{"id":9874,"date":"2014-12-03T05:10:25","date_gmt":"2014-12-03T05:10:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wheelsforwomen.ie\/?p=9874"},"modified":"2015-04-01T23:03:48","modified_gmt":"2015-04-01T23:03:48","slug":"bmw-i8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wheelsforwomen.ie\/index.php\/bmw-i8\/","title":{"rendered":"BMW i8"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"i8_2\"<\/a>
\nBilled as the sports car of the future the BMW i8 is one of the stunning cars on the road but can it really drive as good as it looks writes Geraldine Herbert<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What is it?<\/strong>The 2014 BMW i8 is the epitome of a supercar but underneath the sleek and seductive silhouette is a hybrid system that is so economical it makes your lawnmower look thirsty.<\/p>\n

Who is it aimed at? <\/strong>This is a super car for the eco conscious.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Styling?<\/strong>The broad BMW kidney grille stretches over to the slim headlights, making it instantly recognisable as a BMW, but all similarity ends there. Stunning, low and wide the i8 looks like something from another dimension. \u00a0The proportions are perfect, the angles exaggerated and the green credentials astounding.<\/p>\n

Under the Bonnet?<\/strong>There is an electric motor powering the front wheels and a tiny turbocharged petrol engine in the back powering the rear wheels so what you end up with is an all wheel drive system. There is also a third source of power in the form of an small electric motor that acts as a generator.<\/p>\n

What about inside?<\/strong> Inside it is the most modern interpretation of a BMW interior but it still very familiar BMW territory. And while the doors only enhance the futuristic look they do make it impossible to slip gracefully in and out the of the ‘very’ low-slung i8.<\/p>\n

With a sculptured dash, the details and materials used throughout are exquisite it comes so fully loaded with equipment there are few, if any, options omitted. That said there is no storage space, the rear seats are virtually redundant and weight saving means there is little adjustment to the deep bucket seats.<\/p>\n

On the Road?<\/strong>The i8 feels remarkably normal\u00a0 on the road, it is balanced and poised and if you weren\u2019t aware of the very clever technology that seamlessly merges all these system you would be forgiven for thinking this was a regular sportscar. But there is a quality to the i8 that is unlike nothing else on the road and it is an incredibly impressive car.<\/p>\n

There’s loads of power but, more significantly there’s ample torque and it is delivered without a hint of a lag. The engine note is pitch perfect: throaty, deep and reverberating. It is artificially generated and more of a sports car soundtrack but it sounds so good you won\u2019t care.<\/p>\n

And Safety<\/strong>? BMW’s\u00a0 i8 incorporates the \u00a0very \u00a0latest safety and accident research and requirements of international crash test procedures and given the sstrengthof its structure the BMW i8 should be excellent and we would expect when the EuroNCAP \u00a0publish \u00a0the results of crashtests on the i8 safety that it will achieve full marks.<\/p>\n

Will it break the bank?<\/strong> At \u20ac136,430 the i8 is not cheap.<\/p>\n

Economy?<\/strong>The official fuel consumption figures are 2.1 litres per 100 km\u00a0 or 135 miles to the gallon with carbon emissions of just 49g\/km.<\/p>\n

Verdict?<\/strong>\u00a0The i8 is clearly not for everyone, the price is eye watering, the seats in the back are tiny and the boot is ridiculously small plus those doors need such a space to open in that they are actually the most impractical thing about it. But this is not what the i8 is about, it is a futuristic car packed cutting edge technology that \u00a0is destined to be the gene-pool from which all future cars draw inspiration from, At a time when everyone seems to be clamouring for lower emissions and more efficiency BMW\u2019s i division have delivered a car that is living proof that there is still a sustainable and fun to drive future for the sports car.<\/p>\n

Why you\u2019ll buy one?<\/strong> Stunning looks; cutting edge technology; driving dynamics<\/p>\n

Why you won\u2019t?<\/strong>\u00a0 Price<\/p>\n

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Watch our video review below<\/strong>\u00a0(Video Filming by Kyran O\u2019Brien<\/em>)<\/p>\n