SEATTLE -- These days, books and movies depict the future as a bleak dystopian world. I prefer BMW's view where hybrids look and perform like the i8. Sleek and sinewy,this car gets serious attention. Doc Brown just might ditch the DeLorean over this.
If the BMW i8 is any indication the future is a safe one. The passenger cell is made of very light, very strong plastic re-enforced carbon fiber. The raw materials are produced in a hydroelectric powered plant in Moses Lake Washington.
A plug-in hybrid, charging the lithium-ion battery that runs down the spine gives i8 a claimed all-electric range of 22 miles or so. It doesn't have to be charged, but it's more efficient. You can drive solely on electric power up to 75 mph.
A 129 horsepower electric motor under the hood drives the front wheels through a two-speed transmission. A tiny but ambitious 1.5-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine channels 228 horsepower through a six-speed gearbox to the back rubber. Controls operate like any current BMW, shift into sport mode and the gas engine kicks in immediately, ready for action, and there's plenty of it. Not quite the jump to light speed, but 0-60 streaks up in about 4 seconds. Enough to dust up your neighbor's Prius.
It looks and feels capable of interstellar travel. i8 pretty much has it all, looks, velocity and tenacious cornering chops. The center of gravity is just 18 inches off the road, which helps the handling. Driving the car fairly hard I averaged 36 miles per gallon on premium fuel. All of this happens in a cockpit suited to Jean Luc Piccard. Old world touches meets new planet tech in the front seat. From dusk on, the cabin looks like a set from Tron.
The BMW i8 is a 2 + 2 and while it has four seat-belts you might not want to put adults back there... its a little tight.
No one will pay the base price of about $137,495 grand just to save money on gas. More than transportation BMW i8 is bleeding edge engineering, an amusement park thrill ride, and a piece of collectible art. That's what those in the future call a screaming deal.
