Half-expecting the driver in a growling be-winged Mitsubishi Evo pulling ahead to cut into my lane, I eased off the throttle.
But instead of the hooliganism drivers of souped-up Japanese cars
tend to display in the presence of Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis,
this one stuck his burly arm out the window and gave an extended thumbs
up.
That kind of sums up the reaction you get in a BMW i8, and the type of car it is.
The high-performance plug-in petrol-electric 2+2 is an
unintimidating piece of engineering, despite its wow- inducing design.
Adorned with dramatic butterfly doors and curves and creases previously
impossible to execute on a carbon-fibre body, the car is right out of a
movie set.
You would expect something like it to evoke envy - the way a
Lamborghini Huracan or Ferrari 458 would - even if it has the same
head-turning abilities as the two supercars.
But, no.
It is hard to put a finger on it, but perhaps it has to do with its
obscure tailpipe, which on supercars, tends to be rather big and
vulgar. It could also be its trademark hue of pacifist blue. It is
similar to the blue worn by UN peacekeeping troops, which belies their
ability to mete out equal measures of lethal force.
Likewise, the i8 is no pushover, despite its puny 1.5-litre
three-cylinder engine. For the engine is turbocharged and paired with a
high-wattage electric motor. The engine drives the rear wheels, while
the 96kW motor moves the front wheels.
Together, they make 360bhp and 570Nm of torque, enough to fire the
wedge-shaped Beemer from zero to 100kmh in 4.4 seconds - more than
respectable in the realm of sports cars.
Top speed is capped at 250kmh, but it is doubtful if the i8 can go
much faster even if there was no limiter. For that, an i8S is planned.
For now, 4.4 seconds and 250kmh are still impressive figures for a
car that will happily zip about for 35km on electric mode alone (if you
plug in to recharge the batteries regularly). In this mode, it can
reach 120kmh - more than enough in the Singapore context.
Its turbo engine is ever ready whenever you need it.
During a test-drive in May in Los Angeles, the car displayed a
seamless transition between combustion engine and electric motor. But
in Singapore traffic, there were a couple of times when the i8
hesitated and fumbled, resulting in power surges (pun intended) that
make you go "woah!" or delayed take-offs that make you go "hmmm".
Most times, however, the i8 is peachy. Its dual power source gives
it the instantaneous acceleration of an electric car, while its mighty
mite of an engine provides that revvy crescendo so loved by sports car
fans.
Whatever speed it is in, the i8 is able to pull away effortlessly,
thanks to the combined forces of its two propulsion units. The
electronic wizardry onboard ensures the six-speed transmission paired
with the engine is in perfect harmony with the two-speed transmission
of the e-motor. Just thinking about that makes you giddy.
The i8's wide tracks and low centre of gravity ensure it has the
stability of an air hockey puck. So, its road-holding is beyond
reproach. The only thing drivers need to look out for are low curbs -
the car's expansive bonnet dips away abruptly, making it a tad
difficult to judge where its big wheels shod with low- profile tyres
are.
Ride quality suffers a little because of those wheels and tyres. But it is a relatively small price to pay for good looks.
Its light and somewhat detached steering stands out as a trait
uncharacteristic of BMWs. Brake pedal feel can be inconsistent too. But
roadholding, power delivery and handling remain up to what you expect
of the Bavarian marque. Even the sound of the engine is convincing
(thanks to artificial enhancement).
Above all, the i8 is about responsible performance. The discontinued
Tesla Roadster aside, it is the only sports car you can drive to your
heart's content without a tinge of guilt.
And quite possibly, without stirring ill feelings in others either.
Specs
BMW i8
Price: $599,800 with COE
Engine: 1,499cc 12-valve inline-3 turbocharged
Motor: Hybrid synchronous motor with two-speed transmission
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with paddle shift
Combined power: 360bhp at 5,800rpm
Combined torque: 570Nm at 3,700rpm
0-100kmh: 4.4 seconds
Top speed: 250kmh (electronically limited)
Fuel consumption: 2.1 litres/100km
Power consumption: 11.9 kWh/100km
