i8 [Hot!] BMW i8 - test drives & reviews

[Betty Swollocks]

I seem to remember some expert relating the development of the microchip (not batteries, I know), to the development of the motor car, and he said that if cars had developed at the same rate then we'd all be driving around in super fast, light weight cars that could do 1,000mpg, and they'd be that cheap that we'd throw them away at the end of the journey.

 

[Sunny]

Since we are discussing meta-physics . Moore's law is supposed to come to an end soon - Intel's former chief architect: Moore's law will be dead within a decade - ExtremeTech.

And thank god, cause if it continued unabated, it could have led to technological singularity - where technological advancement becomes so fast, it is almost instantaneous and of course machines take over .

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Since we are discussing meta-physics .

Were we?! I never realised. I don't have a clue what I'm talking about and I think I'm in way over my head on this. I want out.

 

[Sunny]

Oh well, I blame Klier for mentioning Moore's law!

 

[klier]

Moore's Law, semiconductors getting smaller by the day and whatever else.

Betty has a point, never said he didn't. I just want to downplay the batteries. Batteries are crap. Li-po, li-ion and everyhing else.

Since we are discussing meta-physics . Moore's law is supposed to come to an end soon - http://www.extremetech.com/computin...itect-moores-law-will-be-dead-within-a-decade.

And thank god, cause if it continued unabated, it could have led to technological singularity - where technological advancement becomes so fast, it is almost instantaneous and of course machines take over .

It's going to be even faster. Quantum computers are on their way. When they arrive in 10 to 15 years one single computer will be more powerful than all current chips in the world combined.

 

[KiwiRob]

I think it's ugly, like the I3, BMW styling is well off these days. The tech is interesting but when will BMW bring out a version which I can tow a boat with?

 

[EnI]

Talking about electro motor and batteries ...

I don't really see development of electro motor to go on any further. It's a simple device, and no magic can be applied there. Except using some ultraexotic materials which would eg. boost efficiency but would also cost a fortune.

Batteries on the other hand have much more potential to be bettered: making them smaller, lighter, more dense (having bigger capacity for storing electric energy), and fast chargeable.

Mind that "mileage anxiety" is today all about battery capacity - and how many miles you can drive on a single 100% charge. But with superfast charging & widely available charging stations this issue would become obsolete. Even with "only" eg. 100 mile capacity you will be able to drive much further - making more frequent charging stops. This would not be an issue with 100% charging lasting eg max. 5 minutes only, and with charging stations on practically every corner. Not to mention the energy management development - where there is still enough space for improvement.

Also ... I still don't get it why people are so worried about mileage ... even when it comes to ICE engines. OK, worry would be justifiable if driving through the desert where next gas stations is hundreds of miles away. But in most cases you can refill the gas tank easily. Even when it's not completely empty.
We are so used to refill the tank only when the empty tank light goes on - and not sometimes in between (unless planning a longer trip).
Therefore an idea that EVs can only be charged when nearly empty. NO! You can charge them every time it's possible: eg. when the battery is still 60% full, and you can charge it to 100% in much less time than charging an empty battery to full 100%.

I guess many people still think of EVs as of conventional cars with batteries & electro motors. But they are different! The way of thinking has to be changed: how to use (eg. charge, drive etc) the EVs properly - i.e. not in the way ICE cars are used.It's a shift in paradigm. And many are still not able to do that - but would rather see EVs to be just like ICE vehicles ... because they are used to ICE vehicles already.

Zukunftangst?

 

[klier]

It would shock you the heat generated by these chips and everyone knows heat is another form of energy.

Yep, and slightly related, that might be one of the saviours of the traditional ICE. They could manage to recover a lot of it in the future. Kers LaF style with heat energy regeneration for every ICE.

Therefore an idea that EVs can only be charged when nearly empty. NO! You can charge them every time it's possible: eg. when the battery is still 60% full, and you can charge it to 100% in much less time than charging an empty battery to full 100%.

Well duh.....

We all have mobile phones, laptops and tablets. We ALL know you can change whenever. You're reaching here.

 

[bmwblog]

Not spamming, but thought we would share our own review also, very detailed.

http://www.bmwblog.com/2014/05/02/bmwblog-test-drive-2015-bmw-i8/

and also a cool video on the solar charging of an i8

http://www.bmwblog.com/2014/05/04/bmw-designworks-solar-carport-bmw-wallbox-pro/

P.S. Mark, let me know via email if this is okay.

 

[klier]

^^ thanks man!

 

[mini_cooper4]

I'm glad I watched CH's i8 review otherwise I wouldn't have found out about his 2CV review... CH is the only car journalist that deserves my appreciation.
What a true car maniac!

 

[Sayyaaf]

Talking about electro motor and batteries ...

I don't really see development of electro motor to go on any further. It's a simple device, and no magic can be applied there. Except using some ultraexotic materials which would eg. boost efficiency but would also cost a fortune.

Motors did a huge leap forward going brushless. Motor efficiency definitely can increase. I believe the highest efficiency a motor can reach is 80ish% which leaves quite a room for development.

 

[klier]

Yep, I just upgraded to brushless motors for my RC helicopters. HUGE difference with before.

Batteries are still crap though

 

[Rainer271]

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[DeDe]

 

[Rolf]

Its very fast in acceleration, certainly better than I expected, but somehow this car doesn't light the fuse inside of me like the 911 does.

 

[RS2000 4X4]

Very good results!!!! Glad they also tested it pure electric.

It is time that BMW builds a supercar or a hyper car, they have the means, the know-how and I am sure they can make it gorgeous!!!

 

[RS2000 4X4]

Its very fast in acceleration, certainly better than I expected, but somehow this car doesn't light the fuse inside of me like the 911 does.

I can see what you mean, I like the i8 for being different, it really is a special car but after all this time I still dont know wether I find it a beauty or not. Sometimes I do and other times I dislike the two tone and the rather busy shape. The Porsche doesnt put me in a struggle like that.

 

[Rainer271]

Check Out the BMW i8 on the Goodwood Hillclimb from Behind the Wheel

 

[tristatez28lt1]

Very good numbers! I like this car!

10 Things We Learned About the 2015 BMW i8 - First Drives

Senior Editor Jason Cammisa recently tested with the 2015 BMW i8, and everyone in the office has been waiting to hear what he had to say about it. Here are some of his notes, taken right from his logbook, and 10 things Cammisa learned about the hybrid halo car. A worksheet with the full results of our instrumented tests is at the bottom of this article.

1. The engine sounds kinda like a turbocharged flat-six
The i8’s Active Sound Management—synthetic engine noises piped into the cabin—is obvious. You can feel the door-speaker grilles vibrate as they replicate engine noise. No matter, it sounds great. Outside, you hear what sounds like a muted flat-six, with turbo noises and awesome exhaust farts on upshifts.

2. Launch control isn’t impressive, but the transmission is
The six-speed automatic is awesome; shift quality is near-perfect in regular driving. In Launch Control (which is available only in Dynamic Traction Control mode, not when traction control is fully turned off), the upshifts are harsher than many dual-clutch transmissions. Launch Control also only knocked 0.1 or so off the 0-60 time. The 5-60-mph rolling-start time was less impressive than I expected from a partial EV, adding 1.1 seconds to the run. For that, you can blame the three-cylinder engine's significant turbo lag.


3. Don’t expect to drag race it in EV mode
Acceleration in EV mode was a bit tricky, because the i8 wants to spin its front tires at around 30 mph. Even the slightest traction control intervention costs a full second on the already laborious 9.4-second slog to 60. The i8 reaches its governed 75-mph EV top speed before the quarter-mile .

4. Braking distance is good, not great
Braking performance felt strong, but the numbers are only average. I suspect slower-than-normal pedal reaction is a factor: The i8 does, apparently, have panic brake assist, but it didn’t activate during the test. And it might take a split-second for the blended pedal to allow full braking. The brakes, however, never faded.


5. Will it drift?
Skidpad performance was dead even in both directions; simple to maintain a line. At the limit, the i8 doesn’t want to rotate. At higher speeds, when the EV’s front influence dies off, balance goes more neutral. But don’t expect to be able to drift this car.

6. It has its limits—top speed, that is
The i8 will hit its 155-mph limiter, but its ungoverned top speed wouldn’t be much higher. 130-140 takes 4.4 seconds, but 140-150 takes almost double that (7.8 seconds). I suspect we’d see a max just above 160 without the governor. That’s fast enough.


7. For a car this quick, it sips gas
80-mph highway cruising had the little 1.5-liter triple murmuring along at just 2400 rpm. Indicated fuel economy in Sport mode was in the 32-mpg range. That’s damnned impressive for a car that’ll do 0-60 in 3.8 seconds. I suspect slower cruising speeds and a more efficient drive mode would result in mileage in the mid- to upper 30s.

8. Sport mode is compromised
The steering is accurate but doesn’t transmit much, if any, road feel. Sport mode reduces the electric assist, which gives more natural weighting. And that’s the only way to get a tachometer on the all-LCD gauge display. (And then it turns counter-clockwise, Aston Martin-style, and is hard to read due to its red color.) Unfortunately, Sport Mode also unnecessarily stiffens the ride, locks out sixth gear unless you engage it manually, and prevents the engine from turning off. That’s just silly—that should be a Sport Plus mode. BMW needs a configurable Sport mode like the M Sport cars get; or better yet, individual adjustments with memory buttons like M cars get.


9. It has torque for days
Enormous midrange torque means the i8 is always strangely faster in one gear higher than you think you need to be in. It’s very fast in traffic at highway speeds. Fourth gear, 2500-rpm pulls are outrageously, shockingly fast.


10. It's a great place to get away from all the attention
The i8’s cabin is far quieter than most carbon-fiber cars. There’s no annoying resonance from impacts or tinkling from pebbles hitting the floor. It’s an excellent cruiser—if you can get away from all the people weaving around you to try to get a photo of it.