The BMW I8 Car. Just uttering its name conjures images of futuristic design, exhilarating performance, and a bold step into the future of automotive engineering. When a friend described the experience of being in the cockpit of the BMW i8 as “pure heroin,” it perfectly encapsulated the captivating allure of this plug-in hybrid sports car. The sheer force of 420 foot-pounds of torque is enough to press you firmly into the luxurious gray leather seats, transforming mundane drives into thrilling adventures. Overtaking vehicles becomes an instinctive maneuver, and the i8’s exceptional acceleration and handling have a remarkable effect, turning even the most composed adults into giddy, delighted drivers and passengers alike.
The BMW i8 car is not just a marvel of engineering; it’s a head-turning spectacle. Its striking aesthetics elicit reactions that transcend typical car admiration. One anecdote perfectly illustrates this: stopped at a red light, a young man, visibly impressed, exclaimed, “You are awesome! You are awesome!” Shortly after, a more mature admirer tapped on the window, confessing, “Dude, I just want to tell you I am literally getting a hard-on just looking at your car.” The BMW i8 car possesses a unique ability to bridge divides. Whether rich or poor, regardless of race or political affiliation, the i8 seems to be a unifying symbol of automotive excellence and desirability.
During an unforgettable week with the BMW i8 car, on loan from BMW, the experience was nothing short of extraordinary. While moments of feeling like a “badass” have occurred in life, the i8 amplified this sensation with constant external validation. While the occasional assertive Lexus or Audi might cross paths, driving the i8 is generally an experience saturated with positive energy. Road rage simply melts away in the face of such universal admiration. The i8 is a paradox – a sophisticated gentleman in urban environments and a fierce warrior when unleashed on winding roads.
However, this wave of admiration encountered an intriguing exception: Tesla Model S drivers. While owners of other electric vehicles like the BMW i3 and Chevy Volt exchanged nods of acknowledgment, and many others expressed curiosity or took photos, Tesla drivers conspicuously avoided eye contact. Despite encountering numerous Tesla Model S vehicles throughout the week, not a single driver acknowledged the i8’s presence. This subtle cold shoulder hints at an underlying tension. Tesla Motors pioneered the concept of the consumer-level eco-supercar and dominated the market for years. Yet, juxtaposed with the BMW i8 car, the Tesla Model S, while still impressive, began to show its age in the face of BMW’s fresh innovation.
The BMW i8 car vividly demonstrates the immense progress the global automotive industry has achieved over the last decade. Back in 2005, German automakers were still championing diesel technology over hybrids. Plug-in electric vehicles were not a central part of their strategic vision. Today, BMW has fully embraced electrification, a significant shift largely propelled by specific policy decisions originating from California.
California’s relentless pursuit of cleaner air and reduced emissions has been a major catalyst in reshaping the global automotive landscape. The state’s struggle began with severe smog episodes in the 1940s, so intense they were initially mistaken for chemical warfare. The real culprit, of course, was the rapidly increasing number of cars. As Los Angeles and other Californian cities battled air pollution from the 1950s to the 1970s, global automakers initially showed resistance. This changed in the 1970s when the California Air Resources Board (CARB) compelled them to drastically cut automotive emissions. By 1990, CARB declared that electric cars – zero-emission vehicles – were the definitive long-term solution. To gain access to California’s lucrative car market, automakers were mandated to produce and sell electric vehicles or effectively subsidize other manufacturers to do so. This mandate, known as the ZEV rule, aimed for electric vehicles to constitute 2% of California’s car sales by 1998 and 10% by 2003.
For Detroit automakers, the ZEV rule was perceived as a harsh regulatory measure. However, California’s “technology-forcing” policy spurred global automotive innovation towards cleaner technologies. Despite legal challenges from automakers, technological setbacks, and resistance from the George W. Bush administration, California’s initiative persisted. By the mid-2000s, advancements in lithium-ion battery technology yielded smaller, lighter, safer, and more powerful batteries, fundamentally altering the equation. Companies like Mitsubishi, Subaru, Nissan, and the emergent Tesla began developing a new wave of electric cars. The revival of California’s ZEV rule, despite falling short of its initial EV sales targets, paved the way for the resurgence of electric vehicles across the United States, Japan, and even China.
Tesla distinguished itself by creating an aspirational and genuinely unique vehicle, arguably the best sports sedan ever made. For years, Tesla occupied this eco-supercar niche unchallenged, becoming the preferred vehicle for affluent environmentalists, tech enthusiasts, and especially the Silicon Valley elite. During this period, German manufacturers largely remained on the sidelines of the electrification race.
However, the BMW i-series, launched in Germany in late 2013, unequivocally established Germany as a major contender in the accelerating race towards electrification. While Porsche offers plug-in hybrid versions of its Panamera and Cayenne SUV, the BMW i8 car stands out as the first genuine challenger to Tesla’s eco-chic Model S.
Similar to Tesla, BMW’s initial foray into electric vehicles targets affluent, environmentally conscious consumers who also crave high performance. The i8, with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price starting around $137,000 (USD), and the i3, at a more accessible $42,200, are positioned in the luxury segment. (The Tesla Model S starts at approximately $75,000). The environmental nod is largely symbolic; neither the Tesla Model S nor the BMW i8 car is a practical solution to global warming or air pollution in densely populated cities like Beijing. The BMW i8 car, post-tax, costs nearly 100 times the per capita GDP of India and about three times the U.S. per capita GDP, representing conspicuous consumption on a grand scale. However, a positive perspective is that these high-end vehicles leverage the purchasing power of the wealthiest segment to spearhead the development of new technologies that will eventually trickle down into more affordable vehicles.
Both the Tesla and the i8 represent a “have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too” approach, albeit in different ways. The Tesla is incredibly fun to drive, and its cargo and passenger space are remarkably superior to competitors. This contributed to the Tesla Model S being named Motor Trend’s 2013 Car of the Year and receiving Consumer Reports’ highest vehicle score ever. It boasts an aluminum body, an all-electric drivetrain, and a well-designed interior that can comfortably seat five adults and even two children with optional rear jump seats. Beyond a spacious trunk, the Tesla features a “frunk” (front trunk) due to the absence of a front engine, adding significant cargo capacity. Despite this space, its energy efficiency surpasses even the most economical hybrids, offering a range of up to 270 miles on a single charge. This largely mitigates “range anxiety,” the concern of running out of power, for daily use. However, longer journeys require planning around Tesla’s Supercharger network, where charging takes about an hour, provided a charger is available. Charging at a standard outlet can take days, highlighting a potential inconvenience for long-distance travel without access to Superchargers.
The BMW i8 car offers about 15 miles of all-electric range but also features three gasoline-electric hybrid modes (eco-pro, comfort, and sport). These modes extend the range by several hundred miles, powered by an internal combustion engine achieving around 28 miles per gallon and allowing for quick refueling at gas stations. In terms of practicality, the i8 is essentially a two-seater. While it’s possible to squeeze passengers into the back seats, it’s a tight fit, and trunk space is virtually nonexistent. In terms of cargo and passenger utility, Tesla clearly wins. The i8’s design, prioritizing a low-slung sports car profile with a battery, engine, and electric drive, sacrifices the spaciousness that defines Tesla. From an environmental standpoint, the Tesla, capable of running entirely on renewable energy, arguably holds an edge. However, the BMW i8 car excels in the convenience of rapid gasoline refueling.
When it comes to power, performance, and the overall driving experience, the comparison becomes more nuanced. The i8 combines a 131-horsepower electric motor with a 231-horsepower twin-turbocharged three-cylinder engine, delivering a combined output of approximately 360 horsepower. While substantial (consider that a Honda Civic has around 143 horsepower), the top-tier Tesla Model S P85D boasts a staggering 691 horsepower. However, this power gap is somewhat balanced by weight: the P85D weighs around 5,000 pounds, while the carbon-fiber i8 weighs about 3,500 pounds. Tesla still outperforms the i8 in 0-60 mph acceleration, achieving it in about 3.2 seconds compared to the BMW’s 4.2 seconds.
A BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car.
A BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car is displayed during the launch of the BMW i8 at BMW World on June 5, 2014, in Munich. Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images
Yet, the BMW i8 car possesses undeniable advantages. The Tesla Model S is a substantial vehicle, and Tesla’s Model X SUV is similarly sized. The i8, like the Model S, has an exceptionally low center of gravity—the lowest in any production BMW. It also features remarkable traction control, ensuring exceptional grip and handling around corners. While the i8 is not small—wider than a Porsche 911 by 5 inches—it feels agile and nimble compared to the Tesla.
Then there’s the auditory experience – the sound. Both cars can operate silently in electric mode, making them considerably less intrusive than traditional sports cars. However, when accelerating in the i8, the internal combustion engine emits a rich, baritone rumble. The i8’s designers paid meticulous attention to this audio element, even enhancing the throttle notes synthetically through cockpit recordings.
Inside, Tesla’s control system is dominated by a large touchscreen interface resembling a giant iPad. The BMW i8 car adopts a more conventional and reassuring layout with screens, knobs, and buttons. These are ergonomically positioned for intuitive operation by touch, allowing drivers to manage controls without taking their eyes off the road. A futuristic head-up display projects essential information like maps and playlists onto the windshield, visible only to the driver. Overall, the BMW i8 car’s aesthetics and handling exhibit a higher degree of refinement.
While the Tesla outperforms in key areas such as 0-60 mph acceleration, passenger and cargo space, all-electric range, and horsepower, the BMW i8 car holds its own and even surpasses the Tesla in other critical aspects. The base price of the BMW i8 is higher, around $137,000, compared to the Tesla P85D at approximately $105,000. This price difference might lead some to question the BMW’s value proposition.
However, BMW i8 car owners are not simply paying a premium for brand cachet. They are buying into something that the Tesla, despite its merits, cannot match: unparalleled visual appeal and public admiration. The i8’s design is a captivating blend of DeLorean, Millennium Falcon, and mako shark—in the most complimentary sense. The upward sweep of its scissor doors elicits gasps, flashes, and cheers. Indeed, simply opening the doors is almost as enjoyable as driving the car itself.
Ultimately, the Tesla and the BMW i8 car are fundamentally different vehicles, catering to distinct priorities. As Ben Tesfaye, a Tesla P85D owner and operator of a large EV charging facility, aptly summarized, “For rolling up to the club, I like the i8. But I have two kids and their friends in the back, so I’ll keep my Tesla.” For Tesfaye, the i8 is simply not practical, while the Tesla meets his family needs.
The landscape of electric vehicles is rapidly evolving, rendering the current comparison increasingly simplistic. The global race for the electric car of the future is intensifying, with new entrants from Chinese automakers, tech startups like Tesla, established automotive giants, and tech behemoths like Apple. Companies are expanding into EV charging infrastructure, recognizing the growing value proposition in enhancing customer convenience and satisfaction. Even German automakers, initially resistant to electric vehicles, are now deeply invested in electrification.
“Electricity is going to be a larger part of transportation,” noted Pulitzer Prize–winning oil expert Dan Yergin. Just as Henry Ford’s rise a century ago shifted dominance from early electric cars to gasoline vehicles, electric cars are now making a powerful resurgence. Yergin observed, “To know that an electric vehicle could be a cool car… an aspirational car is a huge breakthrough—it does change perceptions.”
The BMW i8 car is indeed a “breakthrough,” not just in technology and consumer appeal, but also as a testament to the effectiveness of California’s long-term innovation policies. While it may take more time for EVs to achieve price parity and infrastructure readiness to compete with internal combustion engines without incentives, the BMW i8 car signals that this future is rapidly approaching. BMW’s entry into the eco-supercar arena with the i8 marks a significant challenge to Tesla’s once-unchallenged dominance. This competition between innovators like BMW and Tesla is ultimately beneficial, driving the industry towards a future where cars are not only fun and clean but also increasingly electric and autonomous.
