BMW i8

[kevm14]

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2014042 ... dailydrive

It's like the 8-series died and came back as some fancy concept car that's actually being put into production. It looks like a 90s concept car to me.

The powertrain is complicated but interesting. It's also very light, with good handling, and good performance. But the 5kW battery pack is hugely disappointing. Hell the Volt has a 16kWh pack.

We'll see about the fuel economy. EPA combined of 70-80mpg and it's not even a plug-in? That seems kind of unbelievable but it's light, small and aerodynamic. The gas engine is a 1.5L...so maybe?

Of course you pay for it, but perhaps this is the future of cars. Of course, representing the future of cars it annoys me. They pump engine sounds into the interior.

Still, it's way better than a regular bread and butter hybrid. But at $135k, it ought to be.

[bill25]

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2014042 ... dailydrive

They pump engine sounds into the interior.

This needs to stop. I don't get this at all. Either you like the gas engine/exhaust or you want a battery car. Either is fine but why do you want to hear the fake exhaust over the radio in your battery car. There are gas cars doing this also. Seriously. Stop. If people want to hear the exhaust in their car they can upgrade the exhaust so it is real.

This is like me wishing I had a manual, so I added a manual stick in my car that isn't connected to anything and I pretend that moving it is shifting. Get a life.

[kevm14]

It's a sign that refinement has gotten very mature. Or that everyone is old and boring.

[Bob]

The i8 is a plug in. I am assuming the small pack size was in the interest of saving weight (it certainly wasn't for cost savings at this price point).

[kevm14]

I just did a text search of the article. The word "plug" exists nowhere. Maybe I shouldn't get my hybrid/electric car news from AW.

[Bob]

I have found the traditional auto mags' coverage of electric vehicles to be lacking at times. They are either overly negative or misinformed a lot of the time. Most non-plug in hybrids have battery capacities less than 2 kwh.

[Bob]

Here is a much better written road test with more detailed information: http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/i8/2014/road-test1.html

It sounds like it's actually pretty decent to drive, which is cool.

[kevm14]

Yeah that was a lot more detailed.

As for gasoline, the fuel tank holds 11 gallons, and the estimated range is 320 miles. EPA combined gasoline fuel economy may well settle somewhere between 26 and 28 mpg

From a cost standpoint that fuel economy doesn't matter. But from a technology standpoint it's not impressive at all considering the regular press was touting 70-80mpg.

Also, unlike the Volt, it's still primarily a gas hybrid than EV. The scissor doors are dumb and impractical bit there's some good tech here. And it drives well. But is it relevant? There's nothing truly waiting to trickle down here.