2015 BMW i8 VIDEO REVIEW by Auto Critic Steve Hammes

Ugly, slow, and about as much fun to drive as a RV; these are criticisms often lobbed at the gas-saving vehicle commonly known as the hybrid. But did you ever think that maybe it doesn’t have to be that way? Lucky for us BMW has produced the myth-busting gas-electric hybrid called the i8; a car whose futuristic design is as cutting edge as the technology that makes it run.

Complementing the pure-electric i3 conceived for urban driving and priced from around $44,000 is BMW’s 2^nd i car, the i8 with a starting MSRP of $137,495. BMW’s i sub-brand focuses on creating premium cars purpose-designed to be powered by purely electric or plug-in hybrid drive systems. The i8 is the ultimate expression of BMW’s powertrain capabilities, combining the power of an internal combustion engine and electric motor in an innovative way that they themselves developed. The result is a car that proclaims futuristic motoring unlike anything else on the road. It’s a low-slung sports car with terrific acceleration and glued to the road handling, a rolling piece of automotive art crafted for the roads of Tomorrowland and a forward-thinking vehicle committed to resource-efficient processes.

From the owner’s manual printed on environmentally friendly paper to the 100% clean electric that powers the plant where it’s built, BMW’s decade-long pursuit of Efficient Dynamics has lead them here – the next step towards sustainable mobility.

I can’t ever recall driving a car with this much magnetism. One of these instantly buys you rock star status. From the moment the scissor doors fly up, the awestruck descend. A prescription for the attention-starved, the i8 introduces you to all kinds of people each and every time you leave the house…fun at first but somewhat annoying thereafter.

Plug-in hybrids aren’t new but there’s never been one quite like this. This is an advanced sports car with a passenger cell made from lightweight, strong carbon fiber. There’s a twin turbo 3-cylinder engine and a 6-speed auto running the show at the rear while an electric motor with its own 2-speed transmission resides upfront. Depending on the mode, it’s rear-drive, front-drive or all-wheel drive and with a low center of gravity, grippy rubber and stellar aerodynamics it turns with go-cart like agility. More than its instantaneous go power it’s how flat and fast it can take curves that are the i8’s most impressive feat.

At 3,285 pounds it’s one of the lightest sports cars BMW sells and with the lithium-ion battery pack placed low in the center of the body, the i8 effortlessly glides through turns with little need for the brakes. Its 1.5-liter, 228-horsepower engine is the most power dense the company produces and works in concert with the torquey electric motor to create robust, on-demand power with the fuel efficiency of subcompact economy car. When all propulsion systems are going full tilt, total system output is 357 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque resulting in a launch control-induced, very matter of fact 0-to-60mph time of 4.2 seconds. It’s such a fascinating experience as the i8 starts-up in Comfort mode and you pull away in electric-only silence. Press harder and you’ll hear the engine fire with sound you just know it can’t make but that is convincing nonetheless. Kick the shifter to the left and now you’re in Sport mode. The gauge display transforms, the dampers firm up, the quick steering provides even greater connectedness and the powertrain becomes even more excitable with greater eBoost. Enter the corner and the power split is biased to the rear wheels for greater precision and then returns to its normal all-wheel drive split for an assertive exit. Other than the on-tap power at any RPM and some low-speed grabbiness of the brakes, there’s no hint that this is a hybrid…at least not by the definition we’re accustomed to. The driver’s seat is truly a cockpit experience with a snug, race-firm helm, just off the ground seating position and excellent forward visibility. No matter if you’re in Comfort or Sport, the ride is decidedly firm but never punishing. Sitting so low with less sound insulation, lots of road noises permeate the cabin. The 20” staggered width low rolling resistance Bridgestone Potenzas provide aggressive summer-use capabilities with excellent road feel and stop-dead braking.

When efficiency is top of mind, the i8 can be driven in pure-electric mode and an ECO PRO hybrid mode. The EPA rates mileage at 76 MPG equivalent with a total driving range of 330 miles. But as with any plug-in hybrid, mileage utterly depends on how and how far you drive it.

You can plug-in using a standard household outlet and the gauge display will show you the exact time the i8 is fully charged. Or when you’re out and about you can plug into a 240v charger and get the job done in less than 2 hours.

A full charge provides about 17 miles of all-electric driving capability at speeds up to 75mph. Now you don’t have to plug it in – the i8 generates its own electricity through deceleration and braking and even from the engine itself – but to maximize mileage getting it charged up is key. My week of mixed duty with plugging in to my standard garage outlet each time it was parked resulted in about 40mpg. If you had a bona fide home charger, that number would no doubt be greater.

No matter how many times I’ve done this I conclude that there is no graceful way to get in and out of an i8.

The doors are the pinnacle of coolness but living with them would be tough. And even kids balk at the 2+2 nature of the rear seats. But once you’re in the front, the smallness fades away. Yes the seats are light on padding and have no adjustable lumbar support, but their body contouring positioning provides reasonable sports car comfort. Like the rest of the car, the materials used in here are at least partially from recycled sources and environmentally produced. In that regard, it lacks some supercar polish with the exception of nighttime where the dark showcases the ambient blue-ice lighting. The iDrive-controlled infotainment unit helps in finding charging stations and depicts the energy flow of the hybrid system, though not as detailed as I would like. And when I went to listen to a baseball game on AM radio is when I realized that BMW i cars don’t have AM tuners due to electrical interference issues. There is a navi unit that predictively analyzes your route to best tailor hybrid functions, online search and touchpad input. A heads-up display keeps your eyes on the road and a camera reads speed limit signs. Forward collision alert is here but disappointingly side blind zone alert is not. There’s also no smart key access so the fob is needed to open the door and the hatch to the tiny 5 cubic foot trunk. It gets hot back here, too so be careful of what you stow. If you wondered, the hood is to be opened only at your BMW service center.

Limited in availability, this i8 is the highest trim called Pure Impulse World adding nearly $11,000 in upgrades and owner perks. MSRP then is $150,095 with an available federal tax credit of $3,793. It’s undoubtedly one of the coolest cars I’ve ever driven and a BMW sports car through and through.

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