What is in the i8
Discussion
Hey guys,
Keep seeing the same i8 around town and always thought these were full electric. However this has quite a loud burbly exhaust note which was quite confusing. Are these just a self charging hybrid? or is the combustion engine there for extending the range? If so why is it constantly running when being hammered through town?
It didn't actually sound too bad which is the most shocking bit.
Keep seeing the same i8 around town and always thought these were full electric. However this has quite a loud burbly exhaust note which was quite confusing. Are these just a self charging hybrid? or is the combustion engine there for extending the range? If so why is it constantly running when being hammered through town?
It didn't actually sound too bad which is the most shocking bit.
Evanivitch said:
That’s not very nice.Here’s a better link; https://lmgtfy.com/?q=bmw+i8+engine+configuration&...
as above, 1.5 3 cyl engine (turbocharged, 220hp from memory?) driving the back and a 130 or so bhp leccy motor up front. It can run periodically in electric mode.
Clocked up a few hundred miles in one and it was certainly a unique experience, they've extracted a lot out of a car which on paper isn't *that* fast imo
Clocked up a few hundred miles in one and it was certainly a unique experience, they've extracted a lot out of a car which on paper isn't *that* fast imo
yajeed said:
That’s not very nice.
It is compared to: RobDickinson said:
Bing is truly aweful 
ZesPak said:
Shaoxter said:
Halved value in 4 years? That's pretty good when you compare it to other 100k cars (911s excepted).
I thought they started at 130k, with few leaving showrooms under 150k. (I'm doing rough EUR to GBP conversions here, so might be off 10k)Shaoxter said:
ZesPak said:
Shaoxter said:
Halved value in 4 years? That's pretty good when you compare it to other 100k cars (911s excepted).
I thought they started at 130k, with few leaving showrooms under 150k. (I'm doing rough EUR to GBP conversions here, so might be off 10k)Blimey, they have dropped quickly!
Its been answered above - 3 cylinder turbo in the back and electric up front. About a year ago they did a few tweaks and added a roadster to the range. The battery now gives up to 30 miles, doesn't sound a lot but for it can make a trip out very economical. Its a parallel hybrid not a series hybrid - so the petrol bit can cut off and be completely disconnected and the front axle so it can use either without the drag of the other.
Runs in a few different modes - super efficient EV which just goes until the battery goes flat, comfort until which uses a mix - tends to use the balance the two nicely and you get around 60-90mpg in my experience and the battery taking a while to run down, and then sport where it uses them both and is a rocket ship, also charging the battery when it has excess power to keep it on the boil.
The tech, certainly on the LCI, is on a par with Tesla, the useability maybe down a little. Software updates over the air, map updates over the air (unless they're a complete refresh when you need to use a memory stick), the app has remote charging diagnostics,remote heat/cool turn on, vehicle locate, book service through your phone or from the car, I've both an i8 and a MS and while the execution is very different, there's little I can think of the Tesla has the BMW doesn't (that will upset Rob) with the excception of autopilot.
Price wise, they were 100k+ at launch, sold for a premium and there was some pack (Halo I think) that bumped the price up even more, not there're available with a sizeable discount or buy a nearly new ex BMW car and save 40k. The price spread is fairly narrow, the earliest BMW cars worth looking at are high 40s and 4-5 years old, whereas a LCI with the latest touch screen NAV inc carplay, surround cameras etc are 20k more - a 20k price spread over 4+ years. For UK, the March 2017 and before cars have zero VED
There's a discussion on the BM area about the new Z4 and the general feeling was if you're looking at a top of the range Z4 for image, buy a n i8 for the same money.
They're a fairly rare thing, they're stopping making them next year, I wouldn't be surprised if BMW have lost money on them in the last year or 2 and its not being replaced, could be a collectors item in the future. It certainly turns heads.
Runs in a few different modes - super efficient EV which just goes until the battery goes flat, comfort until which uses a mix - tends to use the balance the two nicely and you get around 60-90mpg in my experience and the battery taking a while to run down, and then sport where it uses them both and is a rocket ship, also charging the battery when it has excess power to keep it on the boil.
The tech, certainly on the LCI, is on a par with Tesla, the useability maybe down a little. Software updates over the air, map updates over the air (unless they're a complete refresh when you need to use a memory stick), the app has remote charging diagnostics,remote heat/cool turn on, vehicle locate, book service through your phone or from the car, I've both an i8 and a MS and while the execution is very different, there's little I can think of the Tesla has the BMW doesn't (that will upset Rob) with the excception of autopilot.
Price wise, they were 100k+ at launch, sold for a premium and there was some pack (Halo I think) that bumped the price up even more, not there're available with a sizeable discount or buy a nearly new ex BMW car and save 40k. The price spread is fairly narrow, the earliest BMW cars worth looking at are high 40s and 4-5 years old, whereas a LCI with the latest touch screen NAV inc carplay, surround cameras etc are 20k more - a 20k price spread over 4+ years. For UK, the March 2017 and before cars have zero VED
There's a discussion on the BM area about the new Z4 and the general feeling was if you're looking at a top of the range Z4 for image, buy a n i8 for the same money.
They're a fairly rare thing, they're stopping making them next year, I wouldn't be surprised if BMW have lost money on them in the last year or 2 and its not being replaced, could be a collectors item in the future. It certainly turns heads.
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