Wednesday 30th April 2014

Chris Harris video: BMW i8

Does the i8 represent the future of sports cars? Harris heads to LA to find out

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I know, I know, it should be a LaFerrari video, but for reasons you probably already know, I'm not allowed to post a video on the new F150 (proper name) for another month. Please don't ask me what I think about that situation.

Instead we have the even more intriguing BMW i8. This was a brief drive with no circuit time and my innate fear of being arrested in the United States. Normally I'd wait to get a longer run a new car, but I'm so fascinated by this thing I thought it worth a smash 'n' grab video to see what it was like.

Whether you like it or not, this is the template for fast motoring for the near future - carbon fibre construction, a tiny turbocharged petrol engine and a great lump of electricity. Many people find that terrifying, I'm inclined to just embrace it and see where the process leads us, because I don't think we have any other options. Buy a 993 and waffle on about steering feel and being air-cooled? Maybe for the next five years, but after that? Pretty soon you won't be allowed to drive to certain places unless you're in something that meets the regulations. I hate that, but equally, I want to keep driving.

And however mixed the first results of these experiments may be, I always believe that the human mind will, over time, somehow extract something quite special from even the most compromised building blocks.

So here's the i8. Somewhat smothered by the LaFerrari fanfare, but definitely a more interesting and significant machine. If only its eco-credentials weren't rather undermined by the fact that I was flown to Los Angeles for 24hrs to drive the thing.

Enjoy the vid.

 

[magic torch]

Excuse the ignorance, but what's the story with the delay on the LaFerrari video?

Now back to the BMW...

[a6khu]

A whole month?

[kambites]

Sounds like it's a good car, but not really a good sports car.

[Alucidnation]

Jesus, that is ugly.

[Zajda]

magic torch said:

Excuse the ignorance, but what's the story with the delay on the LaFerrari video?

Now back to the BMW...

Quality and thoroughness instead of earliest publication I suppose. EVO and Autocar release cca 10 mins apart - wise attitude to not enter this game. His films are of a different manner anyway and he will probably get more hits on youtube than Autocar and EVO altogether, even with a month of delay.

[Urban Sports]

Looks stunning I'd love one, superb machine, the future is bright for BMW.

[hdrflow]

Not for me but I think we'll get to see more and more of the same sort of tech. Can't stop progress and all that I suppose.

[Chris Stott]

Really interesting car.

Oh, In And Out

[hdrflow]

Zajda said:

magic torch said:

Excuse the ignorance, but what's the story with the delay on the LaFerrari video?

Now back to the BMW...

Quality and thoroughness instead of earliest publication I suppose. EVO and Autocar release cca 10 mins apart - wise attitude to not enter this game. His films are of a different manner anyway and he will probably get more hits on youtube than Autocar and EVO altogether, even with a month of delay.

According to his twitter feed he has an embargo until the 26th of May.

[vescaegg]

Zajda said:

Quality and thoroughness instead of earliest publication I suppose. EVO and Autocar release cca 10 mins apart - wise attitude to not enter this game. His films are of a different manner anyway and he will probably get more hits on youtube than Autocar and EVO altogether, even with a month of delay.

Strange that Ferrari deemed 'top' publications get to publish a month in front of anyone else.

And I would have thought Harris would be much more influential than CAR magazine (and some others) to be honest. His written review is out at least. Video should be a goodun!

Edited by vescaegg on Wednesday 30th April 20:50

[anonymous-user]

Interesting amount of tech for your £100k! More of a fast 6 series competitor than a 911 rival for me though?

[converted lurker]

Thank you Chris for an excellent video - that was exactly what I wanted to know at this stage about the i8.

I say Bravo to BMW. That product is going to sell. Their mk2 will be even better and they have stolen a March on the other big car makers. I need to buy some shares.

[Dynamic Turtle]

At least BMW are trying to make hybrids sexy and desirable, which is more than Nissan and Toyota have achieved.

And, $100k + battery rental? How's the lithium getting financed?

[chilled901]

Good job on ordering In-n-Out properly.

The car looks great too.

[PaulG40]

Max_Torque said:

Interesting amount of tech for your £100k! More of a fast 6 series competitor than a 911 rival for me though?

This.

It's a smart futuristic looking car that felt more fitted the fast cruiser type beemers' as opposed to sporty honed M3/M4 future replacements.

[Zajda]

hdrflow said:

According to his twitter feed he has an embargo until the 26th of May.

Didn't know that, thank's for the info.

[andywaterfall]

magic torch said:

Excuse the ignorance, but what's the story with the delay on the LaFerrari video?

Now back to the BMW...

Seems there's a two- or even three-tier embargo: http://www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/new-cars/joys-manuf...

Guess he didn't make the cut.

Eta sorry, that sounded rude. I meant, shame, as I'd like to see CH's video of the LaF. I thought this i8 video was excellent, just what (as an i3 owner & prospective i8 owner) I've been looking forward to the last few months.

Edited by andywaterfall on Wednesday 30th April 22:00

[anonymous-user]

I suspect that for a lot of people, and perhaps Californians in particular, the fact the i8 looks so space age when parked out front of the In'n-Out will be enough on it's own. Lets face it, no one would even glance at a 911 turbo parked next to it........

[rare6499]

I personally love it. It looks like its from the future, and I can't wait to see one on the road. Designers should be more brave, car design hasn't evolved as much as it should have done.

[DaSchnee]

Get a set of stickier tyers and I think you end up with a brilliant sports car. I followed one on some twisty roads a couple of weeks a ago. It really is unbelievably beautyful in white and goes like hell out of corners.

I wonder if tuners are able to fiddle with the powerplant in this thing in any way. Surely there is a bit of potential left in the petrol engine.