The i3 and the i8 were massive departures for BMW. Both of these cars were more about efficiency and mobility than being the Ultimate Driving Machine. But they were both deeply interesting cars that incorporated technology and materials that were advanced, and both seemed to be built for a future that didn’t exist yet, or might not exist for a very long time.
In the latest episode of auto journalist and BMW-nerd Jason Cammisa’s “Revelations” video series, he recalls the i3 and i8, what led to their development, and how they were received. I remember the controversy around BMW developing a car like the i3—one that was more of an urban solution than a car you’d want to spend time in on a back road—but had totally forgotten BMW’s ambitions to be an end-to-end mobility solution rather than a car company. Wild stuff.
Cammisa brings up good points about the i3’s issues, like the rear doors that can trap you in more ways than one and, more importantly, how EVs from Chevy and VW of that era were less expensive, used less exotic materials, but were more efficient. However, we disagree on driving the i3, which I thought was a fun little runabout and which he thought was a disaster. I’m sure a lot of it has to do with use case. When I drove an i3 REx, it was on the east coast and mainly in New York City and some suburbs. That’s where it’s made to be. I can’t imagine I’d be thrilled with it dynamically in a faster environment, either.
The i8, though, we totally align there. That car is a blast. It looks cool, sounds cool (even if it’s fake), and is excellent to drive. It’s fast, fun, and a unique experience. Sure, it was expensive and supercar buyers don’t really care about efficiency as a selling point, but it was filled with enough tech and was interesting enough to own that it made a case for itself.
I just remember driving an i8 on a snow autocross at Lime Rock Park just after it was released, and it was a blast. Also a challenge, since the electric motor and gas would work to keep you straight, but it would slide all over the place. I’ve embedded that below. And a fun little tidbit is that the shots in that video from a following car were taken by Cammisa while he was testing a Tesla Model S for Road & Track.
As for Cammisa’s full video? Give it a watch below. It’s worth your time.
