UK Drive: The BMW i8 combines futuristic looks with a cracking drive and low running costs

What is it?

The i8 is one of the most iconic cars in BMW’s current line-up. Featuring wild styling and impressive on-board technology, it provides supercar-scaring performance as well as decent economy levels. The sprint to 60mph takes just 4.1 seconds, yet BMW claims that it’ll return 135mpg – not bad for a plug-in hybrid able to beat the vast majority of Porsche 911s off the line.

And yet, despite its accomplishments, the i8 remains a rare sight on UK roads. Out and about, its Batmobile-style looks draw glances wherever you are, while its hybrid powertrain makes it effortlessly quiet when driving around town.

What’s new?

Because the i8 has been around for a little while now – it first entered production in 2014 – not a huge amount has changed. There have been various special editions, like our Protonic Frozen Black version, but there haven’t been any updates to the battery. That said, elements such as the satellite navigation will have been kept up to date. BMW is soon to launch a Roadster version, although there has yet to be a concrete release date announced for this.

What’s under the bonnet?

There’s just one powertrain with the i8. It uses a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that you’ll also find in the current-generation Mini Cooper, coupled to an electric motor driving the front wheels. Together, they produce 357bhp. Though that may not sound like all that much – especially as most supercars are now pushing out in excess of 500bhp – the i8’s lightness plays in its favour, giving it exceptionally good acceleration.

That hybrid layout also gives the i8 very good economy figures. BMW claims that the sports car will return 135mpg, which may sound appealing, but in everyday driving it’s unlikely that you’ll achieve anywhere near that result. Charging the batteries from flat will take around eight hours, though a higher-output wallbox could allow charges from empty up to 80 per cent in around two hours. You should be able to cover roughly 20 miles on electric power alone, depending on how economically you drive.

What’s it like to drive?

Getting behind the wheel of the i8 is no mean feat. Opening up the gullwing-style doors, you have to slide yourself over quite a large carbon sill before settling into the driver’s seat. Once you’re there, however, you’re treated to an excellent driving position, with plenty of forward visibility hampered only by some rather thick pillars. Pull away, and you’ll do so under all-electric power, making the i8 rather relaxing to drive at slow speeds.

Of course, push the gear lever to the side and into Sport mode and the i8 will use a combination of the electric motor and petrol engine to achieve the best possible performance. Because of the car’s instant torque afforded to it by the electric motor, it feels a lot quicker than its official figures would have you believe – certainly in higher gears where you’d expect its tiny three-cylinder motor to run out of puff. The steering is quite sharp and direct, and because of the car’s low weight it feels effortlessly nimble.

One area worth mentioning – particularly if you’re planning on taking an i8 on a long journey – is that it generates an awful lot of tyre roar. This can be quite annoying when spending a lot of time at motorway speeds – something the combination of petrol and electric power is designed to allow you to do. The engine “noise” goes some way to removing this annoyance, even if it is artificially piped in through the car’s stereo.

How does it look?

It’s hard to deny the i8’s sheer mouth-open-wide styling. Thanks to air inlets and scoops throughout the body as well as its iconic gullwing-style doors, it’s a car that demands attention. Our test car, finished in Protonic matt black paint, looked particularly stealthy.

What’s it like inside?

The i8’s cabin will be familiar to anyone who regularly spends time in a BMW. That’s no bad thing, as it means that the interior uses a variety of high-quality materials and an infotainment system that has been tried and tested.

If you’re after a useful, practical two-seater then you may want to look towards other cars rather than the i8. There is a boot – but at 154 litres, it’s only able to offer half as much storage space as a Ford Fiesta. It’s enough space for a few soft weekend bags, at a push.

There’s room for four in the i8 – though the rear seats are only good for very small children, while you won’t find a huge amount of cubbies throughout the cabin, so it can quickly become quite cluttered. That said, the driving position is very good, while the seats offer plenty of support.

What’s the spec like?

As you’d expect from a futuristic, £100,000-plus hybrid, there’s a good deal of standard equipment to be found on board. It benefits from BMW’s 8.8-inch infotainment display – the same as you’ll find in the vast majority of the German manufacturer’s cars – as well as a large central screen in front of the driver that displays speed, rev counter and charge levels. A head-up display also relays key information back to the driver, and means you barely need to take your eyes away from the road.

The interior is put together extremely well, though our test car did develop a rattle from the dashboard at one point. There are next to no hard plastics, with soft leather used for the majority of surfaces. In all, it feels justifiably special compared with the other-worldly exterior.

Verdict

There are very few other cars on the road today quite like the BMW i8. Sleek, effortlessly quick and with decent economy, it remains a two-doored glimpse into the near-future of motoring. Some niggles – such as the tiny boot and tyre roar – remain, but these are overwhelmed by a huge amount of positives. If you’re looking to stand out from the crowd, lower your running costs and be able to beat a 911 away from the lights all at the same time, then the i8 is definitely the car for you.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Model: BMW i8 Protonic Frozen Black
Price:  £114,600
Engine: Three-cylinder turbocharged petrol linked to electric motor
Power (bhp): 357
Torque (Nm): 570
Max speed (mph): 155
0-60mph: 4.1 seconds
MPG (combined): 135
Emissions (g/km): 49
All-electric range: Circa 20 miles
Charging time (Domestic): Eight hours
Charging time (High output): Two and a half hours