i8 [Official] BMW i8 World Premiere

[Beemer B773ER]

Sexiest side-mirrors on any production car ?

 

[EnI]

Everything is perfect only one think I don't like - no more "angel eyes" lights, signature of BMW disappearing?

BMWi sub-brand is presented with its own U-shaped coronas. They are BMWi-specific only. Core BMW-branded cars will still feature roundish quad coronas. Coronas on X4 Concept & 4er Coupe Concept showcase the future corona designs on core BMW cars.

Check out these two videos with BMW design chief & product manager explaining the design philosophy behind BMWi cars:

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Sunny]

I appreciate that and it's probably the lesser of the two evils, until batteries are thin enough this is probably the only option. Oh and yes packaging isn't that efficient and would prove totally impractical in a family car application but this car is pushing the boundaries of what is currently available, I'm sure in the future they will be able to miniaturize everything.

Like I said the problem is the ICE and the plumbing and systems that go with it. The electrical systems need no miniaturization (not that it won't be further advantageous) for family car application. Both Tesla S and i3 are family cars and they both have more internal space than most other (if not all) vehicles of similar physical dimensions and form factor.

 

[mini_cooper4]

Yes, you are mostly right. But there is no shame in outsourcing some of the work to Tesla as they are part of the Daimler/Aabar family and are pretty advanced in lithium battery technology and also hold many important patents.

As for carbon fibre technology. It's a long game. I'm not worried about the perception of Mercedes lagging BMW because BMW has a small volume niche production car out first. No one has got it all figured out on how to produce a volume-production model platform out of carbon. Everyone is only talking hybrid construction in using carbon to replace certain steel chassis components such as body panels, structural parts that are out of sight. NOT a wholesale move to carbon.

I will give a medal to the first car manufacturer that commits to building a full scale production line dedicated to carbon fibre. I was told the pace of adapting aerospace carbon to automotive applications is slow and the weak global economy is not helping. Also, there are still other low hanging fruits that car manufacturers are picking to reduce fuel consumption and emissions before they have to take the expensive plunge and move to carbon en masse. For the foreseeable future, carbon will remain the preserve of high-end sports and luxury models (the i3 being the exception, perhaps).

Send the medal to BMW now i3 is a wholesale move to carbon and is being mass produced. No one is even near what BMW achieves here... and they all admit that!

 

[Wunderkind]

How many i3 are BMW planning to produce?

 

[EnI]

How many i3 are BMW planning to produce?

Sales is predicted to be several 10k vehicles per year.
Current production capacity for i cars is capable to output up to 100k units per year.
Yet no official sales goals have been given for i3 & i8 though.

So, a production line (of cars with CFRP body frame) with 100k units/year capacity definitely can be labeled as mass-production line.

 

[Wunderkind]

I'd be rejoicing if BMW makes 35,000 i3 annually, let alone 100,000 annually.

 

[Merc1]

Something tells me this is going to pay off big for BMW when it comes to image, if not outright profits. I think the i8 will become the newest must have for the rich tree huggers must like the the Tesla S. This project had to hella expensive though. I actually want the i8. Time to update my Ultimate Garage listing. Leave it to the Germans to make me want a Hybrid.

M

 

[Deckhook]

In black and away from the studio it looks normal among traffic but in silver due to all its folds and creases it just likes bizarre to me. I'm now less sold on its looks than ever.

 

[dalab]

at 0.10 in the first i8 video - nice back

 

[Padi]

I must say, that thing looks damn good in black!

 

[SCOTT27]

In black and away from the studio it looks normal among traffic but in silver due to all its folds and creases it just likes bizarre to me. I'm now less sold on its looks than ever.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Deckhook]

^All that's done is confirmed my opinion, I've no doubt its a wonderful and technically brilliant machine but in certain colours it looks very odd, especially from the rear.

 

[SCOTT27]

Nothing else like it.

 

[RS2000 4X4]

They should give this car a V12 and 700 bhp. I really like BMW and this car but if you look at all the models Benz has allready made on supercar level, BMW is trailing behind...

 

[SCOTT27]

They should give this car a V12 and 700 bhp. I really like BMW and this car but if you look at all the models Benz has allready made on supercar level, BMW is trailing behind...

Are they really?

 

[martinbo]

One day, people will realise that the i8 isn't a Supercar - nor has BMW ever intended it to be so - it is a New-Generation Sports Car.

 

[Deckhook]

One day, people will realise that the i8 isn't a Supercar - nor has BMW ever intended it to be so - it is a New-Generation Sports Car.

I thought that was already apparent from its performance stats, anyhow isn't there talk they might again look at producing an R8 rival?

 

[tomazino]

I thought that was already apparent from its performance stats, anyhow isn't there talk they might again look at producing an R8 rival?

So, performance numbers for R8 V8 are?

 

[Deckhook]

So, performance numbers for R8 V8 are?

Why stop at the R8v8 why not include the 911C2? Point being you can't look at one example when I'm encompassing for the entire model range, if BMW do bring us a super car it will have to compete with the likes of the R8v10plus and 911Turbo.