RE: Chris Harris video: BMW i8

[kezsan]

Pretty interesting insight to the i8 - http://www.designboom.com/technology/behind-the-sc...

[kambites]

RoverP6B said:

Clivey said:

Not if your car has a decent battery - 99% of people wouldn't have to do this with a Tesla Model S, for example.

Yeah, and said Tesla weighs much the same as the L322 Range Rover if memory serves, all because of those damn batteries!

It's only about 100kg heavier than a big-engined 7-series. Besides, it's a barge, it's not particularly meant to be light.

The centre of gravity is much lower than the 7-series too, so it should drive better.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 8th May 12:29

[Clivey]

RoverP6B said:

Yeah, and said Tesla weighs much the same as the L322 Range Rover if memory serves, all because of those damn batteries!

The tech will improve over time. - My current laptop weighs a fraction of what I had in the past and the battery lasts multiples longer. Electric cars for everyday driving make sense...they just can't replace a proper petrol sports car.

[rj1986]

Read in another review that the rear looks like a rhino trying to poo out a 911 rear bumper... now they mention it....

[anonymous-user]

kezsan said:

Pretty interesting insight to the i8 - http://www.designboom.com/technology/behind-the-sc...

Much like the i3, although the engineering in the car is pretty amazing, the production engineering required to build these vehicles to a cost if astonishing! Watch some of the i3 production videos on youtube to see the scale of the infrastructure and process control required!

[RoverP6B]

rj1986 said:

Read in another review that the rear looks like a rhino trying to poo out a 911 rear bumper... now they mention it....

And now I will never be able to un-see or un-think that... thanks!

[V8A*ndy]

Clivey said:

RoverP6B said:

Yeah, and said Tesla weighs much the same as the L322 Range Rover if memory serves, all because of those damn batteries!

The tech will improve over time. - My current laptop weighs a fraction of what I had in the past and the battery lasts multiples longer. Electric cars for everyday driving make sense...they just can't replace a proper petrol sports car.

That's mostly down to the efficiency of the laptops power consumption (resulting in a smaller battery being required) rather than the advances in the battery tech.

Quantum dot tech (if they could pull it off) in the automotive area would be a very exciting breakthrough indeed.

[RobDickinson]

What happens on a fun drive and the batteries are empty? Suddenly you are in a heavy 100k 230kw lump? Not convinced that 3pot can keep up for long on a decent drive.

[irocfan]

saw one of these at Lake Garda - fk it looks lovely!!!

[Davey S2]

Tweets Jalopnic that the buyer profile is similar to that of Rolls Royce.

One chap has apparently ordered 3 of them so he can keep one at his house on each continent.

[andywaterfall]

RobDickinson said:

What happens on a fun drive and the batteries are empty? Suddenly you are in a heavy 100k 230kw lump? Not convinced that 3pot can keep up for long on a decent drive.

Isn't the idea that (when it isn't providing forward motion) the engine recharges the battery, so it doesn't go flat?

[Lowtimer]

RobDickinson said:

What happens on a fun drive and the batteries are empty? Suddenly you are in a heavy 100k 230kw lump? Not convinced that 3pot can keep up for long on a decent drive.

If you are out on a spirited drive on a road with actual corners and downhill section, rather than simply cruising along the motorway at a steady speed, then you will be recovering electrical power through regenerative braking, and you will be recharging from the internal combustion engine any time you don't have the throttle flat. Go for a spirited drive in the twisty countryside in a powerful car and you simply don't have full throttle selected at peak power RPM for 100% of the time: if you did you would be in the nearest hedge in short order.

If you are on the autobahn then BMW claims the i8 will do 155 mph on the level using the internal combustion engine alone and there is no reason to doubt that. The internal combustion engine delivers 231 bhp, roughly the same as that of a 911 3.2 Carrera or an E39 or early E60 BMW 530i, all of which were 150+ mph cars even with no electric assistance.

Edited by Lowtimer on Tuesday 10th June 20:32

[JonnyVTEC]

Cd of 0.26 and that frontal area makes the i8 a slippy car aswell!