BMW i8 from Autocar

Looks very impressive. Must admit, if they get anywhere close to the economy figures I'll be shocked. For a 'concept' car, it's quite close to production. The figures in short:

With 220bhp and 221lb ft of torque, the new petrol unit operates in combination with a 129bhp, 184lb ft electric motor for an overall output of 349bhp and 405lb ft.

BMW puts the i8’s combined economy at 104mpg, giving it average CO2 emissions of just 66g/km.

BMW quotes a 0-62mph time of 4.6sec – making it a remarkable 0.3sec faster up the strip than the M3 coupé.

Not quite revolutionary but damn near close.

Looks the biz - wonder what the price tag will be. Certainly appealing based on the stats - recharge in 105mins from 220v

Couldn't find a more recent topic, but seen my first ones in the wild today - 3 in separate areas of the UK.

What I can say, is boy can they shift! Looked very nice in black.

Was following one of these up the M5/6 today (it was on a trailer).

It looked lovely (for a BMW), especially the cut outs above the rear lights.

I'd drive one for sure.

Saw a black one going south on the A1 this afternoon. Looked very nice.

Didn't Clarkson test the i8 on Top Gear?

Liked the car, but only got 35 mpg.

Proof that not all BMWs have to be hideous

I saw one recently too; actually on the road they're different but not in a bad way (unlike, say, "Gran coupes" which still give me images of little old ladies).

So last year, my mate had the 1st in the UK almost a year ago, now up for sale circa £100K 

 

Mental car but not as frugal as claimed, the noise is great but it's fake. 

 

He's moaning as he's left it too long, should have outed it 6 mths ago, and they are all white, we did tell him to get the blue but he had to have white, blue would mean he made his money back.

 

White is the I8 clit model.

So last year, my mate had the 1st in the UK almost a year ago, now up for sale circa £100K

Mental car but not as frugal as claimed, the noise is great but it's fake.

He's moaning as he's left it too long, should have outed it 6 mths ago, and they are all white, we did tell him to get the blue but he had to have white, blue would mean he made his money back.

White is the I8 clit model.

?

I've seen a few dark ones but no white ones up in footballer country

Yeah i guess I should have said white bits. They are generally dark with different colour inserts on the doors and bonnet and possibly boot lid.

Yeah i guess I should have said white bits. They are generally dark with different colour inserts on the doors and bonnet and possibly boot lid.

I'll pay more attention next time I see one.

You can buy his if you want a proper look !!!

You can buy his if you want a proper look !!!

not with the white bits, no thanks...

The two by me are both wrapped. The gold/bronze one looks stunning.

not with the white bits, no thanks...

 

 

I know, common as muck they are.

Are the inserts white, blue or red as in the M colours?

Didn't notice them on the black and silver ones I saw, but then they weren't hanging about

I've got it ass backwards I guess I shouldn't post whilst queuing for my lunch.

The panels are actually white with black bits holding it all together same as the silver but you wouldn't notice it so much on the black. Have a look it'll make more sense.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bmw+i8&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=9Ek5VZ3mA8LuaqzYgegF&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=360&bih=640

They are sexy, but very expensive as a proof of concept design

It's the way we are heading though. I think it's more a look what we can do than anything else.

Mind you the veyron and R8 started as proof of concept models to modernise small volume manufacturer

I do like them. One of the few BMWs that look half decent ATM. (6 series being the other.)

 

The new 7 is very carbon-fibrey too, so I guess that maybe based on the same manufacture technology as the i3/i8?

I do like them. One of the few BMWs that look half decent ATM. (6 series being the other.)

The new 7 is very carbon-fibrey too, so I guess that maybe based on the same manufacture technology as the i3/i8?

Highly likely.

Still waiting for someone to put an m3/5 body on top....

I think you'll be waiting a while. It's like a carbon fibre bathtub. You have to climb over the sill which is about a foot deep to get into it. It's not a traditional car in the chassis sense. Well in any sense really.