While scrolling through the auction listings the other day, I came across one for the BMW i8 and it made me think of how BMW whiffed it with what could have been a landmark supercar – one that I had the pleasure of spending a weekend with back when Automobile Magazine was still A Thing instead of just remnant social media profiles used only for reposting content.
This post isn’t about Motor Trend’s social media strategy though. It’s about the Lambo-doored BMW coupe and why (in this internet guy’s opinion) it’s destined to be just a curious footnote sportscar instead of a legend.
What Makes the BMW i8 Stand Out?
First and foremost, it’s design winner. Though the production version launched for 2014 bearing a design first seen on a concept shown in 2009, the i8 still looks quite futuristic – inside and out. If you put BMW’s latest interior infotainment bits inside, it wouldn’t look out of place in the automaker’s current lineup.
Yes its a pretty short “pros” section but the great thing about great design is that there’s nothing to explain. The great design speaks for itself, despite what design nerds that love to talk about sculputed lines or whatnot want to say. “Hey this car looks great inside and out even though its old.” That’s it, that’s the design critique.
Where does the BMW i8 Fail?
Unfortunately, the plug-in hybrid powerplant is not nearly as exotic as its looks. Oh sure the BMW i8 puts up good straight-line acceleration numbers – Motor Trend got the 2014 model to 60mph in 3.8 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 12.4 But even a decade ago, putting up those numbers wasn’t really a huge accomplishment and ~feel~ is more important. And the feel lacks that ~je ne sais quois~ required to be, well, memorable.
Let’s take the electric component. The electric motor drives the FRONT wheels (!), sending a peak output of just 129 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Those are fine numbers for, say, a Nissan Leaf, but not for something LARPing as an exotic or at least a luxury grand tourer. Second, the electric-only range was all of ~20 miles (later expanded to a somewhat more acceptable ~30 miles). In normal driving, you’re going to be in electic mode with the engine acting as a range extender. To say it’s even remotely exciting would be waterboarding the truth.
While there’s somewhat of an “it was early” excuse for the weak electric powerplant, there’s not much that can be used to excuse the engine, a turbo-three sourced from Mini making 228 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. There’s nothing premium, let alone exotic, about a 1.5-liter T3 designed for a compact hatchback. The only worse misstep in this department is the Fisker Karma/Karma Revero, which used an EcoTec turbo-four. Congratulations, you put a Chevy Cobalt engine into your boutique sedan – great work team! At least the i8’s engine sends power to the rear wheels, so there is that.
As a result, the driving experience leaves much to be desired. Yes, it handles well and accelerates quickly and all the usual journo talking points but…the it factor ain’t there. And without the doors, the i8 Roadster is basically meaningless (see also: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG) and you’re better off getting an M6 convertible.
What Did the BMW i8 Need?
The i8 deserved more. Maybe the N55 I6. Maybe the E9X M3’s V8. Maybe the screaming I4 from the S1000RR. Maybe it should have always ran in full-time AWD mode without the plug-in bits (though this did nothing for the equally-footnotic Acura NSX — maybe nailing the whole “hybrid sports car idea” is hard; maybe its unnecessary to even try). But certainly something more than two econobox powertrains merged into one. Alas.
Then again, could it really be just a footnote if some guy is sitting here writing a “lamentation” post inspired by an auction listing almost a decade after the car’s release? But then again, I doubt anyone will be writing articles “looking back at the legendary i8” in another 10 years the way they do about the M1, the E31 8 Series, or even the E24 6 Series.
This post isn’t about Motor Trend’s social media strategy though. It’s about the Lambo-doored BMW coupe and why it’s destined to be just a curious footnote instead of a legend.
First and foremost, it’s design winner. Though launched for 2014 bearing a design first seen on a concept shown in 2009, the i8 still looks quite futuristic – inside and out. If you put BMW’s latest interior infotainment bits inside, it wouldn’t look out of place in the automaker’s current lineup.
Unfortunately, the powerplant is not nearly as exotic as its looks. Oh sure it put up good straight-line numbers – Motor Trend got the 2014 model to 60mph in 3.8 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 12.4 But even a decade ago, putting up those numbers wasn’t really a huge accomplishment and ~feel~ is more important. And the feel lacks that ~je ne sais quois~ required to be, well, memorable.
First, let’s take the electric component. The motor drives the FRONT wheels (!), sending a mere 129 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Those are fine numbers for, say, a Nissan Leaf, but not for something LARPing as an exotic or at least a luxury grand tourer. Second, the electric-only range was all of ~20 miles (later expanded to a somewhat more acceptable ~30 miles). In normal driving, you’re going to be in electic mode with the engine acting as a range extender. To say it’s even remotely exciting would be waterboarding the truth.
While there’s somewhat of an “it was early” excuse for the weak electric powerplant, there’s not much that can be used to excuse the engine, a turbo-three sourced from Mini making 228 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. There’s nothing premium, let alone exotic, about a 1.5-liter T3 designed for a compact hatchback. The only worse misstep in this department is the Fisker Karma/Karma Revero, which used an EcoTec turbo-four. Congratulations, you put a Chevy Cobalt engine into your boutique sedan – great work team!
The i8 deserved more. Maybe the N55 I6. Maybe the E9X M3’s V8. Maybe the screaming I4 from the S1000RR. Maybe it should have always ran in full-time AWD mode without the plug-in bits (though this did nothing for the equally-footnotic Acura NSX). But certainly something more than two econobox powertrains merged into one. Alas. Then again, could it really be just a footnote if some guy is sitting here writing a “lamentation” post inspired by an auction listing almost a decade after the car’s release? But then again, I doubt anyone will be writing articles “looking back at the legendary i8” in another 10 years the way they do about the M1, the E31 8 Series, or even the E24 6 Series.
