BMW i8: Performance, Price, And Photos

The abbreviated production life of the BMW i8 etched it in history as both a car of the future and a classic at the same time. The i8 first rolled off the line in 2014, as the first series-produced, plug-in hybrid sports car. Its last run was only six years later. Closing out the i8’s total production at 20,500 vehicles, the final 18 hand-finished, custom-painted special orders left the factory as 2020 models.

A nod to the BMW M1, the i8’s innovative styling, power, and performance earned the nickname the sustainable supercar or the eco-supercar of the future. Touted by BMW as the world’s first production car with laser light technology, its standout features include laser headlights, scissor doors, a 360-degree camera system, a heads-up display, and filtered-in, ambient engine noise replication.

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RELATED: Here’s Why The 2024 BMW I8 M Is Really Worth The Wait

BMW i8

9.50

/ 10

Key Features

• Electric / Gas Hybrid with Excellent MPGe
• Exotic Aesthetic For a Fraction of The Price
• Impressive Speed
• 360-Degree Camera System
• Lambo-Style Scissor Doors
• Tax Credits for Hybrid EV Status

Specifications

• Model: i8
• Engine:: Hybrid Electric / 3-Cylinder
• Power Output: eDrive 141 HP, Gas 228 HP
• Torque: eDrive 184 Lb-Ft, Gas 236 LB-Ft
• Range: EV 15 – 18 Miles , Gas 315 – 320 Miles
• Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic (Shiftable)
• Driveline: All-Wheel Drive
• MSRP: $136,000 – $165,000

Pros

• Zero to 60 MPH in Less Than 4.5 Seconds
• Charges in Two Hours
• 69 – 76 MPGe in Hybrid Mode (Electric and Gasoline Engines Combined)

Cons

• Called a 2+2 Seater; But Not a True Back Seat
• Limited Charging Range
• Artificial Engine Sound Comes From Speakers

BMW i8 Performance And Capability

BMW 

An action shot of a BMW i8 Coupe driving on a race track

The plug-in hybrid system of the all-wheel drive BMW i8 features a combination of their three-cylinder, 1.5-Liter TwinPower Turbo gasoline engine to drive the rear wheels and a front-mounted electric motor. While the electric motor put out 141 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, with the gas engine’s additional 228 horsepower and 236 pound-feet. You had a combined output of 369 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.

The center of the vehicle houses the lithium-ion battery, which was capable of providing anywhere between 15 and 18 miles of all-electric range. A BMW i Wallbox in either the Pure or Pro version can be wall-mounted in a garage for home charging. The Pure model charges within two hours. The Pro provides charging to 80 percent in the same two-hour span.

The eDrive option rotates through the available i8 driving modes to optimize any driver’s situation.

• COMFORT – Starts and drives purely electric with no support of the combustion engine until the battery life is exhausted
• ECO PRO – Electric until the combustion engine activates at high speeds or low battery levels
• SPORT – Suited for sporty driving, with electric motor boost and manual gear selection
• HYBRID – Brake Energy Regeneration charges the battery while driving

With a zero – 60 MPH time of 4.2 seconds for the coupe and 4.4 seconds for the Roadster, the hybrid sports car is extra impressive when considering its EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 69 to 76 MPGe. It could easily drive a 300-mile range with only an 11-gallon fuel tank capacity.

BMW i8 Specs

POWER/RANGE

FRONT

BMW Electric

EV RANGE 2014 – 2017

15 Miles

EV RANGE 2019 – 2020

18 Miles

eDRIVE OUTPUT

141 HP / 184 lb-ft of torque

REAR

1.5L 3-Cylinder Combustion

GAS RANGE 2014 – 2017

315 Miles

GAS RANGE 2019 – 2020

320 Miles

ENGINE OUTPUT

228 hp / 236 lb-ft of torque

TOTAL POWER

369 hp / 420 lb-ft of torque

RELATED: The Alpina BMW i8 Didn’t Happen Because of Limitations in the i8’s Design

Exterior Design

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Front driver’s side view 2019 black BMW i8 Roadster

The wide silhouette of the wedge-shaped BMW i8 sits with an asphalt-hugging stance. Scissor doors spotlight its supercar-like appeal. The lightweight body was credited to its carbon fiber structure.

Upon its 2014 release, four color palettes were available.

• Sophisto Grey Brilliant Effect with BMW i Blue accent or Frozen Grey metallic
• Ionic Silver Metallic with BMW i Blue accent
• Protonic Blue with Frozen Grey metallic accent
• Crystal White Pearl Effect with BMW i Blue accent or Frozen Grey metallic

The Protonic Red Edition was a color option born for the 2017 production year. It added $11,000 to the price tag.

The exterior lines remained unchanged from 2014 to 2018. BMW offered a minor appearance refresh to the i8 Coupe for the 2019 model year. Changes included 20-inch wheel options and Coupe badging at the C-pillar. E-Copper metallic and Donington Grey metallic became available exterior paint options. An E-Copper color-matched interior selection was also added. An Air Shutter was added to the hood, giving a minor twist to the look of the front view. This Shutter improved the i8’s aerodynamics.

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Rear view of a 2019 BMW i8 Roadster in E-Copper 

The most significant change came in the form of the convertible version, known as the i8 Roadster. A large rear window and foldable fabric top characterized the soft-top model. The signature scissor doors were kept; however, the Roadster door was frameless. Both the Coupe and the Roadster retained their “mean and green” positions as the new variants increased the eDrive range to a potential 18 miles from 15.

Dimensions

Length

184.9 in

Width

87.3 in

Height

50.8 in

Curb Weight

3,501 lbs

Seating

2+2 (Coupe)

Cargo Capacity

4.7 Cu.Ft

RELATED: BMW i8 Roadster Driven

BMW i8 Interior Quality And Technology

BMW Group

Interior view of new color scheme introduced on the 2019 BMW i8 Roadster.

Not a true four-seater, the BMW i8’s interior passenger capacity is described as a 2+2, translating to less than optimum rear passenger legroom. The i8 offered luxury sport-style seating with power-adjustable, heated driver and front passenger seats.

In the later release of the Roadster, rear seating was eliminated to accommodate the electronically-operated, folding soft top. The Roadster’s all-season fabric top can be opened or closed in 16 seconds while driving up to 31 MPH.

Three interior color combinations were available at the i8’s production debut. Laser light headlights, a heads-up display, Park Distance Control (PDC), a pre-collision system, rain-sensing wipers, and navigation were factory equipment on the i8. The sound system came from Harman/Kardon.

RELATED: The BMW i8 Goes Out of Production Soon, But The Story Doesn’t End There

BMW i8 Price And Availability

On it release, the 2014 BMW i8 carried a sticker price of $136,000. Currently, a high-mileage used i8 can be found for sale in the $60,000 range, with an ultra-low-mileage model in the low $70,000 range. By the end of production, the 2020 i8 Coupe had increased in price to $148,500, and the Roadster stretched a budget to $165,000; however, each qualified for a state and federal tax credit for its hybrid EV status.

Scarcity and exclusivity have kept resale values for 2020 i8s high at well over $100,000 for either the Coupe or Roadster. In addition to the three years or 36,000-mile warranty that is standard with the i8, BMW covers the battery for eight years.

Main Competition

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Passenger side view 2017 Acura NSX

Although they were not in the same price class as the i8, three hybrid supercars were compared to the BMW – the McLaren P1, the Ferrari LaFerrari, and the Porsche 918. Now, the base Porsche rang in at just over $850,000 and could easily surpass $1 million with options. The McLaren and Ferrari both topped the seven-digit mark at well over $1 million.

Accounting for MSRPs, the electric/gas hybrid Acura NSX is the closest competitor of the i8. While the NSX’s V-6 develops a considerable amount of horsepower over the BMW’s I-3 gas engine. Original pricing on both vehicles hovers around the $150,000 mark, allowing each to give a nod to the appearance of an exotic on a thrift-conscience economical budget.

FAQ

Q: How much does a BMW i8 cost?

Depending on year, model, condition, and mileage, a used BMW i8 can cost as little as $60,000 with the convertible Roadster priced over $140,000.

Q: Is the BMW i8 fully electric?

The BMW i8 is a hybrid, plug-in vehicle with a 1.5-Liter TwinPower Turbo 3-cylinder gasoline engine and a front-mounted eDrive Electric Motor.

Q: Is the BMW i8 a 2 seater?

The BMW i8 debuted with a front and rear seat. Due to the limited legroom for the rear passenger it is described as a 2+2, as opposed to a four-seater. With the release of the convertible Roadster version of the i8, the rear seats were eliminated to house the soft, folding fabric top.

Q: Is the BMW i8 a supercar?

While the BMW i8 certainly has the look and proportions of a supercar, with its hybrid powertrain, paired with a 1.5-liter engine, it falls more in line with being a sports car.

Q: Why was the BMW i8 discontinued?

Having sold just over 20,000 models over its six-year lifespan, the BMW i8 had polarizing styling and for a hybrid sportscar, a limited all-electric range of anywhere between 15 to 18 miles. With the dawn of EVs, the i8 no longer seemed very popular leading BMW to discontinue it.