New BMW i8 review, test drive

The way the three-cylinder engine revs is pretty smooth but not entirely seamless. There are some noticeable jerks when drive to the rear wheels is engaged, but BMW’s engineers say they will certainly iron those out before launch. 

 

In Sport mode, the 1.5 motor doesn’t disengage, and what you get is max performance along with sharper steering and throttle response. Acceleration is fantastic and you can easily believe the 0-100kph claim of 4.5 seconds. But it’s the utterly seamless way the i8 rockets forward that is quite fascinating. There is no lag at all, and with the electric motor delivering max torque instantly, you can feel a strong and linear tug. The accompanying sound, unfortunately, isn’t too exciting and, whilst the thrummy three-cylinder engine has been made to sound sporty, there’s a fair bit of whine from the electric motor. 

 

 

The BMW i8’s handling is what simply blows you away. With a low polar moment of inertia (thanks to all the weight being concentrated in the middle of the car) it feels incredibly agile and changes direction faster than a confused mamba. The electro-mechanical steering is remarkably direct and the overall balance is completely neutral. Upping the pace and pushing hard into corners, the i8 felt like it was on rails and, near the limit, there’s just a hint of understeer. The fact that there’s hardly any body roll through corners has allowed BMW to get away with using skinny 215/45 tyres in front, because the i8’s flat poise ensures a wide contact patch. The i8 rides on extremely lightweight 20-inch aluminium wheels that have been designed for aerodynamic efficiency.  

 

BMW is on to something big with the i8. It’s intriguing and completely unconventional, which is a huge part of its appeal. And let’s not forget the i8’s green credentials, for which BMW has invested in cutting-edge tech. The proof of the pudding will be the 40kpl figure the i8 is expected to give in the European driving cycle. 

 

However, genuine enthusiasts will be blown away by the way it handles, which makes it utterly addictive to drive. At its heart, the i8 is a BMW, but this one could make even Sunita Narain smile when it comes to India in 2015.