i being side by side to M will certainly bring about more excitement to those who have fuel running in veins. Even if it’s not miles better, we have one more thing to be excited about from the company that manufactures ultimate driving machines. Anyone who’s driven a post 2010 BMW will familiarise themselves in no time which is a good thing because the i8 is meant to be the everyday supercar. Everything apart from getting in or out of the car is very normal and driving one is no more difficult to drive than a regular 5 series.
PRO
Sheer drama machine
Butterfly doors
CON
Not that fast
Doesn't drive like it looks
SPECIFICATION
1.5-litre I4/7.1 kWh
360hp 570Nm
6-speed Aisin/2-speed GKN
0-100 km/h: 4.4s
Top speed: 250 km/h
RM 1,408,800
RELATED ENTRIES
BEHIND THE WHEEL: Porsche 911
BEHIND THE WHEEL: BMW M5
BEHIND THE WHEEL: Mazda MX-5 RF
So long the i8 is fully charged, it will nudge 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, just three-tenth shy of a Carrera S. Even when you’re out, penguins will thank you as it only sips 6.7 litres of fuel every 100 kilometre. And it goes fast with little drama making the driver look like a hero without instilling much fear. Steering’s natural while drive is as a whole balanced with little oversteer and understeer. Gearbox too does its job well.
The best part of the i8 is being seen in the car itself. Fingers pointing, children jumping about with joy and people wanting to know you. An elder gentleman made an effort to ask if one cost two million Malaysian ringgit and I replied, it is half that so a bargain?
" An MX-5 only packs a weekend getaway while an i8, a purse and a wallet for date nights "
I guess M cars are done for, the only thing keeping us away from an i8 is its price tag and all those years of M division winning our hearts watered down just like that. Only not, given how skinny the tyres fitted onto an i8, it doesn’t ride all that comfortably while road noise is apparent. Even on comfort, the ride quality is not as plush as a 911’s.
Heck, it’s not even as comfortable as an M4 that’s half the price. A three pin plug that comes with the car takes forever to charge so you won’t be doing 4 seconds to hundred with that Mini Cooper engine. And what is worse isn’t the meagre 154 litres of luggage space, it’s the weedy Harman/Kardon speakers.
All the attention does make you feel marvellous when you’re not in a hurry but when you are and do not want to come off snobbish, not so much. If none of the above mentioned drawbacks matter to you, the i8 shouldn’t be a problem. Furthermore a 911 can be spotted even on a weekday, an i8? Once every six months (maybe eight), if you’re lucky.