i8 First Spyshots BMW i8.

[tomazino]

 

[someone1984]

Official photo of the interior.

Debuts next Tuesday

These are the first two official photos of the production-ready 2014 BMW i8 which will be publicly unveiled on September 10 at IAA in Frankfurt.
It was only yesterday when BMW released ateaser clip with the plug-in hybrid i8 and now the cat is pretty much out of the bag as the first two official pics depicting the car have surfaced the web. Showing several similarities with the concept unveiled two years ago, the production model loses the see-through doors and gets more down-to-earth alloy wheels.
Open the scissor doors and you will notice right away the interior doesn't stray away too much from current BMWs but there are digital instrument clusters and a blue circle around the logo on the steering wheel.
BMW has already announced the i8 will come with a three-cylinder, 1.5-liter TwinPower Turbo gasoline engine delivering 231 HP (170 kW) and 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) of torque transferred to the rear axle. An electric motor outputting 131 HP (96 kW) and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) will drive the front wheels and enable the i8 to have a combined output of 362 HP (266 kW) and 420 lb-ft (570 Nm).
Tipping the scales at less than 1,490 kg (3,285 lbs), the 2014 BMW i8 production version will need about 4.5 seconds until 62 mph (100 km/h) and will reach an electronically-capped top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). It will have an average fuel consumption of 2.5 liters / 100 km (94 mpg US or 113 mpg UK) with CO2 emissions standing at 59 g/km. On electric power it can reach a top speed of 75 mph (120 km/h) and should have enough juice for a range of 22 miles (35 km).

Source: autowp.ru

 

[SKY]

 

[martinbo]

Please do elaborate, SKY.

 

[SKY]

Please do elaborate, SKY.

I find this proportions completely graceless. This is suppossed to be futuristic, but it is not.

I expected this:

Without the glass doors and the fugly rims.

 

[EnI]

I find this proportions completely graceless. This is supposed to be futuristic, but it is not.

There are strict safety standards & regulations to meet so a manufacturer can acquire a homologation certificate for the car. And consequently form has to follow the function (and rules). Etc.

 

[SKY]

There are strict safety standards & regulations to meet so a manufacturer can acquire a homologation certificate for the car. And consequently form has to follow the function (and rules). Etc.

Of course, but the same rules apply to other BMW cars, and even a 435i has sportier stance than this.

I hope bigger (and nicer) rims make me change my mind.

 

[EnI]

Of course, but the same rules apply to other BMW cars, and even a 435i has sportier stance than this.

And you were able to conclude that based on one side-profile studio photo? WOW!
Whatever ... it's your opinion, and so be it. You are entirely entitled to have it.

I don't know why some of you have such high expectations when it comes to concept vs production cars design. Conceptish / futuristic design is only possible in the studio, while real-life requirements force designers to follow th form-follows-function rule.

It's like expecting an 80-year old woman to look like a 20-year beauty. A no-go. Except in special circumstances perhaps (plastic surgery, tons of make up, photoshopped photos etc.) but not in IRL.

We can discuss whether the (near) production-like Concpet cars & design studies have positive or negative effect on public - especially when toned down production car arrives.

In the end ... The car looks fine. You just had too big expectations, especially after seeing VED Concept & i8 Concept - but it was naive to expect almost all details will make a way into production car. Have you even seen i8 Concept or VED Concept in person? It's clear (when seeing these two vehicles IRL) they are not street ready, and consequetly some design details will definitely be altered in production car version.

 

[klier]

And a like from Tumbo... How nice, he is already starting to troll when the car is 't out yet.
Don't worry my VAG lover, it won't be competition for your beloved R8. No need to be afraid and start hating. Lol.

 

[Human]

Those double Air vents in front of the passenger looks like sh!t, no other way to describe it, just is so.

Rest of the car looks ok, not that I mind, I am not interested in general anyway

 

[braaf]

Those double Air vents in front of the passenger looks like sh!t, no other way to describe it, just is so.

Rest of the car looks ok, not that I mind, I am not interested in general anyway

Agreed, but they're there to make up for the lack of a passenger vent in the centre console, BMW E36 style.

 

[Human]

Agreed, but they're there to make up for the lack of a passenger vent in the centre console, BMW E36 style.

Suddenly it makes sense, thanks for the enlightenment Braaf Also something old 8ser about them. Still does not look good, looks like something borrowed out of the general parts bin.

Edit: I am not going too keep on crapping on BMW about the i8 nor Brand-i for that matter. These cars does have and ads meaning to the motoring world and future of mobility in general. Up to now IMHO very good effort and results from the German jewel Just also get me, I will never be in the market for such mobility, does not fancy me nor float my boat. I am a petrol head (ok, ok Diesel one also) but you get the idea @All & @SCOTT27

Regards,
Naas.

 

[Tumbo]

I find this proportions completely graceless. This is suppossed to be futuristic, but it is not.

I expected this:

Without the glass doors and the fugly rims.

I so do agree. Let's hope it's just a bad pic... But that front profile... oh gosh.

 

[SKY]

And you were able to conclude that based on one side-profile studio photo? WOW!
Whatever ... it's your opinion, and so be it. You are entirely entitled to have it.

This forum, and every other car forum is full of threads with pics of a car reveal. People express their opinion based on what they have, in this case pics. I wish I could see a similar answer to my comment from you when another forumer or myself posted something like "WOOOW, it looks fantastic".

But I´m not going to, because you simply claim this kind of empty comments when BMW launches a new car and there are people not convinced about its design. I´m not going to argue with that, I´m not expecting it to change.

People are not expecting cars to look like the concept. But the final design the at least mantain some spice. Again, the 4er Concept looked more spectacular than the final car, but the latter still looks very nice, and the aggressive stance and proportions, the fantastic looking profile is still there.

I believe it is not that diffeicult to understand it.

 

[mini_cooper4]

The profile of the front looks weird and far from flawless, the rims are awful, the color combo is bland.
Interior is OK but there's nothing remotely amazing about it.
I want to see a black one with decent rims now. I'm sure that will fix the flaws

 

[Betty Swollocks]

And a like from Tumbo... How nice, he is already starting to troll when the car is 't out yet.
Don't worry my VAG lover, it won't be competition for your beloved R8. No need to be afraid and start hating. Lol.

Oh shut up and reel your neck back in Klier. The only person making an issue is YOU. Tumbo simply "agreed" with SKY. Why do you have to start bringing the R8 up and talk of trolling? The only troll in this thread is YOU.

Tumbo isn't the only one to express disappointment at the first photos. It does seem the i8 has lost a lot from that of the concept when many were hoping it would remain faithful. I agree. As much as I dislike the idea of a hybrid sports car, the exterior design of the i8 looked superb. Based on the first couple of photos I am now "meh". I suspect this may change once we see better photos.

 

[Monster]

Sort yourself out guys........can we just get some quiet time?

 

[EnI]

This forum, and every other car forum is full of threads with pics of a car reveal. People express their opinion based on what they have, in this case pics. I wish I could see a similar answer to my comment from you when another forumer or myself posted something like "WOOOW, it looks fantastic".

But I´m not going to, because you simply claim this kind of empty comments when BMW launches a new car and there are people not convinced about its design. I´m not going to argue with that, I´m not expecting it to change.

People are not expecting cars to look like the concept. But the final design the at least mantain some spice. Again, the 4er Concept looked more spectacular than the final car, but the latter still looks very nice, and the aggressive stance and proportions, the fantastic looking profile is still there.

I believe it is not that difficult to understand it.

It is. Because you are making your mind based on one pic only!!!!!!

Are you really able to say all that about i8 based on one, single low-res studio profile photo, even with door wing open???? If so, your claims are ridiculous. What about waiting till Sept 10th when all the press media will be available, and later also photos from live presentation? And making your mind then, when I'll have more photos & videos available to inspect the design. And still ... it's best to judge the design when seeing it in person. In real 3D.

You have seen tons of M4 Concept pics & videos as of yet, incl. the ones from live open-air presentation. No wonder you can judge it properly.

What can be said is the BMW press materials are VERY average, or even sub-par. Portraying the products not in a very good light. Especially the photos. Also most of the new BMWs are not really photogenic - with some exceptions. So, seeing the car IRL makes a difference. If you are open to change your mind ... If you are not, then I guess one LQ studio shot is sufficient indeed to make negative comments & sticking to them.

Sure we are all entitled to make comments & opinions. But ... Are they really relevant if somebody hasn't seen at least lots of photos & videos from various sources ... and even most importantly: not seeing the car in person yet?

Making comparisons M4 Concept vs i8 based on one i8 photo only is ... silly, sorry.

 

[klier]

Aaah, it looks like mr Negative Engergy is still around here too. How unfortunate! Too bad I can't hide the likes and dislikes from people I dislike and have on block. Ah well

It is. Because you are making your mind based on one pic only!!!!!!

People can make up their minds about one pic Eni. SKY doesn't like what he is seeing, and we'll just have to respect that.
Maybe he'll change his opinion when more pics are available.

 

[martinbo]

@SKY - I shan't be an internet bitch and give you a disagree rating but I have to say that it's unrealistic to expect a production car to come out as close to such a clearly forward-looking design study. I'm still digesting the exterior design; remembering that familiarity breeds contempt and this is my biggest issue with the i8 - it's just a little over-familiar now - but I'm sure that when I see it in the flesh that it will rock the road. What exactly is wrong with the proportions? They look spot-on for a mid-engined car by my judgement.

@naas - jou bliksemse Philistine - that interior is epic! It's so futuristic, so inviting - best thing I've seen since the R8 when it was first launched with that natty wraparound cockpit-style cabin all those years ago!

I just wanna get in and drive that sucker.

The dual passenger vents are simply eye-catching - I like them.

People, the i8 isn't a supercar baiter - it's not meant to be what the R8 was when it was launched - it's a new generation sports car for rich people who like the flash but don't want to ever be seen driving irresponsibly or anti-socially. The emphasis is on performance but at an altogether new level of efficiency. It's about being fast enough for anybody but with efficiency of the highest order.

I'm actually completely inspired by this car. I can't help but feel - rose-tinted, future-uncertain glasses on - that this is an incredibly significant car. A landmark. I hope it sells like hotcakes and I hope that it starts to erode the mentality surrounding the pointless pursuit of ever-faster cars that - to coin a phrase - drive the wrong behaviour.

Sheer Driving Pleasure - now with a conscience.