Page 48 - ElectriCar Magazine

With it’s spaceship design and futuristic powertrain it is easy to drive around town
The coupe, or soft-top convertible, uses the same Plug-In Hybrid powertrain that produces a combined 369 horsepower
In almost every way, the 2020 i8 continues as a supercar. Its outrageous and futuristic styling draws looks from down the block, its wild flip-up doors announce your presence whenever they open, and the entirety of BMW’s performance catalogue is crammed into its low- slung carbon-composite frame. Yet, it also goes one step
Most cars are style items in one way or another. Ideally, a car’s form will match its function, as in the case of many an aggressively designed supercar. But in some cases, the form is all that matters. See a BMW i8 rolling down the street and you’ll immediately take notice. It’s hard to think of a car on the road today that looks more like it was zapped out of a video game, Jumanji style. Unfortunately the i8’s Plug-In powertrain can’t cash the checks written by its zany design. With 369 horsepower and an estimated 18 miles of All-Electric range, the i8 can’t keep up with either the best sports cars or the best Plug-Ins on the market. But for drivers who value curb appeal and exclusivity above all else, none of that may matter.
With it’s spaceship design, futuristic powertrain it is easy to drive around town.
The big news this year is that the i8 is still available as a roadster, with a folding soft top and two seats instead of the two-plus-two arrangement found in the coupe. BMW has also tweaked the i8’s Plug-In powertrain to produce 12 extra horsepower and an estimated three extra miles of EV range, for a total of 369 horsepower and 18 miles of EV driving. BMW’s iDrive 6.0 software now powers the i8’s infotainment system.
If you have chosen to spend a small fortune on this Tron- mobile, it’s harder to think of a reason not to buy the roadster. Sure, at $164,295 it’s more than $15,000 pricier than the coupe, but can you really put a price on the feeling of the wind in your hair? Standard features on the i8 roadster include a power-folding soft top, adaptive suspension, and 20-inch wheels. Leather-trimmed sport seats seem appropriate; they’re available with the Tera World package, which also adds a few touches of blue to the exterior and high-gloss black-painted brake calipers.
The unique Plug-In powertrain, feels light and quick, as fun to drive as many sports cars and it has a short EV range, not as quick as competitors.
further, it’s also a green-oriented car.
The i8 has a Plug-In Hybrid powertrain that’s used to
generate both impressive performance and high fuel economy. A turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine produces 228 horsepower and drives the rear wheels. An electric motor that peaks at 141 horse power and drives the front wheels. In total, the i8 develops a total of 369 hp. Powering the motor is an 11.6-kWh battery, which allows the i8 to go up to 18 miles in pure electric mode. But mainly, it’s used to fill in gaps in torque from the small engine and augment traction coming out of corners.
Two body styles are available for the i8: a 2+2 coupe and a new soft-top convertible. Unsurprisingly, the coupe’s rear seats are small and ideal for kids, or kids at heart. The convertible model forgoes the rear seats and uses an electric system to enable the top to fold or deploy in about 15 seconds. It can even do it while the car is in motion at speeds of up to 30 mph.
There’s just one problem. Supercars are known for their bold appearances and outrageous performance, but the i8 comes up a little short on the latter. It has a top speed of 155 mph and a claimed 0-60 mph acceleration time of 4.2 seconds. Those are certainly fun-inducing numbers, but they’re nowhere near what similarly priced sports cars can do. Handling capability is also underwhelming for the class.
If all you’re looking for are performance numbers, the i8 is probably not the car for you. Instead, consider the i8 a rolling technology showcase, one that shows that a complete reliance on fossil fuels for propulsion is not needed to have a good time.
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