Surefire future classic! Niche, made in relatively low numbers, and expensive to buy new. Just a first stepping stone to what could be called full electro-mobility in the sports sector, but i think a very very decent attempt by BMW. Every owner i've ever talked too loves their i8, and like its little brother the i3, it's a car that gets under your skin somehow ;-)
It is an expensive bad joke with a tiny battery pack as an excuse to being a little less of a stinker. No luggage space worth speaking of. Only two seater. Slower acceleration than a Tesla Model 3. More expensive than a Tesla S. The only feature this version has over the Teslas is that it is a Roadster. And that awful engine sound for man with tiny dicks.
@@harryc266 You seem to want to misinterpret FutureChaosTV. It is not the acceleration that makes this an expensive bad joke. Why "this" is something that needs to be produces and that's why tesla fan boys should not hate it? It is a bloody two seater to show off or for wealthy people to do recreational driving. This is not about e-Mobility or solving problems in cities or reducing carbon footprint. When people talk about the carbon footprint of a BEV, were does this car stands? Such cars do not get mileage to compensate for anything.
No definitely not! BWM have massively overcomplicated the drivetrain, so if something breaks it costs a fortune to fix. The front looks good, but the back looks very ugly.
What a good reporter. Its all about the car, not him. He presents in an interesting style sure, but its all relevant, there's no "look at me, Ma" at all.
Jonny isnt your normal car journalist. Cars can be more than the sum of their parts, sometimes character is worth more than performance or practicality. Jonny understands this.
Many years ago, Car had an interview with Renault‘s chief designer, and found that although exotic styling got people’s attention, when it came to buying they were far more conservative. This was soon after their fling with the Avantime, Val Satis, and first gen Twingo. For all the column inches garnered by cutting edge styles, bland sells. As VW can confirm.
That would be an entirely new vehicle with all of the extra associated R&D costs that the likely sales of the roadster would in no way cover, so the reason why they haven't is obviously surely
Jonny is the best automotive journalist in the business! He Makes it all about the cars yet still manages to put his own style into it. Keep up the great work mate!
I want to love this car, because I see what BMW was trying to do. But it's not 2012 anymore, and this vehicle still burns oil. The 30 mile range just isn't enough to give me the joy that EVs bring.
I was a little amazed by this car in 2012.. looking back at this car in another 10 years, it's going to look daft. It is a compromise in every single way. And while compromise in and of itself isn't a bad thing... this car does nothing to push anything to the limits. Except maybe one's budget.. in which case you can just get such better cars for the same price.. sorry Jonny.. it's great that you have an emotional attachment to this thing.. it's a cool look on the outside.. the interior looks a bit shit honestly, but that's normal for all BMWs in my opinion.. and as for performance.. a complete let down for the cost.
airheart1 the way this cars built is so advanced and the amount of power the car gets from hybrid technology is far superior to most cars. I don’t think you fully understand what you’re talking about.
HarryC26 I understand statistics. And I understand that for $150k, I can get cars with far superior performance in every aspect. Now.. I understand statistics don’t entirely encompass something we have an emotional feeling for. And the look of this car can endear that kind of emotion.. but I’ve never been a big fan of BMW interiors.. or styling in general. And I’m just saying.. this car’s performance does not match its price tag. For me at least. And if the reinforced plastic with carbon fiber was as amazing a material as Jonny says... have we seen it adopted into anything else in the last 5 years? If it has, I'm unaware of it. Of course Carbon fiber use is slowing growing.. but I haven't heard of this specific use of it as a plastic reinforcement in use in anything else.. maybe I'm just uninformed about it And lastly.. no matter how amazing this hybrid use is/was.. it's still far less efficient and powerful then a well built, pure EV. P.S. Oh, and it still spews out poison... past its 30 mile electric range. P.P.S. Here's one I8 competitor in the same price range, and also a type of hyrbid, albeit different entirely. The Acura NSX. And the NSX blows the doors off the I8. And the day a Honda/Acura, for the same price, shreds a BMW... I don't know what to tell you except.. unacceptable effort and engineering.
airheart1 Because car company’s don’t have to change or use innovative materials until it’s too late that’s why nobody is using carbon plastics apart from bmw. That’s why bmw is actually trying to produce a decent hybrid sports car. That’s why it doesn’t have a v8. The list goes on 😂 oh and the NSX is more expensive, has 3 miles of electric range, produces more “poison” than the BMW, and is less luxurious - yet that’s all okay because it’s faster? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 so hypocritical! Yeah it’s totally it’s unacceptable for bmw to produce a sports car that’s as fast a 911 but only has 3 cylinders and is a hybrid. Okay then. Yes they’ve totally failed.
Secretlyanothername, 30 miles is ideal for the big cities where the most will live, with charge zones and it does generate a bit. The problem is infrastructure I am in the North West, and it is poor. Presently, you need the engine to travel distance, the development of EV cars is ahead of the infrastructure.
Mike W , there is an i8 hydrogen test model, whether that is the next step it will be interesting www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/scoop/bmws-hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered-i8-research-vehicle-revealed They are also looking at this for Rolls Royce, they are heavy enough without batteries.
at some point bmw will do that. they had two iterations in their battery technology where they added 50% more energy each time. i guess with the next iteration the energy density will be good enough. that will probably be at 300 wh/kg
@@maschinenraum 300 wh/kg they could easily make a 300 mile EV. I don't think they are there yet, but new i3's have about 150 miles and im not sure of their battery energy density. they don't have a large supply of batteries and they don't have any charging infrastructure so i imagine theyre going to push off EV's as long as they can
@@useyourbrain2174 I understand your sentiment but with the i8 and i3 with range extender you've got a vital function in the ICE unit if you live in a charger-sparse setting. I live in Nebraska and range extenders make traveling with an EV practical if you travel around the state - not just the cities. There are places where you would find yourself hundreds of miles from any charger at all unless you count RV campgrounds which I don't since their 220V connectors aren't always maintained well enough to handle continuous L2 charging without lighting up. I currently feel rather penned up with my LEAF which needs to stay in my metro area but an i3 with a range extender or this unit could go further. They would be quite liberating, even better than a Tesla.
@@tr33c21 If you took out the motor and all the parts it needs (fuel tank, piping, heat cooling system, etc) and replace with an equal mass of batteries you already would be close to if not over 150-200 miles range with present tech.
That would be an entirely new vehicle with all of the extra associated R&D costs that the likely sales of the roadster would in no way cover, so the reason why they haven't is obviously surely
Anything that's a step away from relying solely on fuel is a step forward. The only way you're going to get petrol heads out of petrol guzzlers is slowly moving them on
It's not electric enough for the electric car folks, yet not sporty enough for the regular sportscar enthusiast, it's a bit in no man's land like the NSX. Does look cool though
kinda bummed they didnt take the opportunity of making a full BEV version of this car for the mild refresh. an i8 with a 60~kWh and CCS would be great.
I just love your reviews Johnny! You are the best vlogger on RUclips! You combine knowledge with homour and style! Pls keep up the excellent work! Hopefully I will see you on Fullycharged Live! 😀
Jonny's style of presenting is unique in a way that makes you feel like he is telling you a secret. He makes you really feel the emotions that the cars he reviews evoke. He doesn't shy away from criticism either, but he presents it in a way that doesn't bash the vehicle; but makes you understand what a particular shortcoming is all about in a nice, sometimes humorous way. I will always watch him do a review. Not so much other people who want to be big stars and are on screen more than the cars.
I looked hard at the i8 and the i8 Roadster. In some ways I love it, and in some ways it repels me. For this kind of money it should be all joy, not a mixed bag. I think in decades to come we'll look back at this car as as a historic footnote, a quirky experiment, not a classic. It's BMW stumbling and groping their way into the future, still trying to figure out the formula. And yeah… Make a full BEV version without fake noises (or at least some way to switch them off) and then I'll take another look. Better do it soon before the new Tesla Roadster hits the streets, though.
It's the best 'uhöööööööh'-car you can buy and now everybody can look at you sitting in a 'uhöööööööh'-car. I just can not understand why BMW isn't able to build this fully electric for this enormous price. And yes, this is no 'Supercar' it's a 'Posercar'. And the 'investment' for the technology in this car is dead money. There is no space for a big battery pack. So BMW, congratulations for this!
What a great car nice to still see the odd supercar get reviewed from time to time. Hopefully when more arrive you can also review those but still do the general cars for the average Joe as well. :) Thank you Jonny for a fantastic review.
It a plug in hybrid stop complaining guys, plus there's some amazing engineering and tech in that car. As always thanks for the awesome presenting and friendly feel to the whole video Jonny and the rest of the Fully Charged crew!
They are not complaining about Jonny, they are complaining that for so much money BMW is not delivering as an advance machine as present day tech allows them to do.
I don't think they are ready. The i3 is basically full EV and it's range is not practical. i8 full EV at supercar speed would suffer even worst with range. Perhaps the next gen would work.
Mostly convenience and lack of charging infrastructure in the target market. Nobody buying this wants to park it overnight at a public EV parking spot. This car is for busy people who don't have the patience to charge a large battery and wanna go fast for an extended period (german Autobahn), something pure EVs struggle at. That 3-cylinder is quite efficient when cruising. If driven softly, this goes electric in town but you still can do longer trips and have some fun on open roads. I wish the engine was a diesel for more efficiency and range while producing less C02. It's not like it sounds good on the outside anyway, the synthesised sound does a good job.
Now if only the i8 was a full BEV, I would buy a new hat and tip it. I am tempted to suggest that if that ever happens I would eat that particular hat. But I won't, because I hope BMW actually does. Come on BMW. Give yourself some real identity in the future of motoring. Make that BEV i8.
@@antoinepageau8336 I surprised myself that, a few seconds after posting my message earlier, I lost interest in the video and switched to find some BEV news. That's how far I've come and I suspect many others. I have lost any interest in any vehicle which has any form of internal combustion engine. The sooner they are removed from the roads, the better.
This is the kind of review that I look for while cruising RUclips. Talking heads are fine but a hands on with a bit of tehnitalk is what I'm after. This is one your finest. Thanks.
If BMW really spent 2B on developing the car and it STILL isn't 100% electric that is a disgrace. All they are doing is perpetuating the fossil fuel disaster we are witnessing. We cannot continue to applaud these people. It is either full EV or forget it. Great video Jonny... fantastic filming, commentary and editing... but these manufacturers are failing us all. They have wasted 2B. What would Tesla have done with that 2B? Built another Gigafactory, delivered an electric bus, accelerated the pickup delivery... so many good things could have been done but instead we have an extension of the fossil fuel addiction, and on top of it, we are applauding them. Sorry, not good. Mark (CEO Electric GT)
We have to redefine the term „sportscar“, since the i8 takes 4,6sec from 0-100km/h, whereas most Model S are quicker by a second or two and even a Model 3 Performance does it in 3,6sec. It took BMW 5 years to build this roadster when they had the i8 already in production? And still not a pure EV? Can‘t wait to see one of these getting smoked by a Tesla Roadster II. BMW looks so old and slow in comparison, sadly.
This car is far too expensive for what the customer gets. I don't think BMW is trying to scam anyone, rather this car is a technological orphan, a testament to just how fast the state of the art in EVs is advancing.
Two years further on and I still find the i8 jaw dropping. I will never be able to afford to buy one so I get my fun from its little sister the i3s and yes across the City it’s fun to drive.
It is a dinosaur. As if BMW has been on vacation for the last 10 years. A hybrid is really not worse to report. Horsepower is in the age of electric motors not impressive at all. And I hate BMWs obsession with making noise.
I'd still rather have a Rivian ute. When it comes to Australia, they will both be around the same money. The Rivian has better range and more power and is more practical.
I hear there are wheelchairs that go further on electric than this one! I think fully charged should stop reviewing hybrids as it just gives them publicity and encouragement not to bother going full electric!
But bear in mind full EV is not yet a practical choice for a large section of drivers who cannot charge at home/work and have poor (if any) local public charging facilities. A decent hybrid is better than a full ICE, especially for kerbside emissions.
@@tinaturner5186 Not necessarily. You can have all the money in the world and live in a house without parking, especially if you want to live close to a city centre. This may be more true in the UK/Europe than it is in other countries, but many of our most expensive town and city properties were built long before car (or even carriage) parking was a thing.
Sorry to disagree, but as long as hybrids are marketed and sold under the correct and transparent terms to the end users, then i have no problems with FC featuring them. For example, if you swapped your M3 for an i8, you'd have a car of the same performance, but that can probably do most journeys fully electrically, ie your weekly commute, but then become a fun, immersive car for the weekends. That is really something to celebrate imo!
My initial reaction was to feel uncomfortable at the sound of a powerfull fossil fuelled engine on fully charged. On balance however, hybrids help move the market towards the ultimate goal of a "Fully Charged" car base globally so I am fine with this cars inclusion.
Here's a recommendation: Just skip the few videos featuring a hybrid vehicle and you're good to go. Just because you, as one of many patreon supporters, does not enjoy this content does not imply that the other 465.000 subscribers do not want to see it!
Come to Australia and try to drive from Darwin to Melbourne electric only, it ain't happening (no, I don't include stopping at cattle stations and asking to use their power). Hybrids have their place and as stated by Max they are a stepping stone for some. The time to be a electric puritan isn't for a couple more years yet.
Interesting, the running gear of the i8 is used in the Countryman SE, the 1500 is standard and presently 20miles plug in range. The next version will increase to 30 miles as will the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer and indeed the new 1 series when it is released. Glad to see, this time Johnny charged it first before the test, than just drive it about complaining about the range and mini stylings.
Twin turbo on a 3 cylinder? Or did you mean TwinPower (tm) turbo? I'm genuinely having a hard time imagining how you'd match two turbos to a 3-cyl engine.
Beautiful. Massively more expensive than I could ever dream of I bet though. What we need is for Mazda to pull finger, factory electric MX5 please, I'd compromise on an electric RX8 for that matter.
5 minutes in, and im not impressed, 53 km of range for electric, what is this 2010? its 2019 there's a model 3 you can buy for a fraction of the price (163000$) its actually very stupid to buy it, you could almost buy 5 model 3 for that amount of money
Great video as always! Funny how i saw a few of them driving this week and now this video popup on my feed haha! (The matte black version looks amazing!)
Honestly I don't give a shit about a 2 seat expensive non fully electric car. But I guess it is technologically interesting and gives no range anxiety. Great looking scenery and it's not a bad looking car.
All folks who say it's already outdated technology are right. That's the reason I drive an i3 EV for the few everyday rides. And for local and regional traffic EVs are the ultimate solution. But for the rare long trips to the mountains or the holidays to the sea, where there are still no charging stations and probably will not be for a long time, the i8 is still a wonderful choice and despite its awesome power way more economical than most gasoline cars you drive.
I watched this episode (all of it) purely out of respect for the stunning production & cinematography of the team and Jonny's excellent presenting, and I wasn't disappointed with any of that - brilliant job yet again, everyone. The car, though... I understand other opinions are available, but I've just got to add to the many comments here (I read them all) along the lines of my own thoughts: ok, it's a bit pretty, but other than that, it does nothing for me with that ICE, especially with the synthetic noise on top. I'm usually fascinated by any Fully Charged content, but, personally, I do hope we don't see any more hybrids featured on the show
Great review as always Jonny If you’re moaning about the ‘low electric range’ of this car you’re missing the point. You can do your daily commute on EV power and then drive across Europe without needing to stop and charge. It’s the best of both until EV technology advances further
BMW's electric strategy has heretofore been to only make vehicles that nobody would want to purchase so that they don't have to make very many of them. I hope that will change soon.
Excellent report, on a very interesting car. I'd have liked though to hear how it compares, as a car, to a Tesla... Why might you buy it instead of a full ev?
It would be really hard to not make a BEV version much better. Just the drivetrain of the Model 3PD would make it quicker and barely lose a mile of rangefrom the petrol version. Weight? Well i8 is 1539 kg, Model 3 Performance is 1847 kg. Could BMW not lose 300 kg off the Tesla by using a carbon reinforced chassis and plastic body panels? They have a lot of money to play with.
Drove 2 of those 2 weeks ago. One of them the same color, it's a limited edition. I like it, but was dissapointed to see the interior is exactly the same as the 2015 model year.
Nine of the audio is fake on the car. There is a microphone in the engine bay and this is then played into the cockpit or out of the rear speaker in the exhaust. Had the car the other day and really was impressed
Surefire future classic! Niche, made in relatively low numbers, and expensive to buy new. Just a first stepping stone to what could be called full electro-mobility in the sports sector, but i think a very very decent attempt by BMW. Every owner i've ever talked too loves their i8, and like its little brother the i3, it's a car that gets under your skin somehow ;-)
You should do an episode about the original Tesla Roadster!
It is an expensive bad joke with a tiny battery pack as an excuse to being a little less of a stinker.
No luggage space worth speaking of. Only two seater. Slower acceleration than a Tesla Model 3. More expensive than a Tesla S. The only feature this version has over the Teslas is that it is a Roadster. And that awful engine sound for man with tiny dicks.
A very very decent attempt? Surely you are joking. No clue why this is pinned by fullychargedshow.
@@harryc266 You seem to want to misinterpret FutureChaosTV. It is not the acceleration that makes this an expensive bad joke.
Why "this" is something that needs to be produces and that's why tesla fan boys should not hate it?
It is a bloody two seater to show off or for wealthy people to do recreational driving.
This is not about e-Mobility or solving problems in cities or reducing carbon footprint.
When people talk about the carbon footprint of a BEV, were does this car stands? Such cars do not get mileage to compensate for anything.
No definitely not! BWM have massively overcomplicated the drivetrain, so if something breaks it costs a fortune to fix. The front looks good, but the back looks very ugly.
What a good reporter. Its all about the car, not him. He presents in an interesting style sure, but its all relevant, there's no "look at me, Ma" at all.
@@shoelessjoe428 but it's a style Doug DeMuro proved people want on youtube
Jonny is a great presenter! He was always my favorite on Fifth Gear. An excellent counterpoint to "Tiff the Stiff" Needell...
Jonny isnt your normal car journalist. Cars can be more than the sum of their parts, sometimes character is worth more than performance or practicality. Jonny understands this.
Wouldn't really want to draw attention to those legs would you!
We should worry it has got to his head and is all about him when he starts all his vids, "Hi. I'm John"... (I come first, know my name I matter)
I can't help but to think that they did a huge mistake of not going full EV and giving it a more of a futuristic interior experience.
Many years ago, Car had an interview with Renault‘s chief designer, and found that although exotic styling got people’s attention, when it came to buying they were far more conservative. This was soon after their fling with the Avantime, Val Satis, and first gen Twingo. For all the column inches garnered by cutting edge styles, bland sells. As VW can confirm.
If this was full electric, it would be mega and probably sell a lot more!
If they go full EV i think the range would be terrible, especially if you drive at supercar speed. Perhaps the next gen EV tech would make more sense.
What's the F'ing point for Hybrid ? Full EV's the way to go, extra complexity/expense to put a 100 year legacy ICE inside !
That would be an entirely new vehicle with all of the extra associated R&D costs that the likely sales of the roadster would in no way cover, so the reason why they haven't is obviously surely
Jonny is the best automotive journalist in the business! He Makes it all about the cars yet still manages to put his own style into it. Keep up the great work mate!
Josh Myers V kind man - cheers
I want to love this car, because I see what BMW was trying to do. But it's not 2012 anymore, and this vehicle still burns oil. The 30 mile range just isn't enough to give me the joy that EVs bring.
I was a little amazed by this car in 2012.. looking back at this car in another 10 years, it's going to look daft. It is a compromise in every single way. And while compromise in and of itself isn't a bad thing... this car does nothing to push anything to the limits. Except maybe one's budget.. in which case you can just get such better cars for the same price.. sorry Jonny.. it's great that you have an emotional attachment to this thing.. it's a cool look on the outside.. the interior looks a bit shit honestly, but that's normal for all BMWs in my opinion.. and as for performance.. a complete let down for the cost.
airheart1 the way this cars built is so advanced and the amount of power the car gets from hybrid technology is far superior to most cars. I don’t think you fully understand what you’re talking about.
HarryC26 I understand statistics. And I understand that for $150k, I can get cars with far superior performance in every aspect. Now.. I understand statistics don’t entirely encompass something we have an emotional feeling for. And the look of this car can endear that kind of emotion.. but I’ve never been a big fan of BMW interiors.. or styling in general. And I’m just saying.. this car’s performance does not match its price tag. For me at least.
And if the reinforced plastic with carbon fiber was as amazing a material as Jonny says... have we seen it adopted into anything else in the last 5 years? If it has, I'm unaware of it. Of course Carbon fiber use is slowing growing.. but I haven't heard of this specific use of it as a plastic reinforcement in use in anything else.. maybe I'm just uninformed about it
And lastly.. no matter how amazing this hybrid use is/was.. it's still far less efficient and powerful then a well built, pure EV.
P.S. Oh, and it still spews out poison... past its 30 mile electric range.
P.P.S. Here's one I8 competitor in the same price range, and also a type of hyrbid, albeit different entirely. The Acura NSX. And the NSX blows the doors off the I8. And the day a Honda/Acura, for the same price, shreds a BMW... I don't know what to tell you except.. unacceptable effort and engineering.
airheart1 Because car company’s don’t have to change or use innovative materials until it’s too late that’s why nobody is using carbon plastics apart from bmw. That’s why bmw is actually trying to produce a decent hybrid sports car. That’s why it doesn’t have a v8. The list goes on 😂
oh and the NSX is more expensive, has 3 miles of electric range, produces more “poison” than the BMW, and is less luxurious - yet that’s all okay because it’s faster? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 so hypocritical!
Yeah it’s totally it’s unacceptable for bmw to produce a sports car that’s as fast a 911 but only has 3 cylinders and is a hybrid. Okay then. Yes they’ve totally failed.
Secretlyanothername, 30 miles is ideal for the big cities where the most will live, with charge zones and it does generate a bit. The problem is infrastructure I am in the North West, and it is poor. Presently, you need the engine to travel distance, the development of EV cars is ahead of the infrastructure.
Astonishing, beautiful car and beautiful photography in a beautiful landscape. Can't believe the i8 isn't EV only.
Mike W , there is an i8 hydrogen test model, whether that is the next step it will be interesting www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/scoop/bmws-hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered-i8-research-vehicle-revealed They are also looking at this for Rolls Royce, they are heavy enough without batteries.
if the I8 was all electric it would sell like hot cakes even if it had half the range of a tesla
at some point bmw will do that. they had two iterations in their battery technology where they added 50% more energy each time. i guess with the next iteration the energy density will be good enough. that will probably be at 300 wh/kg
it has unlimited range... its a hybrid.
@@harryc266 it has 30 miles of electric range the energy source of the internal combustion engine costs $3+ a gallon lol
@@maschinenraum 300 wh/kg they could easily make a 300 mile EV. I don't think they are there yet, but new i3's have about 150 miles and im not sure of their battery energy density.
they don't have a large supply of batteries and they don't have any charging infrastructure so i imagine theyre going to push off EV's as long as they can
@@maschinenraum bmw is outsourcing their battery production to some chinesse company
0:05 that's not a noise you hear very often on this channel unless it's one of Roberts V8 impression
Yes and I hope this is the last time to hear these shit.
@@useyourbrain2174 I understand your sentiment but with the i8 and i3 with range extender you've got a vital function in the ICE unit if you live in a charger-sparse setting. I live in Nebraska and range extenders make traveling with an EV practical if you travel around the state - not just the cities. There are places where you would find yourself hundreds of miles from any charger at all unless you count RV campgrounds which I don't since their 220V connectors aren't always maintained well enough to handle continuous L2 charging without lighting up. I currently feel rather penned up with my LEAF which needs to stay in my metro area but an i3 with a range extender or this unit could go further. They would be quite liberating, even better than a Tesla.
Hmm, dope tech but my feeling is it's not electric enough for this show. Not any more!
Johnny is an electric and combustion engine gear-head. i like that. fun needs to always be important, and sometimes the sound of an ICE is fun.
I agree, I love it but it is starting to show its age EV wise.
The cinematic shots are amazing ... Fully charged camera crew brought the beauty of this amazing machine even more Amazingly
Can not fault the camera and sound work.
@@earlpottinger671 They did a great job with it
Completely missed the main trick, it should be a full EV only
Or at least as an option
I think the trick is have a look at what you could have had now have a look at the i3 which is everything this is made of for a quarter of the price.
@@tr33c21 If you took out the motor and all the parts it needs (fuel tank, piping, heat cooling system, etc) and replace with an equal mass of batteries you already would be close to if not over 150-200 miles range with present tech.
Why cover this crap?
That would be an entirely new vehicle with all of the extra associated R&D costs that the likely sales of the roadster would in no way cover, so the reason why they haven't is obviously surely
Your channel is called Fully Charged not partially charged, co-charged or nod to electric torque car!
Got it😁
Self fully charged
Hybrids can be fully charged too.
@@Liftium and then recharged with fossil fuel. Not really the same but semantics are semantics😉
Patrick Frickel If they’re a plug-in you might use electric only for 90% of the miles a vehicle does.
meh, the design is neat, but for someone who has been driving electric for 8 years, its just old tech under the hood. not worth it.
and what other company has design, made and successfully made a hybrid super car?
HarryC26 Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren.
Oh Honda too.
HarryC26 key word successful that’s something the I8 isn’t
PjotrStroganov there hyper cars. And the NSX isn’t a success either.
they're*
That key is useless in today's world. It would have been fantastic 10 years ago.
Was thinking the same thing - they'd have been better much better off putting the money in a stunning smartphone app
Yep, that stupid key came out in 2015 and it was very outdated back then
@@utuber2 What happens if your phone runs out of battery, though?
It is useless, I had one with my new car and it's stayed on my office shelf ever since!
half-charged
Meanwhile, the customer is being overcharged.
@@RWBHere mean while your response is underrated
Sharp-looking car with many great features however hybrid is going backwards in technology not forward
Anything that's a step away from relying solely on fuel is a step forward. The only way you're going to get petrol heads out of petrol guzzlers is slowly moving them on
But surely not with something which looks as hideous as that contraption?
It's not electric enough for the electric car folks, yet not sporty enough for the regular sportscar enthusiast, it's a bit in no man's land like the NSX. Does look cool though
It's below the NSX by a margin. That one concerns supercars.
@@Cloxxki Audi R8s yes, McLaren sports series no. At least the i8 has more electric range than NSX
CR-Z is probably a more apt comparison. Neat little car but sub-130 bhp in what was supposed to be a sports car was absolutely pathetic.
The roof mechanism is one of the best designed one I've ever seen, amazing!
next to the Lambo Hurican
@@midwestslim Even the Hurican pails compared to the 720 Spider. Several patents for that. Simple, fast, at speed, blows the competition away.
Stunning cinematography!
kinda bummed they didnt take the opportunity of making a full BEV version of this car for the mild refresh. an i8 with a 60~kWh and CCS would be great.
I just love your reviews Johnny! You are the best vlogger on RUclips! You combine knowledge with homour and style!
Pls keep up the excellent work!
Hopefully I will see you on Fullycharged Live! 😀
A Nemeth Many thanks
Gosh! England is looking dry :)
Marty theMartian Spain 🇪🇸
Middlesbrough, post global warming ...
Nice car, great review, but I think it's time for Fully charged to only review full EVs. Hybrids are so yesterday :D
even though this isn't really a "fully charged" car, I appreciate that you guys decided to put it up even though it was filmed mid-2018
I don't understand their upload schedule. Do you?
@@Cloxxki maybe BMW put a restriction on the upload?
I can't believe Fully Charged reviewed this. I was thinking of adding a lawnmower engine to my windmill for when it's not windy.
The i8 looks great, just wish they went the i3 route and had a larger battery and added a range extender. Lovely shots as always!
Don't forget a more powerful electric motor. Those are to be had for cheap, off the shelf!
Jonny's style of presenting is unique in a way that makes you feel like he is telling you a secret. He makes you really feel the emotions that the cars he reviews evoke. He doesn't shy away from criticism either, but he presents it in a way that doesn't bash the vehicle; but makes you understand what a particular shortcoming is all about in a nice, sometimes humorous way. I will always watch him do a review. Not so much other people who want to be big stars and are on screen more than the cars.
I looked hard at the i8 and the i8 Roadster. In some ways I love it, and in some ways it repels me. For this kind of money it should be all joy, not a mixed bag. I think in decades to come we'll look back at this car as as a historic footnote, a quirky experiment, not a classic. It's BMW stumbling and groping their way into the future, still trying to figure out the formula.
And yeah… Make a full BEV version without fake noises (or at least some way to switch them off) and then I'll take another look. Better do it soon before the new Tesla Roadster hits the streets, though.
It's the end of 2024 and the Tesla roadster is nowhere in sight
@@deandunn206 Sadly, true that. Now it seems to me like the Porsche Boxster EV, the Lotus Type 135 and the Caterham Project V are the ones to watch.
It's the best 'uhöööööööh'-car you can buy and now everybody can look at you sitting in a 'uhöööööööh'-car. I just can not understand why BMW isn't able to build this fully electric for this enormous price. And yes, this is no 'Supercar' it's a 'Posercar'. And the 'investment' for the technology in this car is dead money. There is no space for a big battery pack. So BMW, congratulations for this!
What a great car nice to still see the odd supercar get reviewed from time to time. Hopefully when more arrive you can also review those but still do the general cars for the average Joe as well. :) Thank you Jonny for a fantastic review.
I love the looks of this car but can't agree it's a supercar based only on the looks.
It a plug in hybrid stop complaining guys, plus there's some amazing engineering and tech in that car. As always thanks for the awesome presenting and friendly feel to the whole video Jonny and the rest of the Fully Charged crew!
They are not complaining about Jonny, they are complaining that for so much money BMW is not delivering as an advance machine as present day tech allows them to do.
I love the look! I still don't understand why they can't just go 'Full EV?' It's not as if the technology isn't there!
I don't think they are ready. The i3 is basically full EV and it's range is not practical. i8 full EV at supercar speed would suffer even worst with range. Perhaps the next gen would work.
Mostly convenience and lack of charging infrastructure in the target market. Nobody buying this wants to park it overnight at a public EV parking spot. This car is for busy people who don't have the patience to charge a large battery and wanna go fast for an extended period (german Autobahn), something pure EVs struggle at. That 3-cylinder is quite efficient when cruising. If driven softly, this goes electric in town but you still can do longer trips and have some fun on open roads. I wish the engine was a diesel for more efficiency and range while producing less C02. It's not like it sounds good on the outside anyway, the synthesised sound does a good job.
Not electric, enough said!
Increased battery ranged though
There is electricity involved :)
@@sgtunix
You could say the same about almost every car 😂...but 53km is more than just a little electric.
Jonny, that first shot is the coolest I've ever seen you. I will knee before Zod. 😊👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
that opening cinematic shot is just breathtaking. Give a raise to your video crew. the whole video is an eye candy.
Its slower than an original Tesla Roadster sport. That manages 0-60mph in 3.7 sec and 244 mile range.
Did Elon musk himself not say the original roadster wasnt a good car?
@sbmphr He disliked the original roadster that much he shot it into deep space 😂
I don't understand that touchscreen on the key fob. Can't they just give a regular key and a smartphone app?
Now if only the i8 was a full BEV, I would buy a new hat and tip it. I am tempted to suggest that if that ever happens I would eat that particular hat. But I won't, because I hope BMW actually does. Come on BMW. Give yourself some real identity in the future of motoring. Make that BEV i8.
I totally agree, and I would add that they target the 3 series X3 market segment, not just these low volume experimental half baked propositions.
@@antoinepageau8336 I surprised myself that, a few seconds after posting my message earlier, I lost interest in the video and switched to find some BEV news. That's how far I've come and I suspect many others. I have lost any interest in any vehicle which has any form of internal combustion engine. The sooner they are removed from the roads, the better.
Antoine Pageau if you knew anything about cars you’d know that they are launching the ix3 and i4 😂🙃
The future of motoring is hydrogen. Electric cars are just a fad.
@@harryc266 😂
This is the kind of review that I look for while cruising RUclips. Talking heads are fine but a hands on with a bit of tehnitalk is what I'm after. This is one your finest. Thanks.
If BMW really spent 2B on developing the car and it STILL isn't 100% electric that is a disgrace. All they are doing is perpetuating the fossil fuel disaster we are witnessing. We cannot continue to applaud these people. It is either full EV or forget it.
Great video Jonny... fantastic filming, commentary and editing... but these manufacturers are failing us all. They have wasted 2B. What would Tesla have done with that 2B? Built another Gigafactory, delivered an electric bus, accelerated the pickup delivery... so many good things could have been done but instead we have an extension of the fossil fuel addiction, and on top of it, we are applauding them.
Sorry, not good. Mark (CEO Electric GT)
That key is a monster. It must be Like carrying around a palm pilot..
We have to redefine the term „sportscar“, since the i8 takes 4,6sec from 0-100km/h, whereas most Model S are quicker by a second or two and even a Model 3 Performance does it in 3,6sec.
It took BMW 5 years to build this roadster when they had the i8 already in production? And still not a pure EV? Can‘t wait to see one of these getting smoked by a Tesla Roadster II. BMW looks so old and slow in comparison, sadly.
This car is far too expensive for what the customer gets. I don't think BMW is trying to scam anyone, rather this car is a technological orphan, a testament to just how fast the state of the art in EVs is advancing.
If it's not "fully charged" it's not a fullychargedshow car...
Michael Lubek I think it still falls within the scope of the show
Once he's said its hybrid i.....
53km is more than most cars drive each trip....so you could drive it fully charged.
Great review, your passion and knowledge for cars really comes through. I still turn my head when I see one of these...
Love the i8 and i3; Great review Jonny, still remember when you drove the 630d to Poland on skinflint juice. Best Motor Journalist by a mile.
Really enjoying the quality of your content!
Two years further on and I still find the i8 jaw dropping. I will never be able to afford to buy one so I get my fun from its little sister the i3s and yes across the City it’s fun to drive.
Amazing review!
Can you do some reviews of some of the electric motorcycles now coming onto the market?
It is a dinosaur. As if BMW has been on vacation for the last 10 years. A hybrid is really not worse to report. Horsepower is in the age of electric motors not impressive at all.
And I hate BMWs obsession with making noise.
I'd still rather have a Rivian ute. When it comes to Australia, they will both be around the same money. The Rivian has better range and more power and is more practical.
Struth So you’re saying the roo bar won’t fit an i8 and there’s no room for your 4X. Let alone any romantic action baaah!
They should've replaced the engine with more batteries
Superb as always Jonny.
Jonny you are the best part of Fully Charged because you love all cars.
I hear there are wheelchairs that go further on electric than this one!
I think fully charged should stop reviewing hybrids as it just gives them publicity and encouragement not to bother going full electric!
But bear in mind full EV is not yet a practical choice for a large section of drivers who cannot charge at home/work and have poor (if any) local public charging facilities. A decent hybrid is better than a full ICE, especially for kerbside emissions.
Yes I agree but at this level a £100k car would have a range of 300+ miles and reduce the need to charge so often. @@JonGritton
@@egold33311 but you need room for the batteries and range is irrelevant if you've nowhere to charge it.
When you have the money to buy this car, I think you will have a driveway and somewhere to charge it.
@@tinaturner5186 Not necessarily. You can have all the money in the world and live in a house without parking, especially if you want to live close to a city centre. This may be more true in the UK/Europe than it is in other countries, but many of our most expensive town and city properties were built long before car (or even carriage) parking was a thing.
So if your charging it, from how far away can you tell how charged it is with the key?
krusher74
Because the same information, if not more, is available with the BMW connected App.
Even the key is obsolete technology.
Great show, but please, as a patreon supporter, no more fossil fueld cars.
Sorry to disagree, but as long as hybrids are marketed and sold under the correct and transparent terms to the end users, then i have no problems with FC featuring them. For example, if you swapped your M3 for an i8, you'd have a car of the same performance, but that can probably do most journeys fully electrically, ie your weekly commute, but then become a fun, immersive car for the weekends. That is really something to celebrate imo!
Agreed, so many other channels with fossils, I hope this will stay of it.
My initial reaction was to feel uncomfortable at the sound of a powerfull fossil fuelled engine on fully charged. On balance however, hybrids help move the market towards the ultimate goal of a "Fully Charged" car base globally so I am fine with this cars inclusion.
Here's a recommendation: Just skip the few videos featuring a hybrid vehicle and you're good to go. Just because you, as one of many patreon supporters, does not enjoy this content does not imply that the other 465.000 subscribers do not want to see it!
Come to Australia and try to drive from Darwin to Melbourne electric only, it ain't happening (no, I don't include stopping at cattle stations and asking to use their power). Hybrids have their place and as stated by Max they are a stepping stone for some. The time to be a electric puritan isn't for a couple more years yet.
Interesting, the running gear of the i8 is used in the Countryman SE, the 1500 is standard and presently 20miles plug in range. The next version will increase to 30 miles as will the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer and indeed the new 1 series when it is released. Glad to see, this time Johnny charged it first before the test, than just drive it about complaining about the range and mini stylings.
Fantastic video. I think the i8 could be a cult/collector's car, because it's unique and special.
Yes, because it's specially made for brain-dead people.
@@useyourbrain2174 you're one of those "I don't understand/appreciate/like this thing, so nobody else should either" people.
Very few people collect cults...
Twin turbo on a 3 cylinder? Or did you mean TwinPower (tm) turbo? I'm genuinely having a hard time imagining how you'd match two turbos to a 3-cyl engine.
one cylinder is larger lmao
Much better than your previous videos Jonny, keep it up
Thanks for this reminder to do the Lottery tonight... Another excellent FC review video.
Really great quality production guys
Fantastic video! Where was this filmed?
Been waiting a while for this one!
2019 and they're still selling the old hybrid stinky tech? Petrol engine from mini? 33 miles range? Hahah
I love your reviews sooooo much!!!!
Beautiful. Massively more expensive than I could ever dream of I bet though. What we need is for Mazda to pull finger, factory electric MX5 please, I'd compromise on an electric RX8 for that matter.
5 minutes in, and im not impressed, 53 km of range for electric, what is this 2010? its 2019 there's a model 3 you can buy for a fraction of the price (163000$) its actually very stupid to buy it, you could almost buy 5 model 3 for that amount of money
Great video as always! Funny how i saw a few of them driving this week and now this video popup on my feed haha! (The matte black version looks amazing!)
The soundproofing 9:42 is needed to avoid it bleeding through and mix with the synthetic engine sound. Silly
Honestly I don't give a shit about a 2 seat expensive non fully electric car. But I guess it is technologically interesting and gives no range anxiety.
Great looking scenery and it's not a bad looking car.
THE SOUND IS A BLOODY SPEAKER IN THE BACK !!
I thought I was the only one who knows that. Seems like Jhonny doesn't.
@@Liftium Johnny said it was a speaker in the video at 8.20
Where was the video shot?
Looks like southern Spain? Gibraltar? I might be completely wrong.
Valencia, Spain. Beautiful area but too hot for filming!
@@fullychargedshow
I guess anything above 15 degrees is too hot for you British. 😂
Unusual to test a RHD British car in Europe; it's usually the opposite.
I mean a British registered car of course.
Aren't the speakers in the car creating an extra engine noise?
they are but you don't really notice it tbh
He mentioned that
Fake engine sounds are against my automotive religion.
Wow... Ten more miles then the previous model!! Thats like a over the air update in a Tesla, right?
Touche. They could have done a lot better now.
The model3 performance, 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, range 310 Miles, seats five, costs $65,000, all electric, no gull-wing doors. Your choice guys.
Love it,Petrol will be around a long time yet Hybrid will be part of the mix.
That scenery was stunning
All folks who say it's already outdated technology are right. That's the reason I drive an i3 EV for the few everyday rides. And for local and regional traffic EVs are the ultimate solution.
But for the rare long trips to the mountains or the holidays to the sea, where there are still no charging stations and probably will not be for a long time, the i8 is still a wonderful choice and despite its awesome power way more economical than most gasoline cars you drive.
Jonny, you just said COOP!
How much heavier is it than the coupé? I’m not sure you mentioned... :-)
I watched this episode (all of it) purely out of respect for the stunning production & cinematography of the team and Jonny's excellent presenting, and I wasn't disappointed with any of that - brilliant job yet again, everyone.
The car, though... I understand other opinions are available, but I've just got to add to the many comments here (I read them all) along the lines of my own thoughts: ok, it's a bit pretty, but other than that, it does nothing for me with that ICE, especially with the synthetic noise on top. I'm usually fascinated by any Fully Charged content, but, personally, I do hope we don't see any more hybrids featured on the show
So not fully charged - only half charged. I’ll skip this one.
Great review as always Jonny
If you’re moaning about the ‘low electric range’ of this car you’re missing the point. You can do your daily commute on EV power and then drive across Europe without needing to stop and charge. It’s the best of both until EV technology advances further
Im fairly certain that the engine noise you are hearing is actually fake, and coming out of the stereo system.
That's what Johnny said.
BMW's electric strategy has heretofore been to only make vehicles that nobody would want to purchase so that they don't have to make very many of them. I hope that will change soon.
That a good point. I love seeing how tesla is taking up the market
I was shopping for an intergalactic car when I came over the i8 Roadster, must be the best offer in the intergalactic car category by far...
Why am I watching a video about a hybrid?
Because you want to watch it. Nobody is forcing you :)
Saw one of these in town the other day, beautiful looking car. Didn’t realize it had a 140k price tag though.
Did anyone else notice they used 3 cars ...... number plate starts YA18 OPP then YA18 LXF ... then it's YL18 LXF
Excellent report, on a very interesting car. I'd have liked though to hear how it compares, as a car, to a Tesla... Why might you buy it instead of a full ev?
I live in far south Texas and I see more of these than any other luxury sports car.
It’s not a twin turbo as mentioned. It’s a twin scroll, single turbo. It’s also the same engine as in a Mini Cooper.
It's really about time there was a full EV version of this.
It would be really hard to not make a BEV version much better. Just the drivetrain of the Model 3PD would make it quicker and barely lose a mile of rangefrom the petrol version.
Weight? Well i8 is 1539 kg, Model 3 Performance is 1847 kg.
Could BMW not lose 300 kg off the Tesla by using a carbon reinforced chassis and plastic body panels? They have a lot of money to play with.
Beautiful car , only dislike the up opening doors but in a roadster can live with it
Truly modern car
Drove 2 of those 2 weeks ago. One of them the same color, it's a limited edition. I like it, but was dissapointed to see the interior is exactly the same as the 2015 model year.
Nice one! Ive been fascinated by this car for awhile, thanks!
Nine of the audio is fake on the car. There is a microphone in the engine bay and this is then played into the cockpit or out of the rear speaker in the exhaust. Had the car the other day and really was impressed