Review: 2015 BMW i8 Plug-in Hybrid, BMW's Hipster Hybrid

Photo credit: Norman Woo and Derek Mau

Likes:

Sublime “glued to the road” AWD handling
Powerful acceleration
Quiet demeanor when driven in Eco Pro or eDrive mode
Able to turn heads everywhere you go with its striking design

Dislikes:

Able to turn heads everywhere you go with its striking design
Not a comfortable fit for drivers with long legs
BMW infotainment system continues to be a weak link
Tight space restrictions limit carrying anything beyond you and a passenger

The BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid built on BMW’s principles of sustainable mobility, but don’t buy the i8 for its zero emissions qualities. Get the i8 because the heart and soul of this leading edge supercar comes from a company that has a reputation for building cars that are hands-down fun to drive. And that reputation is fully intact with the i8. Our time with the i8 left us wanting for more – more time driving, more time carving through the turns, and more time dropping the hammer and listening to the angry exhaust note piped through the cabin speakers.

Yes, the i8 can get you to your destination without using a drop of fossil fuel, but why would you do that when there is a powerful hybrid system that has a combined output of 357 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque at your disposal. Simply tipping the gearshift selector to the left switches the hyper-hybrid into angry (aka sport) mode and you find yourself catapulting down your favorite ribbon of road lickety-split. A low-center of gravity, a near 50:50 weight distribution, a taut suspension, and a sticky set of Bridgestone Potenza tires work together for a sinfully good time.

Underneath the sleek, aerodynamic design is a dual personality all-wheel drive system that works synchronously between the benevolent electric system and the evil-doer internal combustion system. A 96 kWh (131 horsepower) motor at the front axle peacefully drives the low-slung, 2+2 plug-in hybrid sports coupe. Driving the rear axle is a 228 horsepower TwinPower Turbo 1.5-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine that recharges the battery when the charge gets too low and adds some extra zest to the acceleration curve. Combined output of the two systems is good for 357 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. That translates to a zero to sixty time of 4.2 seconds, which is equivalent to a 911 Carrera 4 GTS.

Beware that BMW’s hipster-hybrid is the ultimate Muhammed Ali when it comes dazzling the public. And just like Ali, the i8 can “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” Press the eDrive button and the aero-honed supercar goes into near-silent running under all-electric power. The real fun begins when you shift the i8 into Sport mode and an angry, loud, and aggressive driving machine replaces the mild-mannered, eco-friendly sportster. In Sport mode the i8 shifts faster, turns in quicker, and accelerates faster than Ali’s “shoeshine” combination. Basically, this car amplifies your skills, strokes your ego, and stimulates your pleasure center, all while possessing limits high enough to humble any driver. At a pure emotional level, it’s a car that wins our hearts.