2015 BMW i8 Preview: 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show

The 2015 BMW i8 is a hybrid sports car that promises to be a game-changer for the German brand’s image in terms of both styling and eco-consciousness.  BMW has dared to build a two-door coupe that isn’t just frugal, but also remarkably quick, and with a design that resembles nothing else currently in its class.  It’s an expensive gambit from BMW that seems likely to pay off, especially given the decision to include a range-extending gasoline engine rather than opt for a pure electric drivetrain.

What’s New for the 2015 BMW i8:

• The BMW i8 is an all-new vehicle
• The i8 debuts drivetrain technology not found on any other BMW automobile

New 2015 BMW i8: Styling and Design

The 2015 BMW i8 is absolutely outrageous from a design standpoint.  Forget the 6 Series and it’s bulked-up sheet metal, or the M1’s retro cues – the BMW i8 proves that the brand is still capable of producing an exceptionally lithe and vital-looking two-door automobile that offers near-full-size presence without crowding out of its lane.   Remarkable curved surfaces dominate the BMW i8’s sheet metal and glass, especially along the sides and rear of the car, and the scissor doors are the only viable method for entering such an organically perfect design.  BMW has broken the established sports car mold with the i8’s exterior, and it’s a welcome effort.

Inside, the BMW i8 is also remarkable, with an airy, four-passenger cockpit that is replete with luxury.  Shying away from the conservatism that dominates most BMW interiors, the i8 truly feels like something special from behind the wheel.

New 2015 BMW i8: What’s Under the Hood

The 2015 BMW i8 features a supercharged three-cylinder gasoline engine that is good for 228 horsepower, sent to the rear wheels, and works in tandem with a 129 horsepower electric motor that motivates the forward axle.  The all-wheel drive coupe is capable of reaching 60-mph in a brisk 4.4 seconds, all the while returning fuel mileage of over 90-mpg (on the European cycle).  A third electric motor is also onboard to act primarily as a generator. It’s clear that there are very few vehicles that combine these two seemingly disparate characteristics of speed and efficiency, and this achievement stands alongside the i8’s phenomenal styling as its primary calling card.

New 2015 BMW i8: What Autobytel Thinks

We don’t have a price or a firm timeline for when the 2015 BMW i8 will become available in the United States – it’s pegged for next year – but it seems almost certain that the coupe will sell out almost immediately.  The market for high end sports cars is strong, but high end hybrid sports cars are still somewhat of an unknown quantity, making the BMW i8 even more exotic in the eyes of the affluent buyers who will flock to this performance model.  The BMW i8 is one of the most stunning cars at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show.