i8 First Spyshots BMW i8.

[rollo]

Way too much coin IMHO!

 

[EMpower]

That's why I do not like hybrids as they don't save me any money. Instead of paying for gas over period of time, the manufactureres ask you to pay more upfront. What's in it for the owner? We are dealing with oil companies+car manufactureres cartel.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

It's certainly looking good already. Love the front angle.

However, I've said it before and I'll say it again. For the selling price this car will go for, the fuel consumption is irrelevant. It's such a small proportion of the overall running costs. Would I swap my gas guzzling V10 for a 1.5 diesel hybrid? Of course not. It's like getting a hard to find reservation at a top class, three Michelin star restaurant and then just ordering a salad. Complete and utter madness.

Seriously, who in their right mind is going to decide to get this car when for the same money they could get into a McLaren MP4-12C or a Ferrari, or a Porsche 911 GT2 RS, or an R8 V10 with serious amounts of change?

 

[chonkoa]

Autocar or maybe Autoexpress ran a piece on it in their latest mag, suggested price will be £150K. That's some serious dosh considering the performance that kind of money can get you. Don't think I'll be seeing one over here any time soon.

For that price this will be a sales flop.
BMW must be totally nutters to think someone in their right mind will cough that amount of money for this lawn mower. Power it with a damn V-10 for Pete sake.

 

[chonkoa]

It's certainly looking good already. Love the front angle.

However, I've said it before and I'll say it again. For the selling price this car will go for, the fuel consumption is irrelevant. It's such a small proportion of the overall running costs. Would I swap my gas guzzling V10 for a 1.5 diesel hybrid? Of course not. It's like getting a hard to find reservation at a top class, three Michelin star restaurant and then just ordering a salad. Complete and utter madness.

Seriously, who in their right mind is going to decide to get this car when for the same money they could get into a McLaren MP4-12C or a Ferrari, or a Porsche 911 GT2 RS, or an R8 V10 with serious amounts of change?

Maybe they are counting on some deranged Treehugger.

 

[DblPen]

Maybe they are counting on some deranged Treehugger.

im sure that there are many ppl who will buy it just for its looks. Not that most of them really care what kind of engine there is in a car, its just for a show off

 

[Deckhook]

It could sell well if it were the same money as a M5/6 but of course that wouldn't be possible what with the technology that has gone into this car. I just can't imagine many people super rich or not buying it simply because it's a hybrid or it's construction materials or even it's looks because the world is full of beautiful exotics from even more prestigious brands that will be much much quicker and more thrilling to drive, especially with a throbing v8/10/12 under the hood.

There will be a few takers but I just believe this will be a money maker for them, but maybe that's not the point of this exercise.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

And yet a few weeks ago a BMW exec was saying they didn't need a "halo" car to compete with the SLS and R8. The M5 has supercar performance and is enough apparently.

Stick the 4.4 V8 TT from the M5/M6 in this, tweak it a bit for 600hp to rival the McLaren, and Robert's your father's brother. A fantastic looking supercar with ground breaking technology.

 

[Gianclaudio]

The front on the latest spy pics reminds me the great, late 8-series. This car looks so promising, could be the best looking bimmer of the past 10-15 years.
Very excited about it!

 

[Cashmere]

Kidding right ? Looking funky is the normal way to look for gt racing cars.

In those chops, it just looks too busy. Too many angles and sharp edges everywhere which is why I say it could pass as a futuristic hybrid car, but not quite as graceful sports car (such as SLS/R8/911). Perhaps the production version will look better, difficult to say right now.

 

[SCOTT27]

If you go to Autobild.de and ignore the DSi5 on the first page of the gallery ( I am not being sarcastic) You will find a reasonably correct rendition of the BMW i8 in production guise which is very much similar to the production car. Also shown is a potential BMW i8 Cabrio. And yes it is being conceived and so far exists as a full scale clay model.

What is also interesting and is something else being conceived but nothing is final as yet. Is the car that potentially will become the MINI Rocketman if you break it down to material technology and genetics. The i1 which potentially could use the same methods as the Rocketman with exposed CFRP platform. Although for the mini-MINI to use this idea then you are talking about a car that would be more expensive than the regular MINI hatch.

There are several i3 and i8 prototypes driving around Munich and Winter testing in Sweden. The i3 is proving to be very nimble weaving in and out of traffic. Hopefully some spy video and photography should follow and will be able to show you this car on the move?

 

[Bartek S.]

 

[SCOTT27]

AutoBild show how the production car will look as well as in design development i8 Cabrio.

And for those who would like to maintain the look of the concept car. Because the door skins are CFRP BMW are looking at potential bare CFRP but covered in a special film that gives the smoothness and shiny reflection of glass without being transparent.

Also being considered for the i8 alongside a programme for personalisation. Is that BMW are also looking at potential model-lines to enhance the post-futuristic feeling with this car which from concept to Production there is about 3% of a difference in the overall exterior design.

Watch out for my report "i-volving Alternative Drive - The BMW i8 and i8 Spyder" this weekend.

 

[rollo]

This car has real potential IMHO. However, as Betty said earlier, the price point that has been floated will be a major issue if true.

 

[mc_blue]

It already looks fantastic just in terms of proportions alone, I'm really look forward to it.

 

[EMpower]

Is that the X1 LCI in the background at 39 sec and a closer look at 51 sec?

 

[Bridges]

I hate this a lot less than I thought I would.

 

[SKY]

M1 render by Autozeitung:

 

[ateekt]

^^^

 

[SKY]

Mind this render is not nicer than the i8 we will see in a few months in terms of profile and proportions. It´s just that front end and the production door what make the the difference.

I dream with a TT V8 600 PS + 200 PS electric engine M1. Will we ever see one? I highly doubt it.