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When BMW released the i8 back in 2014 everyone was taken by surprise. The car was really different from what the manufacturer offered up to that point and it felt special. While the latter is still true, we can’t really say there is much to surprise us about the i8. There are far more alternatives now and it looks like the BMW has been left behind by most of them. Even so, for those looking to get a special car, the manufacturer just released the 2019 BMW i8 update. The car comes with very few upgrades over its predecessor but even so, it offers a relatively good value for money. While the i8 can’t really compete with most other cars at this price point, it still offers the novelty factor which so many people want.
In detail
Unlike with their most other cars, the i8 comes built on a bespoke carbon fiber architecture. This means the car is relatively lightweight for a hybrid and it comes with the benefit of having the perfect internal layout. Even though it is a hybrid, the weight distribution is nearly perfect and it features a great set of proportions as well. However, not everything is great about it.
source:topspeed.com 2019 BMW i8
For starters, despite being sold as a supercar, BMW also wanted the car to be efficient. This means the stock wheels and tires aren’t really suited for high performance use. The car is also really aerodynamic, but its downforce generation is worse than on most of its rivals. This means it can’t really outrun any supercar that costs over $120,000.
What is new?
The 2019 BMW i8 comes with a few improvements over its predecessor which do give it an edge. For starters, there is now an all new model available with the Roadster. As the name suggests, this features a removable roof and a few other small upgrades in order to cope with the added weight.
2019 BMW i8 Release date and price
They released the car a short while ago and it looks the new i8 will go on sale in the upcoming months. So far the manufacturer didn’t release the price but its predecessor starters at around $144,000. It looks like the new coupe should cost right around there too but the roadster should be noticeably more expensive.
The design
Nothing really changed with the look of the 2019 BMW i8 which was expected, especially since this is a rather unique vehicle to start with. The car features the same front end as before with the blanked kidney grilles, the swept-back headlights and the really aggressive bumper design.
source:topspeed.com 2019 BMW i8 Design
The coupe-shape is still there while the roadster, interestingly enough, features a really similar shape too. This is because BMW decided to use a folding hard-top which retracts in the trunk. This gives the car the coupe look when up and it allows it to maintain its proportions when down. The doors still open in a really interesting way with the only real difference being the addition of a new color.
The interior
As expected, the cabin of the car didn’t change one bit since its launch. It comes with the same curved center stack and the really wide center console. The car now features an updated instrument cluster with a slightly higher resolution screen but it remains as unique as before.
source:topspeed.com 2019 BMW i8 Interior
The driving position is great as it really connects the driver to the car with the only real drawback being the car’s unusual steering wheel which doesn’t really seem fitting for a supercar.
2019 BMW i8 Specs
The 2019 BMW i8 boasts a 1.5 liter turbocharged three-cylinder which offers 228 horsepower. While this is quite bad for a car that costs this much, the i8 is actually a hybrid. This means it also has an electric motor which is now good for 141 horsepower. The total system output has been raised as well to 369 horsepower which is a bit better. This will allow the i8 to hit 60 MPH in just 4.2 seconds while the roadster will hit the same speed in slightly more time at 4.4 seconds. As before, the top speed remained limited to 155 MPH which is a bit sad for a car that was supposed to be a true supercar. Even so, the hybrid system offers great acceleration in-gear and it provides a great sound for a 3-cylinder.
| 2019 BMW i8 | |
| Dimensions And Weight | |
| Wheelbase | 110.23 in |
| Length | 184.60 in |
| Height | 50.90 in |
| Width | 76.45 in |
| Weight | N/A |
| Engine And Transmission | |
| Engine type | inline-3 |
| Displacement | 1.5 L |
| Power/torque | 228 hp/236 lb-ft |
| Transmission | six-speed automatic |
| Performance | |
| 0-60 mph | 4.2 seconds |
| Top speed | 155 mph |
| PRICE RANGE: around $144,000 |
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| Competitors: Acura NSX,Tesla Model S P100D | |
