BMW i8

BMW i8 at a glance

The i8 grew out of the Vision EfficientDynamics concept of 2009, which used a diesel three-cylinder, and the i8 Concept shown at the 2011 Frankfurt show. The production car kept the concept's dramatic shape and replaced the diesel with a petrol engine. It was the first production car offered with laser headlights, and it won the World Green Car of the Year award in 2015.

Like the BMW i3, the i8 uses a passenger cell made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic on an aluminium chassis that carries the drivetrain and suspension. The body has two small rear seats, butterfly doors and "floating" rear wing elements that channel air over the tail. The fake grille "nostrils" at the front are for show; under the bonnet sits the front electric motor rather than a combustion engine.

Three-cylinder engine, electric motor and performance

The petrol engine is BMW's B38 1,499 cc three-cylinder with a turbocharger, rated at 170 kW (231 PS) at 5,800 rpm and 320 Nm. It drives the rear wheels through a six-speed Aisin automatic. At the front, an electric motor of 96 kW (131 PS), raised to 105 kW (143 PS) and 250 Nm in 2018, drives the front wheels through a two-speed gearbox developed by GKN. When both work together, the i8 has all-wheel drive.

Top speed is limited to 250 km/h, and the car can run on electricity alone up to 120 km/h. A small motor-generator on the petrol engine can charge the battery while driving. On our own power-to-weight calculation, the launch coupé carries about 5.6 kg per kW, close to a conventional sports car of similar pace.

Electric range, charging and fuel consumption

In the official NEDC cycle, the i8 used 2.1 l/100 km with 49 g/km of CO2, a figure that assumes a charged battery at the start. The US EPA, which tests differently, gave 24 km (15 miles) of electric range at launch and 29 km (18 miles) from 2019, with about 27–28 mpg (US), or roughly 8.5 l/100 km, when the car runs on petrol alone.

The real-world picture lies between the two. On short trips with regular charging, the i8 can cover most commuting on electricity and use very little fuel. On long motorway journeys the battery empties quickly, and consumption is that of a light petrol sports car. With a BMW wallbox the battery reaches 80% in about two hours, while a domestic socket takes around three. To estimate costs for your own mix of driving, use the fuel cost calculator.

Cabin, space and equipment

Inside, the i8 has a digital instrument display, a head-up display, a high centre console and sports seats with thin backrests that leave a little space behind. The two rear seats are only for children or bags. Entry and exit through the butterfly doors over the wide carbon sills take practice. The 154-litre boot sits behind the engine and gets warm, so it suits soft bags rather than shopping.

Standard equipment in Europe included LED headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels, leather trim, navigation, dynamic cruise control and a Harman Kardon sound system with 11 speakers. Laser headlights, with a high-beam reach of up to 600 m quoted by BMW, were an option. Special editions included the Protonic Red Edition of 2016 and the Ultimate Sophisto Edition, whose first car was the 20,000th i8 in December 2019.

Safety and reliability

Euro NCAP and the IIHS did not crash-test the i8, as is usual for low-volume sports cars. Its protection comes from the carbon-fibre passenger cell, front and rear aluminium crash structures and multiple airbags. Adaptive dampers and an electrically assisted steering rack were standard.

As a used car, the i8 has a good mechanical record, but it is a complex hybrid. Check the high-voltage battery's state of health and charging behaviour, the service history at a BMW dealer, the condition of the butterfly door struts and the carbon sills, and any warning messages from the hybrid system.

Production and sales

Production started in April 2014 and ended on 11 June 2020, when the last i8, a Roadster, left the Leipzig line. BMW built 20,465 cars: 16,581 coupés and 3,884 Roadsters. Deliveries peaked early, with 5,456 cars in 2015. The first 18 Roadsters, the First Edition, reached customers in May 2018.

Rivals: how the i8 compares

The i8 was never the fastest car in its price class. Its appeal was design, technology and low official consumption. The NSX offered more performance, the 911 more involvement, and the R8 a V10 soundtrack. For a performance comparison with other BMW models, see the BMW M5, or put any two cars side by side in the 1cars comparison tool.