How Fast is a BMW i8?

At first glance, the hybrid BMW i8 appears to be a super-luxury futuristic car with enormous power, but the reality is that despite the low-slung styling with butterfly doors, the coupe is much more eco-friendly than powerful. How fast is a BMW i8?  It may not be ready to demolish its competitors, like Lamborghini, Porsche, or Mercedes on the racetrack, but the car was manufactured for a different purpose – efficiency over performance.

The BMW i8 comes with a 1.5-liter turbo-gasoline three-cylinder that drives the rear wheels, while the electric motor moves the front wheels, giving the i8 an all-wheel-drive grip.  How fast is a BMW i8? The combined power of the gas and electric hybrid is not that shallow, estimated at 369 horsepower, which is low compared to many of its direct competitors, but comparable to the Audi s5 or the Nissan 370Z.  

TOP SPEED

How fast is a BMW i8?  The i8 has a 6-speed automatic transmission, which permits the luxury coupe to increase speed from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.4 seconds, which is relatively slow compared to the Mercedes and Audi. In addition, the BMW i8 top speed is restricted to 155 mph (250 km/h), which is significantly less than the other supercars, which have speeds of more than190 mph (300km/h), but then this luxurious and elegant car was not meant to be a racer. 

WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT THE BMW I8?  FUEL EFFICIENCY

What the BMW i8 top speed lacks in power, it more than makes up for in fuel efficiency, getting about 40 mpg in practicality when using both electric and gasoline power. This is due chiefly to the plug-in hybrid powertrain that permits it to travel 25 miles (40 km) in the EV mode, with a total range of about 330 miles. Because of its fuel efficiency, the i8 was the best-selling plug-in hybrid sports car. 

The i8’s produced from 2015-2017 had a battery size of 7.1kWh, which was increased to 11.6kWh in 2018 for an all-electric driving range of 55km.

The i8 is only available in a single trim level but is available as either a convertible or a coupe. For the interior, BMW offers several packages, but otherwise, the car is complete as you see it. 

THE END OF THE ROAD FOR THE BMW i8

In 2020, this futuristic plug-in hybrid retained much of the styling design from the recent 2018 and 2019 series, but despite the lack of power, it still remained a potent sports coupe. But, 2020 was the end of the road for this beautiful i8 series. BMW retired the car, chiefly because consumers had not found it to be functional due to limited cabin access and almost no storage space. Plus, the base price for the i8 was close to $150K.

To see the BMW i8 and judge it for yourself, visit Braman Motorsports BMW in West Palm Beach or Jupiter.  Call them today at 1-561-465-8293 to see what models are available in the store.