from 20Ah to 34Ah. Combined with its Mini-sourced three-cylinder petrol engine, the i 8 now makes a total 369bhp. Fully charged, it’ll cover 34 miles on electricity alone. The electric motor drives the front wheels via a two-speed automatic gearbox.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Powerful turbocharged petrol engine
  • Powerful electric motor
Cons
  • Pricier than rivals
  • Not the most fun to drive

autoexpress[2]

Reviewer score 82%
Reviewers from autoexpress have found the following***:
The BMW i8 is a unique proposition in the luxury sports car market. A rival to the ubiquitous Porsche 911, the i8 brings a dose of eco-consciousness to the segment thanks to its petrol-electric plug-in hybrid powertrain. Its exotic styling, meanwhile, belies both its price and reasonable running costs.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Eco-conscious styling
  • Comfortable to drive
  • Decent fuel economy
Cons
  • Not as fun to drive as rivals
  • Not as economical as rivals

autoexpress[3]

Reviewer score 54%
Reviewers from autoexpress have found the following***:
BMW i8 went on sale in July 2014, priced from £94,845 once the £5,000 Government grant had been deducted. A new 34Ah battery pack gave an electric range of up to 33 miles. All i8s get plenty of hi-tech and luxury kit, including adaptive cruise control, adaptive LED headlights, navigation, 20-inch alloy wheels, a head-up display, parking sensors front and rear, automatic lights and wipers.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Class-leading performance
  • Stylish looks
  • Excellent standard equipment
Cons
  • Lack of space in the second row
  • No timing belt

User Reviews

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References

  1. ^ BMW i8 Coupe 2018 UK review. [autocar]. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/i8/first-drives/bmw-i8-coupe-2018-uk-review. 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  2. ^ BMW i8 (2014-2020) review. [autoexpress]. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/i8. 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  3. ^ Used BMW i8 review. [autoexpress]. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/i8/107636/used-bmw-i8-review. 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2022-05-16.

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Scores are not directly comparable across industries.

These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.

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