BMW i8 production ends next month and here is why the i8 was a complete failure

[Sticky]

The new NSX and BMW i8 have something in common. They are both flops. The NSX had loftier goals to live up to in succeeding the iconic NSX but BMW had a clean slate for the i8. Yet, BMW still managed to mess it up.

What is the i8 trying to be anyway? A halo car? A sports car? A tech showpiece? It pretty much only served the function of getting the 'i' brand attention.

At $147,500 you would expect something special. Instead, what you got was a car with a weak chassis that easily flexed (which is the i8 roadster was difficult to get to market and pushed back year after year) and a three-cylinder motor.

Why the B38 I3 instead of the much stronger B48 I4? Who knows. Maybe the chassis could not take it or maybe the B48 increased the weight too much but the B38 I3 was the death sentence before the car even hit the market. Enthusiasts were not going to take it seriously and it would not have the performance to back up the price tag.

BMW asked $150k for roughly E92 M3 performance with worse handling. The light and narrow tires/wheels helped with mileage but provided poor handling at this level. .93g? Don't SUV's easily top that now?

What is the point of a hybrid sports car that is not good at being an efficient hybrid or good at being a sports car?

Sure, those doors are cool but what about the actual driving experience? At least the NSX performs closer to what its price tag suggests but the i8 could not keep up with any modern sports car even those at a fraction of the cost.

Used i8 values tanked. You can pick one up today in the $50k range, that is how poorly the car is regarded. BMW pushed it because they had to push it after investing over a billion Euros into 'i'. Let's say that one more time. Over a billion Euros!

Imagine the Ultimate Driving Machines that could be built for that money but instead we are left with some already forgotten hybrid that never had a chance. All for BMW to virtue signal on a global scale no less.

Was it worth it BMW?

[Stevenh]

I wouldn't call it a complete failure, but it certainly isn't a good car. I see one or two of these on the road each month, but have yet to see a single NSX in person.

[Roll up or pull up]

I wouldn't call it a complete failure, but it certainly isn't a good car. I see one or two of these on the road each month, but have yet to see a single NSX in person.

Only certain people bought the car... and mostly women from what I see. It looked cool but is a worthless car when it came to Performance.

[Sticky]

I wouldn't call it a complete failure, but it certainly isn't a good car.

I'm not sure how else to view it.

[quattr0]

I had a few "fun runs" in Mexico w my n54. Not sure if he didn't try which i doubted as it was repeated, but he couldn't pass me.

[ND75R]

There's a reason they go for 1/3 of MSRP after 3 years. Throw some sticky tires and a tune on there and you've still got a piece of $#@!.

[Bowser330]

The i8 has some potential though...

If a built 3.0L 6cyl turbo can make 1000hp then a built 1.5L 3cyl turbo can make 500hp.

the electric motor would continue to help with low end torque for launching quickly filling the lag from the turbo.

total power 500+140ehp = 640hp

3,400lb with 640hp is a fun car

[ND75R]

The i8 has some potential though...

If a built 3.0L 6cyl turbo can make 1000hp then a built 1.5L 3cyl turbo can make 500hp.

the electric motor would continue to help with low end torque for launching quickly filling the lag from the turbo.

total power 500+140ehp = 640hp

3,400lb with 640hp is a fun car

No doubt you could make it fast, but isn't the main problem that the chassis has the structural rigidity of a pretzel?

[Sticky]

The i8 has some potential though...

If a built 3.0L 6cyl turbo can make 1000hp then a built 1.5L 3cyl turbo can make 500hp.

the electric motor would continue to help with low end torque for launching quickly filling the lag from the turbo.

total power 500+140ehp = 640hp

3,400lb with 640hp is a fun car

All they needed was to make it stiffer (yes, heavier) with the B48. That's it.

They had to keep it light to meet performance and MPG goals which made for a chassis that bends. Even if you go nuts with the B38 what's the point if the car can't take it?

[Bowser330]

I haven’t heard about the weak CFRP chassis in the i8 until now, what are you guys referring to? Is there an ongoing issue about it?

[Sticky]

I haven’t heard about the weak CFRP chassis in the i8 until now, what are you guys referring to? Is there an ongoing issue about it?

It's not something BMW really detailed as it detracted from their 'i' brand but it's why the roadster was delayed years.

[yandizzle]

The i8 has some potential though...

If a built 3.0L 6cyl turbo can make 1000hp then a built 1.5L 3cyl turbo can make 500hp.

the electric motor would continue to help with low end torque for launching quickly filling the lag from the turbo.

total power 500+140ehp = 640hp

3,400lb with 640hp is a fun car

For the money..Porsche Tycon plz..the entry model starts at 114k. If I had to do all that to the i8, your in the same price range

[Bowser330]

Used I8 50k$
built 3cyl big turbo 20k$

would be cool to see someone go down that path to see the potential.

[Sticky]

Used I8 50k$
built 3cyl big turbo 20k$

would be cool to see someone go down that path to see the potential.

Considering how cheap they are now maybe someone could get some power out of the B38 and make the i8 respectable.

[Bowser330]

Considering how cheap they are now maybe someone could get some power out of the B38 and make the i8 respectable.

I haven't seen anyone working on it on the mini-platform (also uses lesser tuned version of B38)..perhaps its more difficult and maybe not worth the effort...like your article says i think people just jump to tuning the 4cyl 2.0T as it has a lot more potential.

[ND75R]

I haven't seen anyone working on it on the mini-platform (also uses lesser tuned version of B38).

All I've seen is the JB4...no name brand tuners even have listed offerings for it.

[Bowser330]

right and limited big turbo setups, all the ones i have seen are smaller and only get the standard B38 to the i8 B38 power levels, 235hp....perhaps its a lost cause as previously mentioned.

[ND75R]

right and limited big turbo setups, all the ones i have seen are smaller and only get the standard B38 to the i8 B38 power levels, 235hp....perhaps its a lost cause as previously mentioned.

Here we go, found Eurocharged...stage 2 can make a staggering 185 bhp and 236 lb-ft

https://www.eurocharged.com/ecutunin...136-hp-stage-2

[Sticky]

I haven't seen anyone working on it on the mini-platform (also uses lesser tuned version of B38)..perhaps its more difficult and maybe not worth the effort...like your article says i think people just jump to tuning the 4cyl 2.0T as it has a lot more potential.

Evolve posted some numbers. Their tuned example did 60-130 in 10.8 I think.

[subaru335i]

Hard to find a more exotic looking car for $50k though. In that way its kind of a bargain used.

I still don't really want one because the carbon body panels are notoriously fragile. You need 2 or 3 people to safely open the hood without cracking it lol. Think about one being in an accident. Would total it in a minor fender bender.