BMW i8 and BMW 850i - generational change
The number 8 has always been unique to BMW vehicles. The 8 Series class coupe added chic and set the tone for the 8 Series competition. The charming Z4 roadster was not only a Bond car, but also a powerful and desirable car, produced for only 8 years. The GXNUMX and Z-eight have one more thing in common. None of these cars had their successor after the end of production. Now, a few years after the demise of the last BMW with a leading figure eight in the name, the number located at the key point of the model designation is making a comeback.
Experienced motorists know that the letter "i" in the name of any BMW does not mean anything good. Perhaps a completely different opinion on this matter is expressed by environmentalists who see the i3 electric model as a car that should save the world. Green World. In view of this state of affairs, the combination of the letter "i" with the number 8 can mean a truly explosive mixture. Will the new sports BMW i8 be able to repel the frontal attack of the full-blooded "eight", which in the prime of life did not have ecology lessons at school? An amazing meeting awaits you. A meeting of two cars, which no one had organized before. For the first time in history, the BMW i8 meets its big brother, the 850i.
Between the two machines shown in the photographs, the difference is about 20 years. Regardless, the Series 8 doesn't look old. On the other hand. Its classic proportions, majestic silhouette and clear lines look timeless and monumental. The G4780 is not a dwarf and, with its length of 8 mm, can command respect on the road. An additional highlight of the copy shown in the photos is the blood-red color of the paintwork and the full styling package from AC Schnitzer. The BMW XNUMX Series is not often seen on our roads, which further strengthens its position in the category of uniqueness.
Against the background of his older brother, the i8 looks like an alien from a very, very distant future. No. i8 even compared to modern cars looks completely out of this world. Low, squat, and replete with embossing and accessories of all kinds, the body is unlike anything that used to be equipped with an engine and wheels and called a car. The exterior design of the i8 is without a doubt extravagant. The only question is, is this car good? This term is definitely more suitable for the good Series 8, which looks very decent. I got the impression that the BMW designers responsible for the design of the i8 wanted to create a car that was as original as possible, environmentally oriented, but no longer quite beautiful. The new sports BMW is far from the shape of Italian cars. It is also far from that stylistic boredom to which producers are already accustomed because of our Western border. There is another feature in the i8's external design. The futuristic forms of the case attract curious glances, and the camera lenses are like a magnet. The G8 also does not allow anonymous movement in the crowd, but in the lance and show category, the iXNUMX is an unsurpassed leader.
Honestly, after such an unusual and not very sketchy body, I expected an equally futuristic interior that will stimulate the imagination of cars in the near or distant future. Meanwhile, the i8's cabin isn't as amazing as it looks. True, there is a large LCD in front of the driver's eyes, showing colorful graphics with very good contrast, but most of the dashboard and the general appearance of the cabin are clearly reminiscent of the interiors of other modern BMW models. This has its advantages in the form of good ergonomics, excellent quality finishes and no excess of form over content. Despite all the futuristic exterior, the i8 is not a difficult car to operate.
Cabin of the eighth series? Firstly, it is much more comfortable and has more space. To get behind the wheel of the i8, you need to open a spectacular floating door, overcome a high threshold and place four letters low above the ground. Performing such an activity several times can replace a visit to a fitness club. To sit behind the wheel of the GXNUMX, of course, is not so impressive. Having opened a long and solid-looking door without window frames, it is enough just to sit on comfortable leather chairs. Armchairs that have stood the test of time well.
The BMW 8 Series was born at a time when the concept of liquid crystal displays was as alien as water on Mars. Before the eyes of the driver are traditional dials with a speedometer daringly calibrated to 300 km / h, and the entire center console is littered with many buttons. Intuitive controls? Controversial. Despite the fact that the car shown in the photographs has long reached adulthood, it deserves equipment, even by today's standards, that is, rich. Automatic air conditioning, leather upholstery, power seats with memory and electric steering wheel did not require additional payment. As is the automatic transmission that comes standard on the 8 Series, but it's not the only gear available on this model. The customer could request a manual transmission at no extra cost, but the copies are equipped with real raisins. The i8 is only available with an "automatic", and no amount of whims of a wealthy client will change this.
The real highlight of the program in the case of the two vehicles shown in the photographs are the powertrains. They are the most visible sign of a changing trend in the automotive industry. Interestingly, despite the fact that there are two cars on the battlefield, the power units that are under their hoods are three in number. Two cars, three engines. You admit that this sounds a little strange.
I'll start to marvel at the powertrains when the engine sleeps under the front long bonnet of the BMW 850i. I will add that the word "admire" is not used here by chance. The beefy 5-litre V12 engine is second to none. Just the sight of such a large engine with so many cylinders is touching today. Starting this 300-horsepower unit, devoid of automotive Viagra in the form of turbochargers, is a real ritual, and the sound that this mechanical heart is capable of making moves the hair on your head.
If the i8 could read, after reading the above words, it would probably run red in shame. Its 1,5-litre, 3-cylinder, in-line internal combustion engine makes even A-segment city cars croak. Things change a little when turbochargers come into play to extract 231 hp from this small engine. Does size really matter? The combustion heart drives the i8's rear wheels. However, this is not the end yet, because the electric motor, which also costs, or rather lower, adds its three pennies in the form of 131 hp. and 250 Nm and transfers these parameters to the front axle. As a result, the new BMW sports car is a four-wheel drive machine with a total output of 362 hp. In the power category, a score for modern motorization, but in the category not fully measurable, i.e. organoleptic, the leading position is clearly occupied by the cult G8. Why? Firstly, its engine simply looks respectable, and most importantly, it can be seen. The i8's front hood doesn't open at all, but when you open the rear window, you'll see a microscopic trunk and a soundproof mat. Beneath this mat is another piece of plastic that is already screwed to the case. The second powertrain feature that puts the 8 Series at the top of the podium is its sound. Juicy, deep, placing weaker individuals in the corners. The sound of the i1,5 is, to put it mildly, unimpressive. Admittedly, the R3's XNUMX-liter unit sounds good for its size, but when it comes to performance and the car's futuristic look, it sounds right at best. Also, amplifying the sound of an engine with an audio system is something that true car fans will probably never understand.
Performance and handling are a perfect example of the difference in approach to building the 8 and i8 series. I would like to add that these differences do not stem from the then and current trends in the automotive industry, but perfectly illustrate what a completely different goal the designers of both cars pursued. The BMW 850i accelerates from 100 to 7,4 km/h in 8 seconds. He does it with dignity, without nervousness and obsession. The range is sufficient to make driving at high speeds comfortable and stress-free. Either way, the Series 8 itself had to be, and was, a comfortable Gran Turismo for long-distance travel at a fast pace and in comfort. The i250 will also cope with the track and, at a maximum speed of XNUMX km / h, will not lag behind the GXNUMX, but its advantages and priorities are in the other extreme.
The i8 is a maneuverable car, very fast (acceleration to “hundreds” takes 4,4 seconds) and not very comfortable. The suspension is stiff, and fast-paced turns and tight corners don't mean the new BMW has panties full at once. True, it's not a full-blooded "M" home rival, but sport, unlike the 8 Series, definitely overshadows comfort. In the case of the i8, the word "ecology" is also an important word. The Bavarian manufacturer promises that such a fast and sporty car should be content with a fuel appetite of 2,1 l/100 km. In practice, the real result is three to five times greater. With what appetite satisfies the cult "eight"? This question is at least irrelevant. V12 drinks as much as he needs. End of period.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this text, after many years of drought, BMW is refreshing the number 8, which stands at the main point of the model designation, and does it with a bang. The i8 is a fast, futuristic car that gives the competition the middle finger. Exactly the same finger in its heyday was shown to its opponents by the GXNUMX, which adequately moves along the streets of large cities and expressways. Despite the fact that at first glance these two cars have a lot in common, in practice they are two completely different designs. Their direct comparison and the struggle for points in separate purely measurable categories does not make much sense. However, these two models with the logo of the same manufacturer are a perfect example of changes in the automotive industry. The only question is, is it for the best?
