I might be in the minority on this but I think the BMW i8 is a great car. I personally wouldn't buy one, but I see why it's in the market. Basically, it lets the hardcore BMW fan own one of their concept cars. Not many companies allow that to happen. Imagine if Maserati sold a few copies of that gorgeous Birdcage concept for their 75th anniversary! If you haven't seen that concept before, look it up on Google...it's the most gorgeous car I've ever seen.
My friend bought one of these. I got inside it and DAMN that thing is low. I had to crouch down to get through the door. Coming from someone who drives suvs I guess that some people may not have as much trouble that I had.
Hydrogen fuel cell!!!!! The real future in clean tech! No more of these mega hybrid batteries that gives you a few years worth of a carbon footprint in its production before you drive it off the lot. This is what I am most excited about in real clean energy. If companies played their cards right in the next few decades while becoming cheap enough for even the poor to afford, I would back that in a heartbeat! I enjoyed your topic of MPGe Mr Cooley, keep up the good work!
Good show love to have the electric bmrrrr. What about the move to Aluminium or space age car bodies won't that shake up the mass MV production industry?
I went to see this car at the bmw showroom and the sales exec said that they took the engine from a 1.5L mini. So they haven't really started new with this and I wouldn't pay that much for a glorified Mini.
What i don't understand is if i am driving a battery electric car like a Tesla or Leaf, why would i care what the MPGe is? If i'm not using any gas why do i need to know what the equivalent is?
While all of you're saying Tesla is better, I can see why. But I find it different. Tesla is pure electric which means no emissions (good for earth savers) and fast acceleration (from the reduction gear it has). But if you've seen other real-world reviews (rather than just about the vehicle itself), you'll see lots of people mention range anxieties. Of course, there are more electric charging stations and Superchargers that are slowly appearing, but for now, BMW i8 proves superior since it supports its powertrain from a nice-sounding gas engine along with an efficient electric motors. It charges in 2 hours from a 220V outlet. That's pretty easy to live with. If your workplace is within 10 miles from home, you could possibly move this car pure electric everyday.
if you really heard the actual sound that 3 cylinder makes on the i8, you would be turned down! The good sound it makes comes from the audio system, in other word its fake!!!!!!! Tesla is still the superior vehicle!
write2rc Although I haven't heard one, from various reviews, it sounds nice. Not all the sound is synthetic however; they just boost the existing sound to amplify it throughout the cabin. Tesla doesn't even have any combustion tech noise!! I'm not saying Tesla is a terrible car. But for now (if the range anxiety is not fixed) the BMW i8 is superior and it's also a halo car right now. I've seen about 5 Model S in the past 2 months. I've only seen 1 BMW i8 in a friends snapchat. That's it.
***** Yes, I'm glad you're satisfied with your Tesla. In CA, it's very developed and structured in terms of Superchargers and other Public EV chargers, but let's say in OK or AR for example, there are like no Supercharger available. Me, not being an EV owner, no; I don't know what it's like to have range issues or not, but I assume the range anxiety is currently present in road trip or long drive situations. Also, the electric motor being silent gives the unexpected acceleration which is surprisingly fun, I'll admit. I think until more electric charging stations or Superchargers are implemented across NA, Tesla owners in segregated areas will face some range anxiety concerns. Have fun with your Tesla!
Both i8 and Tesla are for people with more money than average people. For now there are no pure battery cars at lower prices that can offer the range people need. Also the time to fully charge a battery car is not connivance for most people, unless they are close to a super charger. Battery tech needs to improve for faster charging and electric car prices has to come down. Otherwise they won't do any big impact on mass transport. For now hybrids are the best way to go.
bezor Ta I agree with most of the things you are saying and also even people with short commutes and no road trip ambitions, they may choose hybrid or even gas engine vehicles over electric since charging and costs are heavily involved and unfortunately on the bad side. At this moment I see i8 and Model S as halo cars since it's not that commonly seen anywhere. There's the Nissan Leaf at a rather 'average-consumer' level but I think on the design perspectives, it's just prints more green than attractiveness.
I must completely disagree with your view on our US manufactures attempt on MPG. I have recently bought a Ford Escape, averaging 28 mpg. But in UK ford sells a very similar vehicle, Ford Ecosport. The diesel version gets 53.44 mpg US. I would say your army of engineers left 98% on the table
The BMW i8 is cool, but in just about every aspect it's less than half the car the Tesla Model S is(literally AND figuratively), for more money. I mean, only a 22 mile electric-only range for a small 2+2 isn't really ground-breaking IMO. I would take the Tesla over the Beemer in a heartbeat. On a side note, I think BC is the epitome automotive journalist. Keep up the good work, BC!
BMW i8. Really 3 cylinder with 'that' exhaust? Reminds me of a hopped-up Smart car engine, and at that price and with a 22 mile all electric range. It's not for me and we have a garage full of Mercedes Benz. Now not that I'm trying to be a Tesla fanboy, *but* the Tesla 85 kWh offers a range of 250 to 265 miles, 0-60 MPH 3.2 seconds, and priced a lot less. Frankly it's *extremely rare* for me to drive more than 200 miles in a day and if and when I need to drive 300 to 500+ in a day ... duh I have more than one (1) car. Frankly for long, really long drives the i8 is too small and I prefer the space in an SUV or minimally a full size car. Not to mention my silly long drives are with my family. Long drives for me require a *comfortable* ride! I like the i8's futuristic looks but that's it.
the i8 makes that exhaust note using air forced through holes on the side of the car it's not the engine. the i8 is supposed to be an example of how sports cars can survive the electric fad.
***** Well based upon what limited information I know the 'future fuels' for vehicles is indeed going to be 'electrically derived' so either a fuel cell, straight hydrogen combustion or electric cells. Biofuels require a lot of horticultural acreage and might be competing for food areas. Even the algae fuel studies I've seen would require areas equivalent to entire states to replace fossil fuels. Batteries while being better are still relatively primitive and even lithium in all its periodic chart properties in alloy mixes is still very poor in potential compared to nanoelectrofuel and beyond. Fossil fuels as used in vehicles, depending upon your age, will be exhausted in your lifetime and maybe even mine. So no I don't consider this a 'fad,' but instead a scary reminder we're running out of portable fuels.
we are not in fear of running out at least in our life times there are confirmed oil reserves that would sustain us through 100 years. but you are right humanity will have to find new energy some time.
***** After 2040 or 25 years it will be impractical to use oil and coal liquification might extend some additional time. However, either at an at extremely unaffordable price to be burned inefficiently in vehicles. Also as the rest of the world develops out of 'third world' conditions even less time. Somewhere I read if everyone in the world used per capita the same resources as in North America today we'd need five (5) Earth's. Never mind exponential population growth. Frankly without some dramatic scientific breakthroughs were all pretty much screwed. We need something like fusion power but if you read what I have it seems grim. Bicycles and windmills FTW?!
the earth has enough wealth and room for everyone but because of bad economic policy and poor planning we have poverty and sickness and bad education in most parts of the world things are what they are.
TESLA P85D would be so awesome if they built a coupe. It would already dust this piece of shit all the way up to 155MPH, but would be more awesome in every way.
