We thought it would be great to repost these excerpts from Autoblog's BMW i8 hands on review Read it here. "We tried all modes, of course, and while BMW still has six months to
refine the few remaining issues on these validation test prototypes, the
more we drove the i8, the more the huge financial investment required
hit us as a brave yet valid move by BMW. Whether in its most timid
coffee-fetching eMode+Eco Pro setup or in Sport with DSC off, you'll be
happy with what you're feeling if our happiness is anything to go by. A
full recharge from the (not included) wall box given the smaller
capacities of the lithium-ion battery, takes just two hours." (Continue Reading Plus a full gallery after the jump)
"Electric range can vary widely based on how the i8 is driven, of course,
and the topmost speed allowed for the e-motor/front-wheel-drive mode is
75 mph. With everything up and running, though, top speed is let out to
155 mph, and acceleration to 60 mph can happen in under 4.5 seconds.
That's pretty great for a "boring old" hybrid, we'd say. And the feeling
while doing all of this in the sport seat is almost-M-sensation
terrific. The steering is ultra-electrified, yet at the same time, very
precise. When switching to Sport, the dampers automatically switch to a
more rigid setting, yet we enjoyed the ride over both smooth surfaces
and imperfect pavement. Braking – quite the regenerative affair, of
course – is immediate and sure, aided by the standard, very light and
aero-friendly forged 20-inch wheels."
"We had just a few pieces of constructive criticism for BMW's assembled
team in hopes that they'll improve the car even moreso. Firstly, the
iDrive display is currently almost useless in any sort of sun due to its
forward placement and cobalt blue typeface. Second, programming for the
six-speed automatic attached to the 1.5-liter is fine in all aspects
except at the extremes of its envelope, and it needs a 7,000-rpm redline
to better suit the gearing and the exhaust's character. And finally, we
wanted better summer tires – ours were the optional 215-width front and
245-rear Bridgestone Potenzas. Dynamics were really hot overall from
this relatively lightweight, stiff, and extremely low-center-of-gravity
BMW i, but it needed just a tick more help at the corners from the
rubber."
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