Into a New World of Sports Cars

The head of development began with an analogy.

"Think about cameras, televisions, and mobile phones. With every major change, several excellent manufacturers have declined. I believe the same will happen in the automotive world from now on. Especially in the world of sports cars..."

In other words, we car enthusiasts are about to discover a completely new world of sports cars.

In Provence, southern France. At BMW's proving ground in Miramas, we were able to test a production prototype of the "i8," scheduled for release next year. What awaited the press was a disguised prototype, covered in blue camouflage film.



Even though the entire body was covered in film, it couldn't completely hide its distinctive form. The ride height was higher than expected, and the width was considerably increased. Consulting the specifications, it turns out the dimensions are nearly the same as theMercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

The nose is unusually low. The hood, extended to the very front, is made of aluminum. At the tip, as usual, the kidney grille is fitted, albeit flattened. One might think the grille is closed off, but a gap of about one finger's width at the bottom appears to serve as an air intake.

The grille in the bumper spoiler was also closed. However, it houses automatically adjusting flaps that apparently open and close as needed to cool the front brakes.

The doors are a swing-up type, opening like an insect's wings. The outer panels are aluminum, and the inner side is CFRP, making the opening and closing feel quite light.

A Design That Makes You Eager for the Official Unveiling

The rear section design, clearly conceived with aerodynamics in mind, is likely one of the i8's highlights. There seemed to be interesting ideas around the design of the rear lamps as well, but they were skillfully concealed. We look forward to the official unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

In front of a very small ducktail is a glass hatch gate. Opening it reveals a 154-liter luggage compartment. It seems sufficient for carry-on sized suitcases, but it feels a bit small.



Incidentally, the small rear glass window separating the cabin from the engine compartment is made of "Gorilla Glass," a type of chemically strengthened glass used for smartphones. It is an extremely strong and lightweight material. There are plans to gradually apply it to other models in the future.



While that may be true, we had hoped for a bit more allure and a sense of the future from the interior. Frankly, I'm a little tired of the current BMW interior. I feel they could have shown us BMW's next-generation cockpit design aesthetic, starting with the i8, a sports car of the new era.

Incidentally, the rear seats are essentially just for luggage. While there is space for your feet, both headroom and seating area are very limited, and the seatbacks are quite upright, making it difficult even for the 170cm tall author to sit without bending his neck.

Balancing the Character of a City Commuter and a Sports Car

Pressing the starter button produced a pleasant chime. It's a typical feature of electric vehicles.

The front axle is equipped with a two-stage, motor-driven powertrain (maximum output 131ps, maximum torque 250Nm), the same system configuration as the "i3".

Additionally, in front of the rear axle, there is a newly developed 1.5-liter 3-cylinder twin-power turbo direct-injection engine + 6-speed AT powertrain (maximum output 231ps, maximum torque 320Nm) + a small motor. The small motor connected to the engine not only functions as a starter but also plays a crucial role in synchronizing the engine speed with the front-wheel motor drive.



The lithium-ion battery is housed like a backbone frame beneath the center of the cockpit. Its capacity is considerably smaller than that of the i3, prioritizing power delivery and reception over efficiency.

By effectively coordinating the two front and rear powertrains, it achieves both the character of an EV front-wheel-drive city commuter and the performance of a swift sports car with a mid-engine, all-wheel-drive capable of 0-100km/h acceleration in under 4.5 seconds. This is the innovation of the i8 as a sports car.

The Rivals...

First, we set off in EV mode.

The initial torque delivered to the road is very strong, and it's quite fast! If you press the accelerator firmly, you can drive in EV mode up to 120 km/h. With a full charge, the EV range is about 35 kilometers, allowing you to drive quietly and without compromising speed from the garage through the city.

When you press the accelerator pedal hard, the engine kicks in, and it switches to hybrid mode (Comfort). From there, you can drive calmly, effectively distributing engine power for both propulsion and charging.

Even if it doesn't make your heart pound, a powerful sound fills the cabin. The engine sound is also reproduced through the speakers. Sound is important for a sports car, after all.

The lightness of the body and the low center of gravity must be contributing factors. While there's a slight stiffness in the front suspension, the weight distribution remains at 50:50, and the handling performance is excellent. It sticks to the road like a water strider, darting around. Although there are still areas that need refinement, such as the coordinated control of the front and rear powertrains, the front chassis setup, and the sound design, the engineers are aware of all the issues and are expected to enhance its completeness in the remaining six months.




And when it's time to push the limits, don't hesitate to select Sport mode. The full acceleration, utilizing both power sources to their maximum, is an unprecedented thrill. It accelerates like a two-stage rocket: boom, boom!

The combination of thick motor torque and powerful turbocharging made it feel faster than its specifications.

The price is between 100,000 and 200,000 Euros. The direct rival is thePorsche 911, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary.

We may be witnessing the dawn of a new era for sports cars.

BMW i8
Body Dimensions | Length 4,689 x Width 1,942 x Height 1,293 mm
Wheelbase | 2,800 mm
Weight | 1,490 kg or less
Engine | 1,499cc Inline 3-cylinder Direct Injection DOHC Turbo
Maximum Output | 170kW (231ps)
Maximum Torque | 320Nm
Motor Maximum Output | 96kW (131ps)
Motor Maximum Torque | 250Nm
System Maximum Output | 266kW (362ps)
System Maximum Torque | 570Nm
Transmission | 6-speed Automatic
Drivetrain | 4WD
Tires Front/Rear | 195/50R20 / 215/45R20
0-100km/h Acceleration | Under 4.5 seconds
Maximum Speed | 250km/h
Maximum Speed in EV Mode | 120km/h
Fuel Consumption | 2.5 L/100km
CO2 Emissions | 59 g/km
Driving Range | Over 500 km
EV Driving Range | Approx. 35 km