2015 BMW i8
Introduction
Hearing the phrase "high-performance plug-in
hybrid" would normally make about as much sense as "jumbo
shrimp" or "rational and selfless politician." But the 2015 BMW
i8 lends unquestionable credibility to that seeming oxymoron. Able to sprint to
60 mph in just 4.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 155 mph, this exotic,
environmentally conscious sports machine also boasts a 76 MPGe EPA fuel economy
rating. If driving this car is going green, then consider us card-carrying
members of the tree-hugger's club.
This BMW's magic happens by way of a turbocharged 1.5-liter
inline three-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and lithium-ion
battery pack. Working together, this dynamic duo makes 357 horsepower and 420
pound-feet of torque and channels it to all four wheels. Running on electric
power alone, the i8 can travel up to 15 miles and reach a top speed of 75 mph.
When the gas engine kicks on, the i8 has anything but a supercar's appetite for
gas as it earns a combined fuel economy rating of 28 mpg and extends the i8's
total estimated driving to a generous 330 miles. Recharging the car's battery
pack can take as little as 1.5 hours.
Also contributing to the 2015 BMW i8's high performance and
fuel-saving capabilities is the car's lightweight construction. Aluminum,
carbon fiber and thinner, chemically hardened glass are all employed in its
manufacture. Indeed, despite all the hybrid hardware packed into the i8, it is
pretty much the same weight and length as a 3 Series sedan. A 50/50
front-to-rear weight distribution and low, centrally mounted battery pack
promote finely balanced, agile handling to go along with the straight-line
thrills.
With its low, sleek body styling and unique
scissor-lift-style doors, the 2015 BMW i8 pretty much guarantees that you'll
make a grand entrance (and exit). The downside is that getting into the car
takes a bit of practice. Inside, the futuristic cockpit uses recycled materials
and naturally treated leather. The tiny rear seats, however, are best
considered as additional cargo space, which you'll likely need given the
trunk's meager capacity.
Perhaps the only real rival to the 2015 BMW i8 is the
similarly high-performing 2015 Tesla Model S. It's purely electric and has the
accompanying pros and cons to go with it, but it is less expensive and has four
doors and usable rear seats. If you decide to go strictly gas-powered, you may
look across the showroom at BMW's "M" family of performance
machinery, while other sporting choices include the tempting 2015 Porsche 911
lineup as well as the value-packed 2015 Chevrolet Corvette. But for the hybrid
buyer seeking sexy styling as well as sizzling performance and admirable
efficiency, the 2015 BMW i8 is a very desirable, if conspicuous, choice.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2015 BMW i8 is a two-door, plug-in hybrid sports car
with 2+2 seating. It comes in a single trim level.
Standard features include 20-inch wheels, adjustable
suspension, LED exterior lighting (headlights, foglights, running lights and
taillights), automatic headlights and wipers, front and rear park assist, an
overhead camera view system, auto-dimming mirrors, keyless entry and ignition,
leather upholstery, power front seats, heated front seats, a
tilt-and-telescoping and leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic climate
control, memory settings and a head-up display.
Other standard electronics features include a navigation
system, BMW's iDrive electronics interface, Bluetooth phone and audio
connectivity, BMW Assist, Internet accessibility and a Harman Kardon sound
system with an iPod/USB interface, satellite radio and HD radio. Also included
are BMW Apps (selected smartphone apps integration) and BMW Remote Services
(which allows Apple and Android users to lock the car remotely and turn on the
climate control, among various other tasks).
There are three option packages available, known as Worlds.
Giga World includes turbine-style wheels and expanded, perforated leather
upholstery. Tera World features a choice of the standard or turbine-style
wheels and special cloth and leather upholstery. Pure Impulse World includes
black brake calipers, a choice of the standard or turbine wheels and a variety
of unique interior trim and materials upgrades, including a leather engine
cover.
Powertrains and Performance
As a plug-in hybrid, the i8 employs a turbocharged 1.5-liter
inline three-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and lithium-ion
battery pack. The gas engine drives the rear wheels through a six-speed
automatic transmission, while the electric motor powers the front wheels
through a two-speed automatic. When working together, the two combine to
provide 357 hp, 420 lb-ft of torque and all-wheel drive.
The battery pack can be fully recharged at home through a
standard 120-volt garage outlet in about 3.5 hours. Upgrade to a 240-volt
charger (or visit a public station) and you can trim that down to about 1.5
hours.
During Edmunds testing, a European-spec i8 sprinted from
zero to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. According to the EPA, the i8 can travel 15
miles on electric power alone. After that, the gas engine comes into play and
earns a combined (city/highway) fuel economy rating of 28 mpg, while the total
driving range is estimated at 330 miles. The EPA also rates the i8 at 76 MPGe
factoring in both gas and electric power efficiency.
Safety
The BMW i8 comes standard with antilock brakes, traction and
stability control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. Also standard
are BMW Assist emergency communications (includes automatic crash notification,
stolen vehicle recovery and on-demand roadside assistance) as well as parking
sensors and an around-car view camera system.
At the Edmunds test track, the i8 came to a stop from 60 mph
in 108 feet.
Interior Design and Special Features
Getting into the i8 requires a bit of choreography once the
scissor door is swung up and away. You'll have to step over a high sill, so the
best way to get in is to sit on the sill, swing a leg over, allow your backside
to slip into the seat and then follow with the other leg. It's not hard once
you master the move, but you'll want to duck under the bottom edge of the door
at the same time.
Once inside the i8, you'll find a multi-tiered and layered
cockpit design that uses recycled materials and naturally treated leather for
upholstery and panel surfaces. The power seats offer good support and
long-distance comfort, and even taller drivers will have headroom to spare. The
center stack is canted toward the driver, putting everything close at hand.
The shifter and various mode switches are close by, too, and
each selection changes the background color and meter design of the main
instrument pod. The dials turn blue in EV mode; Sport is red and Comfort is
gray. None of them is particularly attractive or easy to read, though, because
the numbers are small, the instrument needles are skinny and neither contrasts
strongly enough with the background. As such, one will likely end up using the
head-up display instead.
Despite the "2+2" moniker, this is essentially a
two-seater, as those rear seats are tiny with scant headroom, and as such are
best considered auxiliary luggage space. You'll need it, too, since the trunk
is rated at a paltry 5.4 cubic feet.
Driving Impressions
Around town, the 2015 BMW i8 feels pretty normal. The
accelerator is smooth and linear while the brake pedal's action is progressive
and natural, without the hardness or "wooden" character of other
regenerative braking systems. The hybrid powertrain likely won't overwhelm you
with acceleration, but it also never feels winded, and the electric motor's
torque covers nicely for the small turbocharged engine as the latter winds up
to deliver its power contribution. You'll also notice the unique sound of the
i8 while driving, which is no accident. In EV mode, it's eerily silent except
for the keening sound of the electric motor and regenerative brakes. Once the
engine comes into play, however, an electronic noise actuator under the rear
deck lid combines with specially designed sounds emitted from the stereo's rear
speakers (whether it's switched on or not). In some ways, it's the opposite of
active noise cancellation, but the result is a fantastic case of augmented
reality that sounds terrific.
The i8 also delivers stellar handling thanks to its 50/50
weight distribution, a low, centrally mounted battery pack and dual powertrains
that essentially make the i8 an all-wheel-drive performance car. The adjustable
suspension allows one to tailor the car's handling and ride dynamics to their
liking. The base setting is only slightly firm in town, but Sport crosses the
line at city speeds. Push the car hard in the sort of driving Sport was
intended for, however, and this firmer setting comes into its own, absorbing
large bumps and small ripples with apparent ease while keeping the car stable
around turns.
