We just got out of a BMW i8, and I can honestly tell you that it exceeded my expectations. The one bit that impressed me the most was, as expected, the engine. If the Bavarians know how to work their magic in a particular department, that’s definitely under the bonnet.
The 1.5-liter 3-cylinder mill used on the plug-in sportscar makes no less than 231 HP and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. That’s more than on the newest MINI JCW Hardtop to put things in perspective.
As a matter of fact, it’s the the mill with the highest specific output per liter in BMW’s current lineup, overshadowing even the tri-turbo N57S or the recent Competition Package 4.4-liter V8 with its 600 HP. But what about its character?
So we know it has plenty of power but how does it feel and sound? Well, better than expected actually. Since each cylinder has a capacity of 500 cc, a size that BMW says is perfect for any engine, the sound is absolutely intoxicating. And in a good way!
Sure, inside the cabin you get a couple of synthesized notes but they sound so good you won’t mind. The thing is, even on the outside, the sound of the mill sounds incredibly well and mean for its size.
However, some people will always want more and with the looks of the i8, you’ll probably want to have a bark that matches them at a red light around town somewhere. The guys from Turner Motorsport certainly think so since they installed an ARQRAY titanium exhaust system on their car.
The result is... breathtaking and we absolutely love the raspy sound that little 1.5-liter unit is making. It’s almost like a 6-cylinder, isn’t it?
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